True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-10
From the Philadelphia Times.
JOHN JAY VS.. ROGER B. TANEY.
The First Chief Justine Of the o. States vs.. th'
- :. .-rracant rhinf Iuntinn

Cl
"clartn, ct vensrabile snOmen" Of JOHN s
JAY. Every lawyer cherishes the pro- p
foundest, Difference for the learning and T
authority Of him who was selected by
Washington to he Chief Justice of the !,
United States. Every citizen Of the !
Republic is proud Of the illus,roas fame
of him whose proverbial spotless private
life shed lustre upon his splendid public
career. 5ohn Jay was one of the purest,
noblest and wisest Of the fathers Of the
Revolution, and Of. the earlier days of
the Constitution. He was the intimate
personal friend of Washington. The
dignity, integrity, and erudiIion OF his
Chief Justiceship has never been excell-
ed, even by the powerful genius Of the
venerable John Marshall, or the various
culture of The gentle and lamented Sto-
ry. Chief Justice Jay was the fit COM
peer of President Washington. But i,
were superAuous to prolong eulogy Of
him whose name and life is one Of the
4 most golden characters of our history,
and one of the grandest inheritances left
= to the present. '
II is therefore with no ordinary pride
and gratif cation that we lay before our
readers letter Of John Jay; which, al
though written years ago, eftectually
o disposes of Mr.. Justice fancy and his
l. associates on the bench. -. .ly
This letter, as its date shows, was
written during the controversy which ter
le minated in the Missouri Compr omise.-
IN Blu, it happens to hit the very point mis-
N decided by the Judges Of the present
court. They have given their opinion
ID that Congress cannot control the subjec
tie of Slavery in the Territories. John jay
'S e1 considers that the authority OF Congress
or to do il is unquestionable, They have al
- so given the revolving opinion that negroe
have no rights that white men are boun
he 10 respect, and that our fathers thought sc
ich Judge Taney quotes the declaration
up Independence--the very clause of it cl
in ed in Judge jays letter-as proof
the this calumnly upon the fathers. Mar
i0h 1 how John Jay refers to this clause J.
But to the letters ... ...,
49, BEDFORD, Wesichester Co., N. Yr2
ha l7Ih November, 1919.
SIT DEAR SIR: | have received copy
ngs a circular letter, which, as chairman
of the committee appointed by the pub
'irh meeting al Trenton, respecting SLAYER
at you were pleased to direct me on the b
&C. inst. ..e.a h,e Ht. -.
ae. "Litle can be added 10 what has be
49, said and written on the subject of Sla'
- ry. concur in the opinion that it oug
=" not to be introduced nor permitted in a
mas of the new States, and that it ought
our he gradually diminished and finally ab
con- ished in all of them.
the "76 me the constitutional authorift
for of Congress to prohibit the "igraf'
that and importation Of SLAVES into any
" to the States does not appear QUESTIONED
s.;, 1.-The first article Of the Constltu!l
,". M specifies The legislative powers commit
'SSS to the Congress. The ninth section
, .,. that article has these words;'The mag
Bor- tion or importation of such persons
Slave any Of the now eristing States 81
.hern lhinf proper TO admit shall not be
that hibited by the congress prior to the
,ircin 1903, but lax or duty may be lmpc
haoa. on such importations, not exceeding
~ - dollars for each person. .
ay O' II understand the sense and meal
), u - Of this clause to be, that the power
}" we the Congress, although comPetan.to
ty, to hibit such migration and impor'a'
affairs was not 10 be exercised with reSpe'
ifv the the then existing States, and then
Of DO. until The year 1908; but that the
N, II gress were at liberty to make SUCH
Nod &c hibilion as to any ne'e State which
'eu' " in the mean time be established.
IS nave further that from and after that pc
ults'- they were authorized 10 make such
impor' hibition as 10 all the States whether
result or old.
ctor of "lt will, presume, be admitted
Demo- slaves aie the persons intended.
of ,b;s ,oord slayes uas avoided probabt
a with account Of the eristing tOleratic
q, ,yery Slavery, and its discordency 'ci!
=, $500 = PRINCIPLES of the ReeOiution, and t
leans consciousness of its principles bei
AmeE'' pugnant to the foltoUing pos'ttd
Ounty- The Declaration Of Indpsndence:
i'm upon "'We hold these truths to be Sc
nbers Of dent that all men are created. ire
favours, equal;aha they are endowed BY
t.r;dden Creator with certain inalienable
he ush- that among these are life, liberty, a
.Iwavs pursuit of happiness.
a'"' ".As TO my taking an active
'yt "orpanizing plan of cooperation
ans i tha' state Of my health has long been
,iet MI not 10 admit Of it. '2
immagl- "lBe nleased to assure the con
ground, Of my best wishes for their succe
and har- permit me to assure you oi me
Iete over and regard with which l am, d.
Ii which your obedient and faithful servant
y ~ 49, " d, .,au. JOHN
'V'O"n ''fV' ."To The. HOn. Elias Boudinc
, ,oIver. This letter is "a precious relic
action Of venerable past. Ii Is addressed