The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-10
From fhs PAladsL,Afa Tnass.
JOHN JAY, LIST Chief Justice of tho US.
r. B. TANEY, Present Chief Justice.

Every schoolboy is familiar with the "ela
rum ct venra'ile nOmen' John Jay. Ever.
lawyer eherishes the proioundest Difference
for the learning and authority Of him whit
was selected by Washington to be the frs
Chief Justice Of tho United States. Ever,
citizen Of the Republic Is proud Of the illus
trious fame Of him whose proverbial spotles.
private life shed lustre upon his splendid
public career. John Jay was one Of tn
very purcst, noblest, and wiscst, Of thu
fathers vf the Revolution and Of the Garlic,
days Of the Constitution. lie VAS the ihti
mate personal friend OF and the trusted con
fdential adviser Of Washington. The dig
nifty, integrity, and legal erudision Of hi
Chief Justiceship has never been eI,elled
even by the powerful genius Of the venerable
John Marshall. or the various culture ofth'
gentle and lamented Story. Chief Jnstic,
Jay was the it c,mpeer of President Wash
ington. But il were superauous to prolong
eulogy Of him whose name and life is one Of
tho most golden charters Of our history. and
one Of tho grsndest inheritances left to the
present.
1t is therefore with no ordinary pride and
qualification that we lay before our readers
u letter of John Jay, which although writ
ten years ago, efeetually disposes of Mr.
Justice fancy and his associates on the
bench.
This letter, rs its date shows, was written
during the controversy which terminated in
the Missouri Compromise. But 1t happens
to hit the very point misdecided by the
Judges Of the present court. They have
given their opinion that Congress cannot
control the subject Of Slavery in the Terri.
tories. John Jay considers that the autho
rity Of Congress to do so ,s'unquestisnable. "
They have also given the revolving opinion
that negroes haze no rights ,shieh ,rhiis men
are bound TO respect, and that our fathers
thought SO. Judge fancy quotes tho Dec.
laration Of lndependence-tho very clause oil
1t cited in Judge Jays letter-as proof oil
this calumny upon the fathers. Mark how
John Jay refers to this clause. But to the
letter. ~
Bedford, Westehester Co., ". Y.
18th November, 1919.
"DuR SIR I have received the copy OF
q circular letter, which, Us chairman Of the
committee appointed by the late public meet
ing ut Trenton, respecting Slavery, you were
pleased to direct to me on the 5th inst.
"Little can DO added to what has 9cen
said and written on the ubject Of Slavery
! concur in the opinion that II ought not to
be introduced nor permitted In any Of the
neo States, and that It ought to be gradually
diminished and finally abolished in all Of
them.
ITO me. the constitutional authority of
the Congrrs to prosibit the migration and
importation Of slaves into any OF the States,
DIES not appear qusti, ,nable
"The first article Of the Constitution spcci.
fies the Legislative powers committed to the
Congr Is. The ninth section Of that article
has th % words The migration or imporia.
tion Of such pcrsons us any of the nop erist.
ing States shall think proper to admit, shal
not DO prohibited by the Congrcss prior 70
the year 1908, but . tax or duty may he i'm.
posed on such importation, not exceeding ten
dollars for each person.
81 understand the sense and meaning of
this clause to be. that the power Of the Con.
krcss. although competent to prohibit such
migration and importation, was not to BE- !
axereissd with respect to the MTn existing