Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-04-02
History OF the bred Scott Case.

move the impression sought to be mad
by political agitators, that this case wa
got up and pushed to a final conclusion
in the Supreme Court, by the friends o
the present administration, as a part.
movement, or otherwise. On the con
trary, it has been done solely by thos
who o complain of the result. Th'
suit was instituted and prosecuted b.
them; but whether for political effect, O.
with the hope Of securing a differen
conclusion, we shall not attempt to de.
termine. The true history of the mat
ter is this:
Scott instituted a suit in the circuit
court of Missouri to obtain a discharge
from servitude for himself and family
On the trial it proved that he had been
originally a slave in Missouri; that his
master first took him to the military post
at Rock Island, in Illinois, and, subse-
quently, to Fort Smelling, in Minnesota,
at a point north of the Missouri Com
promise line, and that he and his family
subsequently returned with him to Mis-
souri,. It was contended in his behalf,
that inasmuch as his owner had xolun-
tarily taken him to places where slavery
did not exist by law, both he and his
family became free, and remained so af-
ter returning to slaveholding State
The circuit court decided in his favor.
On appeal to the supreme Court of the
State, that tribunal held that he and his
family on returning to the State, con-
tinued slaves. Between the annuncia-
ton of the court and the filing of its
mandate in the circuit court, Scott vol
UNFAIRLY dismissed his suit in the State
Court, thus evading the decision against
him; and thereupon instituted another
in the circuit court of the United States.
In this court the question of Jurisdiction
depended upon his being a citizen of
Missouri, and the defendant a citizen of
another State. If the court should be
of opinion III it he was a citizen, that he
that he was free, because his
owner had taken him to Illinois, and
also to a part of the Louisiana territory
Of the Compromise line. The circuit
court rendered final judgment against
him; and t%hercupon he appealed to
Supreme Court of the United States,
where the same questions were raised
md twice argued by his counsel, and
also determined against him. The
was last argued by Geo. T. Curtis,
brother of Judge Curtis, and Montgom-
cry Blair, son of Francis P. Blair, for
The plaintiff, Scott, and by Senator Gey-
,r and Rcyerdy johnson for the defen-
Messrs. Curtis, Geyer, and john
are wings, while Mr.. Blair's politi-
cal sympathies are understood to be
his father. On the frst-argument
Mr.. Curtis nor Mr.. johnson
took part. The fact that the court or
lered a re-argument is ample proof Of
the importance of the questions ~involv-
ed and the difficulty of solving them.
On the last argument, the court was
filed with Intelligent and anxious list
eners. The court took time to delibe-
and prepare their opinions. Each
Judge formed and expressed his own.
The reasons sustaining his conclusions
are placed upon record by each, and his
countrymen will read and reflect, and
them by everyday reason. No ju-
dicial tribunal can reasonably object to
based upon such principles.
Truth will never suffer by being subject
I'd to the standard of reason and right.
From this statement it is evident that
name has been used by a class
IF slavery agitators for political effect.
been beaten in Missouri, and in
the United States Circuit and Supreme
they now attempt, for the same
purpose, to appeal from the decisions of
he Judiciary to political club rooms,
where other considerations than calm
'eason and sober Judgment are expect
ID to prevail. Time will show whether
hey have calculated the result with ac-
'uracy.- Wash. Union. -.H
AN OFFER TO. PRESIDENT PIERcE.-
correspondent of the Richmond En-
vcr the signature of"Aristides,"
itates that a Virginia gentleman, born
n the county of Northumberland, from
lis high estimation of his administra-
of the General Government, cordi-
lily invites the Ex-Prcsident to become
citizen of the good Old Dominion,
vhere hiseminent services to this widely
xtended Republic are appreciated:
He offers for his residence two humid
ed acres of land, very near Elysium
springs, three miles from the border of
he Tenth Legion, five from Capon-
There he can have the benefit
f that pure, balmy atmosphere, we'll
mpreunated with the purest Democra-