Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-04-04
Che Anti- Slavery Bnelr.
GERRIT SMITH ON THE DECISION IN
THE DRIED SCOTT CASE,
PETERBoRo. March 18th. 1857.

PErERBoRo March 18th, 1857.
Hon. d. c. LiTrLEJouN, Speaker of The assembly,
MI pEAR Sill see that your Republican Leg
isiature is beginning to move against the Decision
OF the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott Case.
But cannot see why it should. 1t strikes me
that " would be more consistent for it to honor
that Court with a vote of thanks. For what, under
the worst construction of it. does this Decision de-
elareY Nothing more than that. instead Of beint
citizen Of the United Stntes, the black man may,
In the eye Of the Federal Constitution, be- in every
part of the nation. mere property. But is not this
logical deduction from the Republican doctrine,
that. in some parts of the nation, he may be mere
propertyf The Supreme Court has gone nothing
like as far as this Republican doctrine would war.
rant Had it gone to the extent of declaring that
the black man is-not may be-but is property,
property everywhere, il would not have exceeded
the scope of this doctrine. For if he is property,
anywhere, then he is property everywhere. The
celebrated assertion Of Henry Clay. that what the
laws make property is property, is no better than
nonsense. The nature Of a thing and that only,
determines whether it is, or is not, property
Hence. since the Republican party admits that
the black man is property in Virginia, it is log-
cslly bound to admit that he is property in New
York also. For as it can he only in the light of
his nature that he is property in Virginia, too,
in the light Of the same nature is he prop
srty in New York. That it is nature,
and not enactment, which makes property.
would be quickly and Indignantly felt by us all,
we're Virginia TO enact that barley and cheese are
not property. and that the New York farmer, who
brings them to her markets, shall lie entitled to no
rights of prOperty in them. Holding q Repub-
lican to the Legitimate consequences Of his adms
sion Of property in man. he would have no more
right to complain of this invasion Of the rights OF
property by Virgna.than n Virginan would have
TO complain that he is not allowed to hold slaves
in New York. The simple truth is that as long as
the Republican party admits that the Constitution
ordains or permits, PROPERTY in man anywhere. II
is estopped from complaining of Decision, that
he may be, or even q Decision that he is property
everywhere. Repubcans,to TO lie consistent. should
have nothing to do with the Lennon Case, save to
admit that the slaves were slaves in New York,
as we'll as in Virginia.
The Democratic and American parties are, oi
course, past all hope in the matter Of slavery
The Republican party abuunds in sympathy with
freedom and in hatred of slavery. Nevertheless
the nation is perishng because Of the folly Of this
party How great the folly which persists in the
prUslavery Interpretation Of Constitution, that
by all just Interpretation, contains no., from be
ginning to end, 1ne pro'slavery line! And may |
not add. how great too the dish onesfy Of those
who will recognize law for the enslavement OF
their brother; but whof made slaves themselves
would DO set free at the expense of trampng
under foot whatever CJnsiituions, or statutes, or
DEGREES for slavery-ay. and at the expense too Of
whatever amount Of the blood Of their oppress
ors!
Nothing is law, which cannot honestly be ad
ministered as law :-and hence slavery is not law
The Jud &c on the Bench who administers it as law,
may not he entirely conscious uf his knavery
Nevertheless he is knave-fof he is not doing
unto others, as he would have othess do unto him
/ hear it said. thar you are to pass Personal
LihertykBill." Nest sincerely do | hope, that il
will not he such one. Massachusetts, or Wis
consn, has passed. A Bill. which recognizes the
law:uness of slavery in any conceivable case--tht
reduction to chattelhood in any conceivable cast
of being made the image of Gods a bill
for 81 very and atheism. If you would pass
Personal Liberty Bill' hat would bless your
selves and bless the world it visit with heavy
penalties the crime Of claiming any man as
slave.
Great and frequent events are crowdipg the Re
publican party to choose its future. Will it re
main upon IT'S present ,w and false ground an,
perish speedily and disgracefully ?-or will it ris
into an Addition party expe! slavery from th
land and live forever in tho grateful hearts o
the wise and good?
Why has slavery made unceasing progress fo
sixty years. and como Mt last to lie installed n
the law of the land? Because it. is n great pos
itive power. which. having nothing mare tcrn,id
able than restrictions. negatiuns, and deprerations
has not yet leen welded against slavery. Unprin
cipled pncv-Pntical expedency-answers thu
demand of slavery hv getting down upon its knees
yielding MP one half. and praying 10 he left th'
other. But whenever Liberty shall lie brough
forth TO answer such demand, she will answer i
with counter demand. In reply to the call u
slavery far more, she will call for the death o
slavery. Liberty knows hot one remedy for che
wrupgs Of slavery-and that is the abolition o
slavery. viii the Republican party apply thi
remedyi Will the Republican party homo
Liberty
Tho question is often put to me. whether
would let the Dred Scott Decision arouse the pee
pile to rebel against the Supreme Court, 1t is
foolish question for that Court is itself tn
rebel-the rebel against all lac and ali govern
ment. When q Court Legislature gnes out o
ats province. and enuertains absurd questions, AM
attempts naked impossibties, and utters hlas
phemes-the rebel is 10 he found in the party tba
does all this, and not in the people. who trampl
all this under foot. Surely no people would re
spect rs law the statute OF decree. which declare
stone wood, or wood stone. Why then should an
people respect as law the statute or decree, whic
declares the infinitely greater and blasphemou
ahsurdity, that man is merchandise? Had
Government worthy of the name Of Government
IL would much snoner think of hanging Chic
Justice Taney and his associates than Of hanging
chose. who refuse to submit to their devilisms.
With great regard your friend.
GERRIT SMITH.