The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-05-28

Political and public meetings generally half the usual
rates Of advertising.
Mishaps to the ssDecisiOn -
The Supreme Court of Ohio has Just decided
a case in which the outrageous opinions of
Chief Justice fancy do not meet with very
decided favorn. In a suit before that court I
the question arose whether slave could cor
time slave after setting foot upon free soil /
by the consent of his master. The court de
cided that the law announced long ago upon
tina. point by Mansfield, was the Jaw of the
State Of Ohio. This is in opposition 20 the /
opinion Of the Supreme Court of the United
States, and there is direct conflict between
the State and national courts. We Admit that
any necessity which produces such state Of
things is deplorable. We have always be-
lieved in the doctrine pronounced by Webster,
in the United States Senate, so often and so
forcibly, that the Supreme Court was the in
terpreter of the laws of the Urlted States, and
we have always considered that the acknowl-
cdgment of this principle was the only thing
which could prevent conflicts between the ma
tional and State governments. But when that
Supreme Court travels out Of its way, and in
order to subserve partisan purpose and pam
der to the prejudice of section, gives an in
iquitous and revolving opinion, pronounces
against human freedom and overturns an an
cieDt and honored principle Of justice, it loses
1t commanding position as interpreter of the
laws, and limits and endangers its influence as
a safeguard against collisions between the
general and local governments. The Supreme
court was guilty Of this offence in the bred
Scott decision. II pronounced an unjust de-
cision, and it has lost its position. In almost
the first, if not the very first case which arose
in State court in which the law OF the bred
Scott case was involved, that law has been
nullifed. The Supreme Court of Ohio found
themselves placed in such position that thew
were obliged either to disregard and nullify
the law Of the Supreme Court " the United
states, or else pronounce against liberty and
justice, and nullify the laws Of God and ma
ture. In such case there was but ore course
which an Independent and enlightened court
could pursue, and that course the Supreme
Court Of Ohio pursued. And for boldly pur-
suing such course that court will be honored
and sustained by all true freemen everywhere,
and wholly justified by posterity. And not
only SO, the law as proclaimed by that court
will continue to be the law of the free States
OF America, though the Supreme Court OF the
United States should decide otherwise thou
sand times, and be backed up by the armies
and navies of the general government. Chief
Justice fancy and his associates have attemp-
ted an impossibility in seeking to enforce such
law as that laid down in the bred Scott decis.
ion. They may as well 'sattenpt to dam up the
Nile with bulrushes." The dignity of the
court which they compose, and the weight
which the nation has heretofore attached to
their decisions and opinions, will afford them
no shield for the preparation of outrage and
injustice. And if hereafter there should be
conflicts between their decisions ana those of
the State court, and from this there should
arise actual serious collisions, those who now
compose the Supreme Court of the United
States and their supporters throughout the
country, may solace themselves with the re-
Election that it was their hot haste to do ini-
guilty for party sake that brought on the
trouble.
There have been some other consequences
OF the bred Scott decision developed, which
though not so serious as that to which we
have just been referring, yet serve by their ri
diculonsness to exhibit the weakness Of the
decision. One, of which we have somewhere
read an account, is that Of the trial Of several
negroes in Chicago for some criminal offense.
They plead that by the recent decision they
were not persons under the Co lstitution, but
only fhings, chattels, and that as things could
not commit crime they should be dismissed.
The court very promptly answered that If
Chief Jus6ce fancy had decided that negroes
were not persons, he would give no heed to
such decision. Consequently the things
were tried, found guilty of having committed
crime, and sent to Jail.
But the "most unkindest cut of alp, cuts
which the recent decision has received, was
that given by negro woman in the cars on
one of the eastern railroads, who, when the
conductor called upon her for her ticket very
innocently inquired Of him how much they
charged on that road for live freight. Upon
being answered give cents foot" she handed
him ten cents. The conductor told her that
hve dollars was the fare, but she answered him
that that might be the case for persons, but
that she was a thing, only achnttel, like a horse
or hog, and according to their rates for live
freight, she could only be charged ten cents.
The good natured conductor relishing the joke,
and not wishing to nuIlify the decision Of the
Supreme Court, passed along, whereupon the
jolly darkie fervently 'sbressed'' Judge Taney
for the decision which had saved her five dol
lars.
Verify, all this shows but bad begin
ming for the bred Scott decision, and as a
specimen of the mishsps to which ii will in
future Be subjected, it augurs very poorly for
its success.
AMERIcAN FLEET IN CHINA.--Our govern
ment will not neglect our interests in China
Our naval force in the Chinese waters, now
consisting Of a steam frigate and two slo,ps.
having an aggregate Of So guns, is to be rein
forced by the steam frigates Minnesota and
Mississippi, and the sloop-o war German. |