The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-03-12
DccI.ion in the Drcd scott Case.

WASHINGTON, March 4.
The opinion Of the Supreme Conrt in the
Dred Scott case, was delivered 10 dav bv
Chief Justice Taney. II was q full and
elaborate statement OF the views Of the
Court. They have decided the following
all important points:
LIST. That negroes, whether slaves or free.
that is, men OF the African race, are not cit.
zenf Of the United States BY the Constitt.
ton. rf .ast sts-sa1sif r-4s .,.s
and. That the ordinance Of 1897 had no
Independent constitutional force or legal ef.
feet subsequent to the adoption Of the Con.
stitution, and could not operate, Of itself, to
confer freedom or citizenship within the
Northwest Territory, on negroes. net citi.
zens by the Constitution. .y.-. .....
81. That the provision of the act Of 1890,
commonly called the Missouri Compromise,
SO far as it undertook 10 exclude negro sla.
very from, and communicate freedom and
citizenship 10 negroes Ia the Northern part
Of the country obtained by tbs Louisana
cession, was legislative act exceeding the
powers oil. Congress, and void, AMI uf no 10.
gal effect to that end.
In deciding these main points the Su.
preme Court determined the following Incl.
dental points:
lst. The expression "Territory and other
property of the Union" IN the Canstitu,Ion,
applies in terms only 10 such Territory as
the Union possessed at the time ofthc sdop.
ton of the Constitution. ae n'a
Sd. The rights of citizens Of the u. 8.
eEnigratng TO any fe.'eiai territory and the
power of the federal government there, de.
pend upon the general provisions Of the
Constitution witch defines in this, a. in all
other respects, the powers Of Congress.
Sd. As Congress dOns not possess power
itself to make enactm Asrelatve to persons
or property OF citizens ol U. s. in . ,ersl ter.
ritory other than such as the Constitution
conlers, SO 1t cannot, constutionally, dele.
gate any such powers to Terrrorial goy4rn.
ment organized by it under the Constitution.
9TH. The legal condition Of slsye in the
State Of Missouri is not effected By the tenn.
porary sojourn Of such slave in any other
State. but on bis return bis condition stilIa
depends on the laws OF Missouri al the
plaintiff was not citizen OF Missouri, and
therefore, could not sue 10 the Courts OF the
U. s. The suit has been dismissed for want
Of jurisdiction. n .'t's as'1
The deliver, Of this opinion occupied s.
about three hours, and 1t was listened to
with profound attention by crowded court
room. Among the auditors were many zen. .,
tlemen Of eminent legal ability, and a due
proportion OF ladies'. aa vi w
/ Justice Nelson stated the merits Of the
case, the question being whether or norsihe
removal OF Scott from Missouri aith his
master to Illinois with view Of temporary
residence worked his emancipation. He
maintained that question depended wholly Z
on the law Of Missouri, for that reason the,
judgment Of the court below should b, affirm
ed. H..
Justice Cutron believed the. Snpreme, Court
had the jurisdiction to decide the inertia OF
the case. He argued that Congress could d
not do directly what il could not do iRdrecs-s,
ly. II it could exclude one species Of prop. a
erty il could another. With regard TO the
Territories ceded, Congress could govern
them only with the restrictions ofthe States at
which ceded them and the Missouri bet Of .
1890 violated the leading features Of the
Constitution. 1t was therefore void. q He
concurred with his brother Judge, that
Scott is a slave, and was go when the suit
was brought. ,+ss etl4 lssa gFts!zat
Several other Of the Judges are to deliver
Their views to morrow. a bsg .,g ass.s, 3z,sl Il