Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-03-18
Important Decision of the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court in the case of Scott Us. Sandford:
The Opinion of the Supreme Court in the case
OF Scott us Sandford was delivered yesterday by
Chief Justice fancy, 1t full and elaborate
statement of the views of the Court, and decides
the following al-important points:
l: Negroes whether slaves free-that is, men
OF the African race-are not citizens Of the United
States by the Institution.
2. The ordinance of 1887 had no independent con.
stutional force legal effect subsequently to the
adoption of the Constitution and could not operate
of itself to confer freedom citizenship within the
Northwest Territory on negroes not citizens by the
Constitution.
The provision of the act of 1920, commonly call
ed the Missouri Compromise, in far as it under.
took to exclude negro slavery from and commun-
cate freedom and citizenship to negroes in the north
ern part OF the louisiana cesSion was Legislative
act exceeding the powers of Congress- and void and
of no legal effect to that end
In deciding these main points the Supreme Court
determined also the fol wing incidenta. points
l. The expression territory and other property"
OF the Union in the Constitution applies in terms
ly to such Territory the Union possessed at the
time of the adoption Of the Constitution.
2. The rights of citizens of the United States en-
igrating into any federal territory and the power of
the federal government there depend on the gener-
al provisions of the Constitution which define in
this as in all other respects, the powers of Con-
gress
3. As Congress does not possess power itself to
make enactnents relative to the persons property
OF citizens of the United States in federal territory
other than such as the Constitution confers so it
cannot consttutionaly delegate any such pcwers to
Territorial government organized by it under the
Constitution.
4. The legal condition of slave in the State of
Missouri is not affected by the temporary s0ourn of
such slave in any other State, but on his return his
condition still depends on the laws of Missouri.
The delivery Of this opinion occupied about two
hours, and was listened to with profound atteS.ion
by crowded courtroom; and, whether as deci.
sion of the Supreme Court or for the constitutional
arguments on which it stands, will work power
full influence throughout the United States It's con-
clusions were concurred in, we understand by six
of the Justices of the Court-namely. Justices Ia
ney, Wayne, Catron, Daniel, Grer, and Campbell"
We shall lay the decision in full before our read
ers, as soon as we can make room for it.
All Abolitiondom is aroused and enraged at this
decision. The New York Times, leading Fremont
Journal thus receives and comments upon it:
"The decision of the Supreme Court in the case
of Dred Scott completes the naturalization of slave
ry. Slavery is no longer local nStitu
tion,-the creature of local law,-dependent for
its existence and protection upon State sovereignty
and State legislation H. is incorporated into the
Constitution of the United States. Its is the
tenure of all property, and the Constitution protects
and preserves 1t, to the same extent and upon the
principles, as it protects any other property of
any kind whatever. This is the fundamental posi-.
ton which the Supreme Court has just asserted and
upon which all its decisions in this rest. Con-
gress cannot exclude slavery from federal territory
because the right 10 slaves is the right to property
and cannot be divested. For the same reason the
people of the territory cannot exclude slavery from
their own domain and when the time for the next
step comes, shall have it in the logical sequence,
that State gorernment has right to deprire ann
citizen Of property, aohci the Constitution ot the
United States protects him in holding.
1t is not too much to say that this decision revo-
lutionzes the Federal Government, and changes en-
trely the relation which Slavery has hitherto held
towards it, Slavery is no longer local it is nation
al. The Federal Government is no longer held aoof
from it, as thing wholly and exclusively out of its
jurisdiction 1T is brought directly within its sphere
and put Immediately under its protection The doc
trine of State Rights, so long its friend ,is its
foe.
That this decision is to produce the most profound
impression upon the public judgment is certain. Its
first effect will be to paralyze and asound the pub
!! lie mind Familiar as our people have become to
; the advancement Of Slavery towards supremacy in
Government, they have not believed that il
could obtain SO absolute seat in the supreme coun.
Gil of the Republic at so early day. The decision
will be accepted and obeyed law. There will be
wide or loud protest against it. The public peace
will not be disturbed, the public will not be
vexed by clam rou' outcries o. noisy denuncia.
ton of the Court and its decree. But the doctrine
it has promulgated will sink deep into the public
heart and gerInnate there the seed of discomfort
. and contest and disaster hereafter They mistake
tne temper oi the men OF TINS Republic, VINO believe
that they will ever accept Slavery the fixed and
permanent law of the American Union They have
trusted to tme,-to the progress Of civilization tC
the melioraon of legal codes to climate, TO popu
lation to established metes and bounds, to old con
venants and compacts and the advancement of Chris
tan principle, for ultimate deiverance. They vii
strive still to cling to such of these as violence and
wrong have left untouched. But this last decision
leaves little to hope and everything to fear AnG
the people will begin to ask why, if Slavery is na
tional, the nation should not assume the custod,
and control Of it why it should be constitutions
for the Federal Government to protect, and not tt
remove, it:-why, if its extension is synonymous
with it's existence both should be ended together
Apparent peace will follow the action of the Su
preme Court. The partisans Of its conduct and it
doctrine will proclaim it to be the end fcontrovers,
upon this subject, and the immediate result viii
seem to confirm their hopes. But it has laid tn
only solid foundation which has yet existed fo
an Abolition party and it will do more to stimulate
the growth, to build up the power and consolidat,
the action of such party than has been done b,
any other event since the Declaration of Indepen
dence."
This is ono of the papers-the &" Times"-whcl
spoke in such kind and 1attering terms of Mr.. Ray
ner's efforts in Philadelphia against Mr. Buchanan
and the Constitutional party of the country.
, We observe that in the Assembly of New York
Monday last, resolution was offered for join
committee to consider the decision of the Suprem
Court in This case. Aye, let them " consider !'-
cit touches US not but for good, "Let the galle'
jade vince, our withers unwrung."
IT,,