, 1857-05-08
The psrision Of the Suprrms Court.

The Decision Of the Supreme VOnrl'
The Black Republicans, says the Tenn
syiraniaH, are in great tribnlation over the
decision Of the Supreme Court in the Dred
Scott case 1t is an extinguisher oil all
their hopes. 1t sweeps away every plank
of their platform, and crushes into nothing
ness the whole theory upon which their
party is founded The decision OF the
Supreme Court is nearly unanimous-seyen
out of nine Judges concurring in its opln-
ion. Great stress has been laid upon the
dissent Of Judge MCLEAN, and seven oil
the Judges, we are told, are totally miSled
by preconceived notions of private interests,
while his decision is uninauenced by such
considerations. We have great respect
for Judge MCLEAN, personally, and Tor his
legal attainments and honesty but there
is no other man upon that Bench whose
Judgment upon such a question would be
more likely to be partial aud biased one.
Judge MCLEAN has for years past been
more frequently mentioned in connection
with high official positions, than all the
other Judges together. lie has been for
years q sort Of oracle of the Anti-slavery
sentiment of the country. No later ago
than last June, he was q candidate for the
Black Republican nomination for the Presi-
dency. He has long been more or less
connected with politics, probably to a
much greater extent than any other man
in similar position. As politician, we
believe he has not unfrequently given extra
judicial opinions upon the very questions
decided in the bred Scott case. He had,
therefore, the strongest possible influences
to warp bis judgment. There are no pre-
cedents so strong to Judge, as his own
decisions, and it could scarcely be expect
ed that he would reverse as a Judge the
opinions he had expressed as politician.
As a Black Republican aspirant for the
Presidency, he could not destroy the plat
form upon which, within year, he had
sanguiue expectations of climbing into
power The other dissenting opinion was
delivered by CUaTIs, of Massachusetts,
He too, is, no doubt, an eminent lawyer,
but who believes that the atmosphere of
that State, poisoned as it is with the rank
est fanaticism, is peculiarly adapted, above
all others, to form correct opinions upon
such a subject. 1t rarely happens that the
decision of Court, composed of large
number of members, is entirely unanimous
upon any important question. 1t is unu-
sual for q court to decide in the ratio oi
four to one, as has been done in this case
But whether unanimous or not, the de-
csion is none the less binding. The Trib-
Hne may rave, and fanaticsm make earth
hideous with its howlings, but all in vain.
There are certain points which are settled
ones, and beyond the reach Of the fanatics
of th3 nation. The Constitution is the
fundamental law of the land, and the Su-
preme Court having decided that the legis-
lation Black Republicanism clamors for is
unconstitutional, their dogmas are totally
dead. They cannot be Incorporated into
the legislation Of the country, or, if they
are, cannot thereby become laws. 1t is OF
course to be expected that considerable
buster will he exhibited over this decision,
to enable the opposition leaders to cover
up their confusion, and to shield them from
the contempt of the people whom they have
deceived. But this will amount to moth
ing. The Constitution must and will be
protected by the American people, and
woe to the puny arms that dare fight
against it.