Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-26

to which the laws of nature and of natures
God entities them, decent respect to the
opinions Of mankind requires that they
should declare The causes vi hich impel then.
| 10 the separetion;" and then proceeds
ave hold these truths to be self-evident-
that all men are created equal: that they
are endowed BY tieir Creator with certain
unalienabls rights; that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
That to secure these rights, governments
pre- instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the govern
ed" &c. The words before quoted would
seem to embrace the whole human family;
and if used in q similar instrument at this
day would be so understood. But it is too
clear for dispute that the ens!aved African
race were not intended to be included; for
n that case, the distinguished men who
framed the Declaration Of Independence,
would be Asgrantly against the principles
which they asserted. They who framed the
Declaration Of Independence were men of
too much honor, education and intelligence,
to say what they did mol believe; and they
kaew that in no part Of the civilized world
were the negro race by common consent
admitted to the rights Of freedom They
spoke and acted according to the practices,
doctrines, and usages of the day. Tha, un-
fortunate race was supposed to be separate
from the whites, and xas never though; or
spoken of except as properly. Those opin-
ions underwent no change when the Cen
stiiu:ion was adopted. The preamble sets
forth for what purpose and for whose benefit
ii was formed. It WIS formed by the people
such as had been members Of the original
States-and the great object was 20 "secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity." 1t speaks in general terms OF
citizens and people of the United States
when providing for the powers granted
withc II defining what description Of persons
should be included, or who should be re-
garded as citizens. But two clauses of the
Constitution point to the negro race as sep
arate, and not regarded as citizens, for whom
the Constitution was adopted. One clause
reserves the right to import slaves until
1908, and in the second place :he States
pledge themselves, one to another, to pre-
serve the rights of the master, and to deliver
up slaves escaping 10 their respective terri
tories. By The first clause the right 10 pur-
chase and hold this property is directly
sanctioned and authorized by the persons
who framed the Constitution, Tor twenty
years; and the States pledged themselves
to uphold the right of the master as long as
the Government then formed should endure.
And this shows conclusiyely that another
description of persons we're embraced in the
other provisions of the Constitution. These
two clauses were not intended to confer
upon them or their posterity the blessings
Of liberty SO carefully conferred upon the
whites. None of this class ever emigratec
to the United States voluntarily. They were
all articles OF merchandise. The numbe
emancipated was few as compared with
those who were held in slavery, and no,
sufficiently numerous to attract public at.
tentioD as a separate class, and were re.
garded as a part of the slave population
rather than free.
1t cannot be supposed that the states con
ierred citizenship upon them; for all those
States at that time established police regu
latIons fo- the security Of themselves anc
families, as well as of property. In sope
| minor cases, there were different modes oi
trial, and it could not be supposed tha
those States would havesformed o: cosent.
ed tn q Government which abolished this
right, and took from them the safeguards
essential to their own protection. The,
have not the right to hear arms, and appear
at public meetings to discuss political CUES
tions, or urge measures of reform whi.t
they might deem advisable. They canno,
vote at elections, nor serves as Jurors, mol
appear as witnesses where whites are con
cernet. These rights are secured in every
State to white men. 1t is impossible t,
believe that the men of the slavehoidina
States, who took So large a share in thu
formation of the Constitution, could be Sc
regardless of themselves and The safety o
those who trusted and confined in them
Every law of naturalization confines citi
zenship to ,rhits persous. This is marked
separation from the blacks. Under the
Confederate, every State had right to de.
eide tor itself, and the term free inhabtant,'
the generality OF fo,m, certainly exclude,
tine African race. Laws were framed fol
the latter especially. Constitution the wore
..citizen" is substituted for"f free nhabitant
After further elaboration on this point, tn,
Chief Justice said. rom the best consiGera
tion, we have come to the conclusion iha
the African race who came to this country
whether free or slave, were not intened t
included in the stituton for the inioy
ment OF any personal rights or benefits; ant
the two prov visions which point to the
treat them as property, .and make it tn,
duty o. the Government to protect them a;
such. Hence, the Court is Of opir ion, from
the facts stated ia the plea in abatement
that Dred Scott is not citizen of Missouri
and is not therefore, entitled to sue in tn,
United States Courts.
The following facts appear on the record
'In the year 1884. the plaintiff was negrt
slave belonging to DR.. Emerson, who was
surgen in the army of the United States
In the year (lS3D said DR.. Emerson tool
the plaintiff from the State of Missouri t.
the military post at Rock Island, in The State
of Illinois, aud hello him there as ,
slave until the month of April, 1896 AT
the time last mentioned. said DR.. Emerson
removed the. plaintiff from said military pos
at Rock Island to the military post at Foot
Smelling, situsted On the west Bank the
Mississippi river, in the territory known a.
Upper Louisiana, acquired by the Uni,eC
States of France, and situated north of the
latitude OF Sc deg. so min. north. and norl
OF the State of Missouri. Said Dr.. Emer
son held the plaintiff in slavery at For
Smelling until the year 1898.
"In the year 1855, Harriet, (who ii
named in the second count of the plaintiff
declaration,) was the save OF Major Talia
ferro, who belonged to the army of the
United States. In that year. (Is35 said
Major Talaferro took said Harriet to sait
| Fort Smelling, military post situated a,