True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-11
From Washington.

From Washington.
WASHINGTON, March 6. The decis
ion in the Supreme Court in the bred
Scott case, was delivered 10 day by Chief
Justice fancy. Ii was full and elab-
crate statement of the views of the court.
They have decided the following all-im-
portant points. -.-.
lst. That negroes, whether slave or
free, that is men of African race, are not
citizens of the Uuited States by the Con-
stitution. ..,
I'd. That the ordinance of 1887, had
no Independent Constitutional force or le-
gal effect, subsequently to the adoption
of the Constitution, and could not operate
of itself to confer freedom or citizenship
on negroes, not citizens by the Constitu.
ton.
Sd. That the provision Of the act of
1920, commonly called the Missouri
Compromise, is, so far as it undertook to
seclude negro slavery from, and commu-
nicate freedom and citizenship to negroes,
in The northern part of Louisiana session,
was legislative act, exceeding the pow
ers of Congress, and void and of no legal
effect 10 that end in deciding these main
points.
The Supreme Court have determined
the following incidental points
1st, The expression of territory, and
other property of the Union in the Con-
stitulion, applies in terms only to such
territory as the Union possessed at
the time of the adoption of the Consitu'
tion.
ID. The rights of citizens of the Uni
ted States emigTating 10 any fedora
territory and power of federal govern
ment may there depend on the genera
provisions of the. Constitution. .,
Sd. Congress does not possess powe
itself to make enactments relative 10 per
sons or property of citizens of the Unite'
States in federal territory, other than sucl
9 as tie Constitution confers; so it canno
/. Constitutionaly delegate any such pow
f ers to territorial government organize,
/. by it under the Constitution.
4th. The legal condition Of slave i
/. the State of Missouri, is not affected b.
a temporary sojourn, of such slave in an
y other State but on his return, his cor
q dition still depends on the laws of Mis-
d souri as the plaintiff was not citizen {
!. Missouri, therefore could not sue in tn
= courts Of the United States, the suit mu!
p be dismissed for want Of jurisdiction
The delivery OF this opinion occupie
!. about four hours it was listened TO wit
j. profound attention by a crowded cou
e room, Among the auditors were man
ID gentlemen Of eminent legal ability, and
n dueproporion ofladies. a.
70 Judge Catron believed the Supren
70 Court has Jurisdiction to decide the me
y. a. its of the case in the course of his r
marks said Congress could not do direc
II ly what il could not do indirectly. If
Ct could exclude one species Of property,
20 20 could another. With regard to terrific
les ceded, Congress could govern the
only with restrictions ofStales which G.
ded them, and the Missouri act of 49,
violated the leading features of the Co
of sltution. 1t was therefore void. +
concurrod with his brother Judges III
eli Scott is slave, and was SO when Il
suit was brought. Several other Judg
Of are to deliver their views to morrow. 2
q Capt. Pettigrew, United States Arm
D. is dead.
WASHINGTON, March THE ne
of Cabinet officers took their positions
noon to day. The duties of the heads
k, departments have been performed
chief clerks since the 4ih inst. OK ss