Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-30
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT ACTED UPON.

From the republican JouruaiS, ouu III" p'""''o'''h
If legislatures and conventions under tna manngs-
MANI of that psrty il would hs difficult To form cor.
reef d.a concerning The subject upon winch ths Su'
preme Court acted in Scotts case. ILp impression
GENERALLY derived from examining tho sources Feierr.
to would he that the judges adjud!catsd upon the
r;sJor, nocy and Justice of slavery, and ds:er-
mined that it demanded and sustained by each.
Few could consult the leading organs OF tho rspu5iI-
can party if full credit should he given to their a'ser'
lions, without supposing that the adgea were govern.
ed by their individual eein'' ana tnes' Iorhea rue
substance of their respective opinions. Those who
read tn. opinions, well rs those who know their
authors will need evidence to satisfy them inst
nothing could be further from the truth. Notwl'h'
standing all that has been said in republican papers
AMI by orators of that party thu majority OF the Sl-
prrms Court ar. not Shareholders.
-Four of the Justices r-sids in free States where no
on. owns slaves The Chief JuI;ice Is not slave
holder nor has he besn for upwards y; thirty year'
II. never bought or sold slave. vi those that The
British spared hs father, when they polluted the SOL
of Maryland some cGme to him by Inheritance Aft.r
educating those vino were young enough I" bslausht
and qualifying them to tsks care of themselves, he
voluntarily gave them all their freedom. Two vii"
were 50 old as to be unable to earn h:lr living Ia
chserfuly supported during their lives lie 20 MOI
since owned n slave. This is full and complete
answer TO the statements often reiterated in the re-
publican papers, that mn,rty OF the court were
slaveholders, and as such nal been influenced III
making their decision.
The court acted not upon tbrr ieeI19S anu sSupa'
thies but upon tho questions Of law involved 10 The
record. They were called upon 10 declare the gus
lions of law raised and argued by counsel upon both
sides. No sensible man can deny that this was iher
sworn drty. Their individual wlehes aud sylnpaihleH
had nothing To- do with the questions before th7 court.
To say that their personal feelings ~etrolsed their
decision would BIZ tr accuae them "f high crime de-
mandiny their impeachment. Ba; their opinions
show that the. pous discussed b. al! the idges were
purely questions of law. Those who contend tia!
The court were actuaied by feeling, u!e two edged
sword which cuts both way. They convict the dTa-
scu,ug Judges IA well the me- ory ct I'll. crime OF
acting from improper motives in delivering their
Judgments instead OF declaring the iaw OF the lsnd
The dissenting members OF The court considered,
discussed, and gave their opinions upon every qies-
tiuu ,nooed and they profess IL declare The law upon
such questions. The majority d" The same thing
Ii the former acted Justly AMI gave their hone-t
views OF the law, il cannot b" true mat the
latter were scuated by feelings nnd wishes 10 con
siiering mud deciding the same quesiinns NE
sworn duty of h- iges il, no; ~ decide upon their
wishes and f..us- but 10 declare tho law IS they
uller.tand il to exist. regardless OF all other consd
crauns Tile majority a5 we'll as 'he minority OF tns
court have left upon record conc!i.:ve evdel"e tnat
nothing but legal questions wera before the court.
and that noting elss uceI upon by TIE j1dILs
in forming and delivering their opinions. They con
sid,red and expressed their views upon these ques
tioua precisely in all other cases There Is equally
IA much reason tor alleging and believing that tho
minority acted rom feeling. prtjudlce, or bsd mo
tives, as that the m4joriry did The recorded pro
ceedn.s conclusivey repel the idea ;ha' the msjotl
ty were governed by ANY other motives than to sx'
,ound the aw as it exists. The rlsmor which has
been raised eranrtes from tho.e who have not even
r..d Their opinions Ii is al extraordinary fact ,ha!
the opinions proving that they related solely to hs
consideration of existing law, have osen wholly With
held from the columns Of the rsp1oican pre's, and
only studied prrversons OF them communicated 70
their readers. Let the people read the opinions, ma
they will then learn that the judges devoted 'heir
attention exclusively to nscertnnnS and declaring
what the law is aud to nothing else.-l bn'o7.