The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-02-03
Speech of Hon. p. Bliss, In the
House of Representatives on
the 9Th of January.

House of representatives on
the 9Th of January.
Mr.. Chairman, 1t is very evident, and
necessarily so, that the committee are
not now prepared to go on with the dis
cussion of this question. I do not rise
for the purpose of discussing the ques-
ton that has occupied the attention of
gentlemen here, yesterday and to-day;
and if the committee desire to vote upon
the pending amendment, and then pass
from this resolution to the consideration
Fof the other resolutions relating to the
Presidents message, will yield the
floor for that purpose.
It is intimated to me, sir, that other
gentlemen desire to speak upon this
question, and knowing the difficulty, un-
der our rules, of getting the floor when
ever the most proper time comes, I
shall proceed to the consideration of the
subject that / design to discuss. My
object, Mr.. Chairman, is to call the at
tention of the committee and the country
to another question, one that deeply ag
itates the country-not the froth and
outlaws of the cities--but the great hearts
of those who love justice and are interes-
ted in the preservation of free institu-
tions.
Since the last Congress the country
has been startled by political opinion of
our Supreme Court, known as the Dred
Scott decision, that makes it doubtful
whether we have not already relapsed in
to despotism The President indorses
it, and am informed that the Depart
ments base their official action upon it,
and it is for this I now and here arraign
it. The irregularity of that opinion; the
absurdity of turning man out of court
for want of jurisdiction, and then giving
judgment against him on the merits; the
disregard of the rights of the States, the
rights of man; and the truth of history;
its reckless partisanship and eager mall
ice. form the saddest chapter In modern
Jurisprudence. ordinarily feel bound
to treat judicial opinions With respect,
though they disagree with mine But,
while I remember that the meanest ty-
rants the world has known have been
the sworn expounders of the law, I can
| have no reverence for men merely as
judges; and if they descend from their
high calling as protectors of liberty and
law, to become their betrayers, their po
sition shall notscreen their double treach-
cry from just scrutiny.
This court is itself democratic an
omoly-a soleeism, as Jefferson called it.
It's conduct has yindicated the democrat
ic principles, SO strangely departed from
in its organization, and I hope for the
cooperation of the Democracy here in
support of the bill which hope to intro
duce for the curtailment of its overgrown
powers Without show of reason, in
face of all law, all authority, sectional,
irresponsible body, a body blind with
prejudice, if no worse, reprepresenting
nothing, but despotic interest, and
gathered together, by long and careful
labor and sitting, for the express purpose
of serving that interest; trusting to their
responsibility, and eallous to the opin-
ion of mankind, this body, to the extent
of its powers, has overthrown the law of
citizenship, and published pages of gross
and illegal dictd upon the law of slavery.
This decision and this dicta have been
triumphantiy answered by the minority
of the court, and by distinguished citi-
zens of the States; yet, I feel impelled,
as the Representative of people burn
ing with sense of outraged justice, to
enter their and my indignant protest.
With thereproduction of the novelties
of the propagandists, to digest which,
for the future shib5oleth of the slave
Democracy was this dicta uttered, l shall
not now meddle. / have before consid-
cred these novelties; may DO so again;
but my object now is to examine as fully
as your oppressiverules will permit, what
/. understand to, be the decision of the
court. feel especially impelled to this
seem fearful of being suspected of con-
Germ for the rights of blacks, and the at
tention of others seem diverted from this
insidious and most dangerous attack, by
the enemy's fresh attempts to enslave
our own territories, to rob, to enslaye,
those of our neighbors.
And in view of some disclaimers, here
and elsewhere, upon one matter l wish
| to be distinctly understood. Whatever
my philosophy in regard to races, it has
no business here. However may dep
recate the unwise efforts of some friends
of freedom, l. reserve my censures for
them and in their own presence.
But here, under the shadow Of a des-
potic interest, cooperation compared to
which a union of all the banks in America
under single directory, condensed from
a thousand Biddles, would be but ger-
tie monster, where it SO often frightens
towards and scourges slaves, scorn to
say or do aught that may imply a doubt
my living sympathy with the crushed
subjects of its power, or with any who
manfully Withstand it. And pray not
to be suspected of that spurious philan-
thropy, atheistic Christianity, or false
Democracy, that is indifferent to the
wrongs of any class. As Christian,
believe that God is our common Father
/" that he has made of one blood al
nations of men to dwell on all the face Of
the earth;" that Christ is the elder broth
er as we'll of the Ethiopian and Saxon
as his own race, and that as we treat the
least of these his brethern, We treat him
As Democrat, I believe in the equality
/ of all men before the law, and that human
rights pertain to human nature. AS &
legislator, dispenser of justice, SO fal
from discriminating against the help
Hess and weak, if found one man, O.
class of men. more helpless or more sub