Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-12-25
NOW FOR THE TEST.

The great test of patriotism and of love of the
Of the United States in these treason.
able and troublous times, is to swear unalterable
allegiance to the bred Scott decision, mo decision
by tho way) and denounce all who will not hold
up pious hands in holy horror at those sacriligious
w~retches, who deny the immaculate purity of the
Supreme Court of the United States. The cry of
shame" upon Black Republicans for their daring
and unstinted review of the bred Scott decision, is
the torte not only of Mr.. Buchanan, but also of his
late friend, Mr.. Douglas. An opportunity will
soon present itself by which the country may test
the sincerity OF the party which so loves to abide
by decisions Of the Supreme Court.
The Amistad case is on the taps. Everybody
may not remember that after this Spanish schooner
Amistad arrived in her circ itous course on the
coast Of Connecticut with her cargo on beard Of
~fftyrfour kidnapped Africans who had risen and
killed the captain and part of the crew, that the
claim Of Ruiz and Montez, protesting to be the
owners Of these mel, was tried in the L. S. Disr
trict Court of Connecticut. The facts of the forci.
bic seizure of the blacks in Africa, and their invol-
untary conveyance to Cuba, were shown by ample
proof; and the defence proceeded to demonstrate,
what admitted Of no serious controversy, that in
the absence of explicit international treaties to
that effect, there is no obligation to surrender tu.
gitives from justice. 1t was also made out that as
the alleged murder occurred on the high seas, and
as the negroes were freemcn, the Court had author.
ity to adjudicate the homicide to be instifable. il
being clearly n warrantable assertion of libertv-
The Court held for the respondents, DENYING the
claim Of the Spaniards and recognizing the freedom
Of tho blacks. The Administrator INSTANTLY or,
derel the case to be carried to the United States
Supreme Court. Upon argument there, John Quin,
cy Adams and Rodger S. Baldwin appearing for
the Africans, the judgment Of The Court bclop was
s,Stained-it being proved to the satisfaction of the
Court that the negroes never were the slaves of
Muntez or of Ruiz, or Of any Spanish subject"
Not content with this decision, the Spanish Min.
lister, Argaiz, pressed this claim still further in
1871, upon the notice of our government, when. on
tho lst Of September in that year, Mr.. Webster
replied to him in q note, resting his denial of the
demand upon several points, but chiefly on tho de.
cision Of the Supreme Court. This settled the mat.
ter for that time, and the Spanish government
ceased to press the claim until they found a Score,
tary Of State in the person of james Buchanan
in the Cabinet Of Polk. As the N. Y. Times re.
marks;
MIR. Buchanan had no such views of the M we
Of the Supreme Court as those entertained by his
predecessor. lie had no such respect for its deeis.
ions. lie promptly assured the Spaniard that he
admitted the entire justice of the claim, and that
the President would urge it upon Congress. In
the annual Message of Mr.. Polk, Dec. 7, 1877, the
pledge was fulfilled"
Well, since that time, however. the old gentle.
man who falteIs feebly through what he probably
considers his true line of policy as President. has
changed his mind. To him a decision of tho So.
preme Court of the United States is not only law
but gospel. Will the great law.loviug Democracy
tramp!' under foot the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Amistad matter, and pay the claim Of
'wo disappointed man'stealers in the face Of tina,
decision? Let us wait and see !-Pus. Gazette