Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-09

VefGict.
Mr. Clay then quoted the list Of grave
charges, as specifically summed up BY Vice
President Breckinridge, against the Repub.
lican p'ry, and replied to them in detail.
NEGRO EQUALITY SET AT REST.
First, We are not guiItv;of the purpose "io
introduce the doctriue Of negro equally into
American politics, and to make IL the
ground OF positive legislation, hostile TO the
Southern States" MAX, the crime is hore.
that We have been guilty o: "inlroduc ing"
Now it is we'll known, So fer as common ru.
NOR goes--we cannot always Judge Of he
motives Of men--that the Dred Scott case
was gotten up by agreement, in advance Of
legislation, but subsequent TO the declara-
tion Of the power of the Democratic party,
TO take possession Of Ksnses. We da not
want any such subject introduced into poll.
tics. Why? Because there was already
odium en- ough attached to US as being the
defenders Of the rights OF the negro against
the white msn. We were called already
"negro lovers" and it was not to our interest
10 get up an issue OF this kind il we desired
so 10 do. But an agreed case vas made, as
is reported IN Howard's reports. The case
up to the Supreme Court of the United
States from the u. s. District Court Of Mis-.
souri,, and although am a follower Of the
plough, and although he has perhaps studied
law all his life, declare that Berish Ma
coffin does not know anything about the
case; there is not common young lawyer
that is not better posted up in this matter.
Gov. Magofin does not profess to know any
thing nbout it-that honorable and high
toned gentleman has never made it hi.
study-any man can see that who reads his
inaugural address. John &. Breckenridge
does understand it. or lie is a great hypo-
critic. He ignorant OF the question at issue,
or he is hypocrits and intended determ-
inedly to deceive the people Of the United
States, but Of course in consequence OF the
respect have for him, believe hat he ia
utterly ignorant Of the questions at issue in
the case.
So far as the Dred Scott decision became
a law of the United States, it is simply thus
that after the case was twice argued in the
Supreme Court of the United States, a ma
| jority standing seven to two of the Justices,
decided that man Of African blood, descend
ed from parents once slaves, could not be a
citizen Of the Unilee States, and therefore
could not sue in the Courts of the United
States, and therefore the Court having no
jurisdiction, it was returned, with instruc-
lions TO sustain the Circuit Court. That i.
what they decided Nov desire to slate
that in my humble judgment, Dred Scot,
was not the slave OF SANFORD, and being 8
free man and man OF color, according to
the Constitution of the United States " hen
1t was made. he had right to sue and had
right to be relieved from .his existence oil
vi et armis, and that was the opinion ot
Justices Mclean and Curtis. and every law.
yer that has read the decision of the Court
in Howard's Reports, thtt have spoken 10
upon the subject, has invariably said to me
that the opinion of Justice Curtis il the
most conclusive piece OF judicial logic ever
presented IN all the bool.s Of Judicial dscs.
ions. have it at home, and dec lare tina,
in my judgment there is no proposition in
Euclid more clearly demonstrated than that
Not that Dred Srott had a right to citizen.
ship, to hold Office and vote, rights which
many white persons, as for instance women
have not, but that he had right to the pro
lection afforded by law; that being free
man, by being carried first into free State
and then 10 the Territory ceded to the Uni
ted States by France, he had right 10 sue
anG to be sued. He never declared that
Scott was entitled to all the privileges OF @
citizen, but the Constitution save:
"The citizens ot each State shall be en,i
tied to all privileges and mmunities Of citi.
zens in the several States" D.
And If Kentucky determines tha, ths
black man cannot hold office in the Com.
monwealth, black man coming from Massa
chuset,s cannot holdlofice; he is but enti-
tied TO the protection of the laws given for
the protection OF his own race and condition
The Dred Scott decision was gotten uE
entirely by the Democratic party, and it was
made in 1856 after the election of Presiden
Buchanan, and intended to sustain the Kan
sas. Nebraska Bill. ..t.. ?.
In passing, allow me to say that we make
no issue with the Supreme Court on thu.
subject. We acknowledge the Supreme
Court decision to be the supreme law Of the
land, iand deny the allegation thst we in
tend illegally and factiousy to resist th'
decision OF that Court, and force kind o
citizenship upon the country with which we
have nothing to do. So isr then for tn,
Dred Scott decision.
|, SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES.
On this point, Mr.. CLAY showed conclu
sive ly that the obiter dicta Of the Suprem,
Court had no force whatever ss law. Al
stated by Judges McLEAs and CURTIS, an
that these opinions were positively enun
eous. He said in conc lusion:
Well now il /. at last brought to this
Congress has the right to establish SLAYER
or to abolish Slavery in the Territories.
is then a mntier upon which swe appeal I
the country for decision. WIN you go 70
Slavery or FIeedoml lieve that TO b.
the doctrine Of the Republican party, an
that is the whole sum and substance Of N
controversy ,>bstween Gus. We say wit
Washington, Jefferson, Madison. Henry an
III - .h .hn1 f.,ba.s r, Il