Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-04-27

The Ellsworth imcrtsGH speaks Of resi-
dent at that town as one of that unfortu-
nate racc that Justice fancy s1ys = have no
rights which white men are bound to re-
Spcct. Viii the -iHeriraH tell us where
Justice fancy makes that declaration 1t is
not IN l,e found IN any production of his
that We have ever >ocn.-Repub}afdH Journal
Here is what the Judge did say
In the opinion of the court. the lcgisla-
ton and histories Of the times and the Ian
guagc used in the Declaration of IndcIend-
cntr, show, that neither the class of persons
who had been imported as slaves, nor their
descendants, whether they had become free
or not, were then acknowledge as part Of
the people, nor intended 10 Ike included in
the general words u>t,,l in that memorable
instrument.
1t is difficult AT this day t. realize the
state of public opinion in relation tn that
unfortunate race, which prevailed in the civ
ilized and enlightened portions of the world
ut the time of the Declaration Of lndcrend-
cuce. and when the I institution Of the
intel States was framed and adopted But
the public history Of every European nation
displays it in manner to plain t. bc mis-
tn ken.
They had FIR more than century before
been regarded AZ lcing. Of an inferior order,
and altogether unfit t. ass ,eiate with the
white race, either in social or political re-
lati1ns; and so far tafcrior. that they had na
rights ,rhich The trhitc man ,rGs round 10 re-
spcc'; and that the negro might justly and
lawfully be reduced II slavery for his bcnc-
fit. He was bought az sd, aud treated as
an o. 9',nary article Of merchandise and traf-
ne, whenever prgft could Ia. made by it.
What is the lesie of all this? Why, that
Judge fancy was laboring with all his skill
to prove that the condition of the negro was
such that he had no rights. He asserts
that they had none BEFORE the adoption OF
the Constitution and might be sid as
merchaudSe. lie asserts as fqct what
some Of his learned associates. assert with
more show of reason. was not fact
that tue negro had no civil or Political
rights, at a certain time, and then draws the
inference that they have none NOW. The
learned Judge does not interpret history. CT
public opinion, or tie institutions of the
land, in light 10 give this unfortunate race
any hope at all for future He predicates
his own opinion in the case under considera.
ton upon the plea that for a century they
had been regarded as inferior beings" and
is willing, 50 far as that opinion can -. u
make that their condition tor century T.
tome. The logic of this action Of the Judge
is plainly this Our ancestors thought the
- black man had no rights which white men
are bound to respect, ;" and |, one of thcil
sons, living century later in the world,
history, being a Judge in the nation, think
just as my ancestors, and therefore decide
that bred Scott is not citizen and has ne
rights now dc. &c. Some Of the other judy.
rs, TO say the least, as learned in the law OF
history, drew a more hopeful picture on the
canvass. They did . not like to draw the
sources OF our domestic relations from st
dark ground. . They found many of the
eal0red race were citizens Of New England
and exercised the rights Of sagrGge when the
constitution was adopted. What makes all
this difference in interpreting history aud
public opiniou' Is it not because these