Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-06

Slavery into all the States. But it does
not carry Slavery anywhere. 1t only acts
upon itwhere it fads it established by the
local law.
In connection with this pou. am ask
ed to state my views on the Dred Scott
case. and what was really determined By
the Supreme Court in that case. /; Is my
opinion, carefully conJ lered. that the Court
determined one single point Of law only,
tha, is, tina, Scott. the plaintiff, being
negro Of African descent mot necessarily
/ a slave, could not be a citizen Of Missou-
/ ri, and therefore could not sue in the Fed
eral Court ; and that, for this reason, and
this alone, the Circuit Court had no juris-
dictiou in the cause, and no power TO give
judgment between the parties. The only
jurisdiction which the Supreme Court had
Of the cause was for the purpose Of cor
recting the error of the Circuit Court, in
assuming the power TO decide upon the
merits Of the case. This power the Su-
Preme Court did exercise, BY setting aside
the judgment OF the Circuit Court upon
the merits, and by di.mssing the suit,
without any judgment for or against either
party. This is all that the Supreme Court
did, and all that it bad lawful power TO do.
consider it great public misfortune
that several Of the learned judges should
have thought that their duty required
them TO discuss and give options upon
various questions outside Of the case, as
the case was actually disposed of By the
Court All such opinions are extra judi
cial, and of no authority. But, beside
this, it appears TO me that several Of tie
questions discussed by the Judges are Pc
htical questions, and therefore beyond the
cognizluce of the judiciary, aud proper
only to be considered and disposed Of by
tue political departments. II am night
in this, and it seems to lie plain, the pre-
cedeu; is most unforiuuaie, because it may
lead to dangerous couflct Of authority
among the coordinate branches Of the
Government
8. As to the Colonization Of the Free
LGcks.
For many years I have been connected
with 'he American COLONIZATION Society,
Of which the rising young State of Liberia
is the first fruit. | consider the object
both humane and wise, beucfteu; alike to
the free blacks who emj CRATE, and to the
whites whom they leave bebiud. But AT
rica is distant, aud presents 50 many obsta-
cles to rapid settlement, that We can no:
Indulge the hope Of draining of in that
direction the growing numbers Of our free
black population. The tropical regions OF
America, think, offer far better pros
pee; both for Us and for them.
i, As 70 any inequality Of right among
AmerjcGR cit-eHs.
| recognize no distinction among Amer
ican citizens but such as are expressly laid
down in the Constitution. | hold that our
Government is bound to protect all the
citizens in the eujoymeu, of all their rights,
everywhere, and against al! assaiiants.
And as to all these rights, there is no
difference between citizens born and cit-
Gems made such BY law.
5. Am lin .taror Of the construction Of
a Railroad from the IaHey Of the -uissis-
sippi to the Pacific Ocean, under the aus
piees of the General Government ?
Yes, strongly. l not Only believe such
road Of vast Importance as the means of
increasing the population, wealth aud
power of this great valley, but necessary
as the means Of National defense, and Of
preserving the integrity Of the Union.
6. An / in f:ror Of the measure called
the H,niestead BWP
Yes. | AN for guarding the public
lands, as well as possible, from the danger
Of becoming the subject of common trade /
aud specialization keeping them for the /
actual use Of the people-and for granting
tracts of suitable size to those who will
actually inbabit and improve them.
:. An I IN taror Of tie immediate ad-
mission Of Kansas under the Iiyandot Con-
sfitution :?
| think that Kansas ought to be admit
ted without delay, leaving her, like all the
other States, the sole judge of her own
Constitution.
Thus, gentlemen, I believe have an.
'wered all your inquiries in plain, intel
igibIe manner, and, hope, to your salts
faction. | have not attempted to support
my answers by argument, for that could
not be done in short letter aud restrain
ng myself from going into general poll
lies, have confined my remarks to the
particular subjects upon which you re-
IQested me TO write
Your obliged fellow. citizen,