The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-07-12
The Bred scott Dccislon in H7sG.

X or even q le;Nulng OSlLlOn IN IL.
<s
The BRED Scott Decision in RSS6'
The Honesdalc Democrat, in an arsl-
Gle on the observance of Independence
written, no doubt, by Judge Pen.
niman, formerly its editor--thus draws q
fine point of comparison between the
causes which produced the Revolution
and the Dred Scott decision
"But that the British government held tha
the subordinate and inferior class, who had
been subjected by tho dominant race, re-
mained subject TO their authority, and wheth-
er emancipatcd or not had no rights or priv
ileges but such as those who had the power
and llre government might choose to grant
them Chief Justice Taney ana the Slave
holders did not invent the doctrine Of the
Dred Scott decision. They only borrowed ii
from King George III. aud his Prime Minis
ter, Lord North, giving it such special appli-
cation as suited their purposes. IL was
against this doctrine that the Instruction
was stirred up, 1t was to get rid entirely of
:he application Of it that the Union was dis
solved. The men Of l776 thought that In
which throng in the train Of those gauGt
wolves were tolerable in comparison to a
tame submission to so monstrous doctrine
They broke up their habits of old allegiance
Sc cred the tcnderest ties Of blood and aSso-
citation, ieoparded their most precious pecun-
iary interests, put their own lives in desperate
peril, and did not hesitate to carry red slaugh-
ter into tens of thousands Of families in SOL
emn protest that the rights and privileges Of
the interior or subject class did not depend
at ALL in point OF absolute fact upon the mere
will of the class holding control of the gov
ernment. 1t is this, and nothing but this,
which gives the Fourth Of July its towering
pre- eninencc in political annals"
Slavery requires more of the American
people than George III ever dared to;
and more than that, it finds more Tories
to aid it in crushing their rights.
Slavery noe only requires them to-give
up their personal freedom of speech
when within its jurisdiction, but de-
mands that their political rights, even out
of its immediate jurisdiction, shall all be
surrendered to the advantage Of its prop
agation. j requires that one-eighth of
80 millions Of people shall rule the whole,
il government founded on the expressed
will of the majority. 1t out does Bomba
in the application of tortures to its m;ser-
able victims of color, and burns at the
stake, tars and feathers, and whips white
men who protest against those barbara
ties. 1t threatens to dissolve the govern
menC unless It's behcsts are gratifed IN
e cry particular, and makes war upon &C
tu settlers Of the national domain who
refuse to tamely submit to The admins
tration of its barbaric laws. 1t requires
and obtains from President elected by
freemen, the fall recognition of its ma
ional existence i and requires and obtains
the highest legal tribunal of the land to
confirm that recognition at the sacrifice
of the courts respect for the Constitution
and the spirit of American liberty
George III. and his advisers never CON
ceivcd of one-tenth of the barbarism that
Slavery actually practices.