The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-03-29

state my views of the Dred Scott case,
and what was really determined by the
Supreme Court i'm thatcase. 1t is my
opinion, carefully considered, that the
Court determined one single point of
law only. That is, that Scott, the plain
tiff, being negro, ofAfrican descent,
not necessarily a slave, couhl not be Il
citizen of Missouri, and therefore could
not sue in the Federal Court, and that
nrthis reason and this alone, the Circuit
Court ha'lno jurisdiction of the cause
and no powerto. give judgment between
theparties. The only jurisdiction which
the Supreme Court had of the cause
was for the purpose of correcting the
error of the Circuit Court in assuming
the power to decide on the merits ot
the case. This power the Supreme
Court did exercise by setting asi.le the
judgment of the Cirriiit Court upon the
merits, and by ,lismissing the suit with
out amy Judgment for or against either
party. This is all that the Supreme
Court did. and all that it had lawful
power to do. consider it a great pub
lie misiurtune that several of the elearncd
Judges should have thought that their
duty required them to discuss and give
opinions upon various questions ontside
of the case. as the ease was actually
disposed of by the Court. All such
opinions are extra judicial and of no
authority. But, besides this, it appears
to me that several of the questions so
discussed bv the Judges are political
questions, and therefore beyond the
jurisdiction of the judiciary, aml proper
only to be considered and disposed of
10y the political departments. If I am
right in this, an,l it seems to me plain,
the precrden: is most unfortunate, be-
cause it may lead to 4 dangerous con-
tlict of authority among the coordinate
branches of the Government.
Ills to colon;zrtion Of the Free
Bucks.
For many years have been connec-
ted with the American Colonization
Society, of which The riSi g young
State of Liberia is the first fruit. !
consider the object both humane and
wise, benciiccnt alike to the free blacks
who rmi"ratr. and tu the whites whom
they leave behind. But Africa is dis
tant, and presents so many obstacles to
rapid settlement that we cannot indulge
the hope of drawing off in ihrt dircc
tinn the growing numbers of our free
black population. The tropical regions
Of America. | think, offer a far better
prospect both for us and for them.
TH-As to any Laequality Of Rights
among Americdn Citizens.
I recognize no distinctions among
American citizens, but Stlrh as are cx-
prpsSlv laid down in The Constitution ::
aud holl that our government is
bound to protect all the citizens in the
eninyment of all their rights every
where. and against all assailan's and
as To these rights there is no difference
between citizens born, and citizens
made snch by law.
H-1na Tin ffUor Of the Construction
Of q Roilroad from tie Valley of
the Mississippi to the Ptcifc Ocean,
smder the auspices Of the General
Government.
Yes, thoroughly. I do not only he
lieve such road to he of vast i'm.
portance as the means of increasing
the population, wealth and power
of this great valley, hut necessary as
the means of national defense and of
preserving the integrity of the Union.
N-Am I m ffcor Of the measure
ca.leI the Homestead BIZ!
Yes. I ann for guarding the public
lands as well as possible from the dan
ger of becoming the subject of common
trade and speculation for the actual
use of the people, and for granting
tracts of suitable size 10 those who will
actually inhahit and improve them.
VLL-Am Tin faror of the immediate
admission Of Ennsas mnder TIE
I. Wyandotte Constitution?
/ think that Kansas ought tn be adj
mitted without delay, leaving her, like
all the other States, the sole Judge ot
her own Constitution.
Thus, gentlemen, | believe I have
answered all your inquiries in plain
intelligible manner, and hope to youi
satisfaction. | have not attempted t.
support my answers by argument, to,
that could not he dome i'm short letter
and restraining myself from going into
general politics. | have confined my
remarks to the particular subjects upon
which you requested me I" write.
Your obliged fellow-citizen.
EDWARD BATES.