The Richmond palladium., 1865-03-23
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. xR.

y L
Inshe debass in the Senate on thu bill introduced
BY Mr Trumeul Of Illinois, prDviiias for bust Of
the lase ChsfJustice Taney, BE- placed in the Su-
,xsne Court Room cf the United States, Mr. inner
m1ae the following rsmarks:
objected - this joint resolution som. days ago,
when i was reported BY the Senator from Illinois Nr
Trurn5ulll !. aud hs was disposed 20 hurry
the Senate, 10 the exclusion Of important bust
ness objected TO s again to-day bal il was from no
iusiis position 10 discuss is
know well the trivial apology which NAV De made
for tbs proposition, and the Senator from Maryland
Nr Johasea9 has already shown something OF the
harihocd with which i. NAV be dcfes,ied Bus IN the
performance of public duty | am niiiercn, - bota
Spoio<r IS too obvious. Nothing but god Of
the dead" This is familiar saying. which 10 a
~ inapplicahae when statues and husts proposed
IN honor ef ;he dead. Then, least truth must pre
vsl.
Fa man has done evil during his life he must not
De commeInorated in marble. Aud If indisereefly i.
II proposed 70 decree such signal honor, then the
evil he has done be exposed nor shall any false
delicaey seal my lips II is not enough that he held
high place, that he enjoyed worldly honors or
endoS ed with intellectual gifts.
Wha vickediy Is wise or nadlv brave
Is but the more foal, the more knave.
What is the Office of Chef-Jas.ice, If it has teen
used 10 betray human rights? The crime is great, ac-
eoriing 10 the position of the criminal.
II you were asked, sir, to mention the incident of
our history previous TO the rebellion, which in all
respects worthy OF condemnation. most cacula ted 10
cause the blush of shame and most 1esdy in con
sequences, do not doubt that yea weuld say the
D Scout decision and especially the wicked opinion
OF The ehiefJustice that say this with
pam !. l do not seek this debate. But when propo-
sition IS made TO honor the author of this wckedness
with commemorative bust a: the expense of the
! eoantry am obliged 20 speak plainly.
am not aware that the English Judges who decided
contrary to liberty in the OF ship-mooey, and
thus sustained the Ming IN those pretensions which
ended in civil have ever been eornmemorated in
marble. am not that Jeffrevs, Chief Justice
ana .haneeiior OF England famous for his talents as
Tor ms crimes, has found any niche Westminster
Hall No, sir Ttey have been left 10 the judgement
OF history and there insist that Taney shall be ef.
IN sympathetic companionship. Each was the tool
of unjust power But the Power which Taney served
was none other than the Slave Power which has in
yolved the country in war.
speak what cannot be denied when / dacare the
OPINION OF the Chief-Justice in the of Dread
seott was more a5omnabie than ything of the kind
IN the history ot Courts. Judicial baseness reached
IT'S lowest point on that occasion. You have not for
gotten that terrible decision where mos. unrighteous
Judgement was sustained by Justification of history
vi course the Constitution of the United States and
every principle of liberty was falsie bat historical
truth falsifed also have here the authentic re-
port OF the case from which it appears that the Chief
1nstce While enforcing his unjust conclusion which
was to blast a whole race, used the following ian-
guage:
1T is difficult at this day TO realize the state of pub
lie opinion in relation that unfortunate race which
prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions OF
the world at the time of the Declaration of nepend
ence and when the Constitution of the ntej States
was framed and adopted. But the public history of
every European nation displays il in manner too
plain to be mis- taken.
They had for more than century before been re-
gared as beings of inferior order, and altogether
unfit to associate with the white race, either in social
or political relations and inferior that they had
no rights which the white man is bound TO respect,
and that the negro might justly and lawfully be
duced to slavery for his benefit" l9 Howard's Re
ports 407.
In these words. solennly and authoritaGvey utter
ed by the Chief Justice of the United States, human
sy and truth set at nanght, and the whole coun-
a.
down while bloody slavery hourished over u.s."
quote his words fully so that there be mis-
take Here then, Is his expressed assertion that at
the Declaration of Independence in l.I6, and the
adoption OF the National Constitution in 1889, in Eu-
no rights which white men were bound to respect
Now, sir, this lis fase-atrociously false. Ii is
orous that there were States of the Union where.
the adoption OF the Constitution coorci persons
free and in the enjoy of the ELECTORAL fran
chise while in England the Somerset case had al
ready decided that there could be no distinction of
persons account of color, and Scotland, Holland
and France, had all declared the rule On this
point there can be no question. And yet this Chief
Justice, whom you propose TO honor with a marble
bust had the unblushing erontery declare that
that time, we'll abroad at home, '.coored men
had no rights which white were bound 10
spect )" and this he said in order to Justify wicked
Interpretation of the Constitution. Search the Judi
cial annals and you will find perversion of truth
more fragrant.
Sir it is not fit ii is not decent that such person
should be commemorated by vote of Congress.
pecally at this time when liberty is at last recognized
II nave money 10 appropriate IN bhis let IL
be done in honor of the defenders of liberty
gathered to their fathers. There John Quincy
Adams. There also Joshua r. Gddings. Let
their busts be placed in the room if you please
where with marble lips they plead always for hu
man rights and teach, judge and advocate the beauty
of justice. Then will you do something not entirely
unworthy of a regenerated land; something which
will be an example for future times something which
will help to fix the standard of history.
know that in the court room there busts of
other Chief Justices. Very WELL So in the hall of
the doges, at Venice, there pictures of all who
filled that high office in unbroken succession with the
exception of Marino Faliero who, although venera
bic from years as Taney, deemed unworthy OF
place in that line. Where his picture should have
been there vacant space which testified always
to the justice of the republic Let such space
court room testify to the justice of republic
Letit speak in warning to all who would betray liber
ty.