The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-04-21
Mr.. Sumner on Judge Taney,

In the debate in the Senate, Oh tho bill
introduced by Mr.. Trumbull, OF Illinois
providing for bust of the lato Chief Jus
tice Taney. to DO placed in the Supreme
Court Room of the Unitod States. Mr..
Sumner made the following remarks:
objected to this joint resolution somo
days ago, whom it was reported BY the Sen
ator from Illinois, Mr.. Trumbuii i and h,
was disposed to hurry it at once upon the
Senate. to tho exclusion of important busi.
ness. l objected to it again to- day, but il,
waa from no disposition to discuss it. 4
know well tho trivial apology which
may be made for this proposition, and the
Senator from Maryland (Mr. Johnson) has
already shown something OF tho haraihood
with which it may be defended But. il
tho performance of public Guty, an, 10
different to both.
but good of the dead" This is a familiar
saying. which to certain extent NAV he
acknowledged. But il ia entirely inapplic.
able when statues and busts are proposed
in honor of tho dcad. Thon, at least. truth
must prevail.
1t man has done evil during life. he
must not bo commemorated in marble. -
And it indiscreetly il is proposed to deere,
such signal honor, then tho evil he hu,
done must be exposed; nor shall any falls,
delioacy seal my lips. 1t ia no. eDoupt
that no held high place, that he enjoyet
worldly honors, or was endowed with jutol
loctual gifts.
who wickedly is wise or madIy brave.
lis but the more fool tho moro q knavo.
What is the Office of Chief Justice. if i,
has boon used to 5etray human rigbts?-
Tho crime is great according to tho position
of tho criminal.
= If you were asked. sir, to mention tho in
cident of our history previous to tho rebel.
ion, which was in all respects most WORTHY
OF condemnation, mOst calculated to cause
the blush Of shame, and most deadly in its.
consequences, do not doubt that Won
would say the Dred Scott decision. and es.
pecially tho wicked opinion of tho Chief
Justice on that occasion. I say this with
palm. do not seek this dobate. But when
proposition is made to honor tho autho,
Of this wckedness with a commemorative
bust, at the expense Of the country. an
obliged to speak plainly.
am not aware that tho English iudpe,
who decided contrary to the liberty in cas-,
Of ship money, and thus sustained the kim
in those protensions which ended in ciyii
war, have ever been cOmmemoratod in mar
bic. am not aware that Jefferies, Chief
Justice and Chancellor of England, .amoul
for his talents as for his crimes, has fount
any niche in Westminster Hail. No. sir
They have left him to the judgment of bis
tory, and there, insist that Taney shall b,
left in sympathetic companonship. Eacl
was the tool of an unjust powor. But thu
Power which Taney served was uone othe,
than that Slave Power which has involved
the country in war.
l speak what cannot be donied when
declare that the opinion of tho Chief Jus
tice in the case OF Dred Scott was more
thoroughly abominable than anything OF
the kind in rhe history of courts. Judicial
baseness reached its lowest point on tha,
occasion. You have not forgotten that ter
rible decision whore a most unriphtoous
judgment was sustained by q Justification of
history. OF course, the Constitution of tho
'Unitod States and every principle of Libor.
ty was falsified, but historical truth was
falsified also. have here the authentic ro
port of the case, from which was TO blasf q
whole race, used the following language:
"It is difficult at this day to realize tho
state OF public opinion in relation TO that
unfortunate race, which prevailed in the civ.
iized and enlightened portions of the world
at the time OF the Declaration of IDdenen.
dence, aud then tho Constitution of tho
Onited states was framed and adopted =
But the public history.of every European
nation display 1t in amannor too plain 10
be mistaken. P' ~