, 1874-01-21
THE DRED SCOTT DECISION.
Caleb Cushing AMI Judge TNney-.
Eecctificnti0n OF NlfsBtntemell1s.

Caleb Cushing and Judge Tnney--
Eeectificntion OF Nlisstntenaents.
70 The Editor Of Tho Chicago Tribune r.
SIN: It sooms that errorB which Gro aancti-
iol by time arc the most difficult to eradicate.
It would seem that, aftor the passion Of pnrty-
strife had boon allayed, Intelligent and account
able moral bengs would take no pleasure in por
| petuating lie which was coined for tie purpose
Of IL firing tho public heart"
In order to mike point against Caleb Cuah-
ing after his nomination for Olief-Juatice, the
Chicago Eusning Journal stated, or intended to
create the impression, that n1r. Gushing, as At
torney- General OF tho United States WAS coun-
sci In the bred Scott case; and TINT he fully ad-
vocated aud embraced the doctrine Of Chief
Justice Taney. And tllon tho journal quoted
what politicians in former times put into the
mouth Of Judge Taney as expressive of his senti-
ments viz:
ferior ORDER mud altogcncr t TO assoclate with the
white race either IN soeial or political relations aid
man ia bound to respect.
Tho only points made by the Journal were
both falhe: Gushing WIS not counsel III tho
case, and Chief Justice Tauoy mover inlorsed
any such sentiment. and did not pretend to say
that he held any such vows Taney WAS a man
OF Tho very highest character. As Judge,
America never produced greater. In point Of
ability, he was tho equal Of Marshall in point
Of learning, bis superior. It is duty now Tint
| every lnwyer owoy, to roscue hts character from
the silly attanks Of tho ignorant and Jesultical:
| It cannot be expected tuat tho Journal could
| understand or appreciate grant Judge or law-
yer. On ACCOUNT OF the oft,repeated Ae desse ee
Chief~Jugtice Taney did say In that celebratod
opinion (see 10 Howard, 4o7}:
Il Is dlflcult at this day to Eaze the state of Publ!e
opinion In rolnon to that race Nlic IRE
|
world at the time Of tho Declaration Of lndeRodence,
framed and aoptod. But TIN public history OF every
European nation displays It III manner too plan to
They had for moro then century before been 70
o essqsa @ s r loy ha
rights which tile white nun wap bound to Iespeet
hat tho might IL "sty sst s lawfully IL 1s
ofnsry srsle Of Gu md tsso w sseysE Eye.
time 6sed aud anversal la tne civilized portion Of tho
white race. waa regarded vi ~ a1on IN fnors!s ss
grads md position ii socisty daily aad IaI!taay
1nenen. tno Il eosreetnoss i hs opon ''f
ormose uniformly aste upon tla4 5y tSo snssh Gov;
n Eg a s so and TssE ssa nft ~ exd I'll
look tllen, ordinary articles Of merchandise to
every country WherG they cOli lRkc profit OIL tLe,
aud we1a far extensively engaHel III Ibis
| u1ercu than my other nation III tho world.
Tlie opinion thus entertained aud acte upon In Eng
1snL waa naturally impressed upon the Colonies they
founded thia sde Of tho AtAttto And, nccortling-
", negro of tho Atrcau race regarded by them
as nrtcle Of property, and hold, and bought, mud
sold such, fl every one Of the Thirteen Colou!ca
which unisoa In thu Ioelaraon Of 1ndpl~ndrllee ns,
afterwards formed tho Constitution Of tho United
HtacH Tho slayeA or less numerous III tho
| different Colonies As slaya-nbor found mora Or
less profitable. But M unB scG1ns to have doubted
tho corrcutuess ot tho prevailing opinion Of the tine.
Tho Clief-Iustice was giving tho history OF
African slavery, and tho selltn0nta Of the Euro
penn raceB upon tic question; and le simply
said tint, q hundred years prior to tue adoption
OF the Constitution ct tho United Statoa, The
negro was considered aa having no rlghtn which
| tho white n,an waH bound TO roApaot. Can any
one doubt that Allch was tho sentiment In that
far-oir tfmo? To deny It is simply tn write one
self All ignoramus.
There arc but few loft who intlorso any s,lcll
sentiment; and, iudeotl, there aro fow who do
not rejoice at the defoat OF Calob Gushing OIL
, account OF lia past potical aontimentH. But no
! man with spark OF honesty In hls composition
will at this day aego that judge Tanoy oxprosH"
.. Cd any such harbaroua sentiments as hIa own.
TO do 80 simply shows tho gross ignorance Of
! the person ASSERTING tho saule. +.