The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-03
THE TANEY CONTROVERSY.
THE REAL QUESTION IN THE DRIED SCOTT DE
cIsIoN-AN EXPLICIT REFERENCE.

SIR: As there has been some dispute in re-
gard to the origin and use of the
expression that negroes had no
rights which the white man
was bound to respect" desire to show the
readers OF your papers the manner in which
it was used and the purpose of its use. The
case of bred Scott VS.. Sandford is a very
lengthy one, covering nearly two hundred
and forty pages, but a brief extract will suf-
ice to show the purpose and import of the
expression as used by Chief Justice Taney.
The learned judge was discussing the ques-
ton of citizenship, and he thought it proper
to refer to the history of the African race
prior to the declaration of independence, and
the status of the negro at the time of the
formation of the union, in order to determine
whether he was citizen of the United States
and entitled to the rights conferred on white
men by the constitution. Chief Justice Ia
ney never decided in the bred Scott case, or any
other case, that negroes had no rights which
the white man was bound to respect,v nor
was that point, in that form, ever decided by
any court, nor did Judge Taney use the lam
guage to express his own private opinion or
the opinion of any member of the court The
following will show exactly how, and in
what connection, the language was used.
Mr.. fancy said, in delivering the opinion of
The court:
1t is difcult at this day. to realize the state of
public opinion in relation 10 that unfortunate
race which prevailed in the civilized and en-
lightened portions of the world the time of the
declaration of independence, and when the con-
st1tutlon OF the United states was framed and
adopted. Bot the public history of every Euro
pean nation displays it in a manner too plain to
fury before, been regarded beings of an inferi-
| or order, and altogether unfit to associate with
the white race, either in social political rela-
which the white man was bound to respect; and
that the negro might justly and lawfully be re-
and sold, aud treated as an Ordinary article Of
merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could
be made by 1t. This opinion, at that time, was
the white race. 1t was regarded an axiom in
morals as well as in politics, which no one
thought OF disputing or supposed to be open to
| in society daily and habitua1ly acted upon it in
their private pursuits, as well as in matters of
public concern, without doubling for moment
the correctness of this opinion. And in no nation
was this opinion more firmly fixed more uni
| formly acted upon than by the English govern
ment and English people. They not only seized
them on the coast OF Africa, and sold them or held
/ them, ordinary articles of merchandise, TO
| every country wnere they could make profit
on them, and were FAR more extensively engaged
| world. The opinion thus entertained and acted
upon in England, was naturally impressed upon
the colonies they founded on this side of the At
lantic, and accordingly a negro of the African
race was regarded by them as an article of prop
erty and held, and bought and sold as such. In
every one of the thirteen colonies which united
in the declaration of independence and after
ward formed the constitution of the United
in the different colonies as slavela was found
more less profitable. But no one seems to
opinion Of tSe time Dred Scott t vs Psandfora
18th Howard ~. 81 407-40S. J.M.C.
| INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. q.
COL. BOWLING AND THE DEMOCRACY.
THE CoLoNEL's VACANT PLACE ON THE STATE
| CENTRAL CoMMITTEE-A DEMOCRAT SAYS A
| WORD AS TO CHANCE FOR THE VACANCY.
To the Editor of the Sentinel;-
SIR: 1 see by the Terre Haute Journal
as state committeeman of the democratic
party. The indianapolis Journal become.
sarcastic, and says that "Col. Bowling could
stand it no longer that the weight of some
thing was too much for him." 1 can mo-
say how this is, but l wish to say that the
democratic party of this portion of the state
are anxious to have the right kind of DEM
ocrat in his place. / do not know whose
duty it is to appoint his successor, but am
told that the members of the committee have
the right to fill his place. AS democrats, we
do not intend to find fault with Col. Bowling
as 10 his acts while he was member of the
committee. That was in the past. We mus:
look to the future. We see the republican
party making long strides, and high bids fol-
continuance of political favor. In congress
in state conventions, in county conventions
and down to the county committees, we see
them counting workingmen, grangers, tenn
perance people, anti-temrerance peOple-in
fact, all shades of political opinion, an6
all for the purpose of further securing the
, franchises of the people. Morton says
railroads must be regulated by congress a.
to prices for passengers and freights. while
> his party here have not enough stamina &c
withstand the Terre Haute and Indianapoli,
railroad company-only seventy three nile:
long. / only mention these facts to show
how hard the republicans work to make
} mere talk pass for reform. That we lost {
golden opportunity in not holding our con
venrion on the sth OF January firmly be
lieve.
FACTS AND ACTS
Since that have confirmed my faith. TIL,
action of majority of our democratic mem
bers of congress has strongly helped me il
this opinion. Had the state convention beef
! held we would and should have laid dowl
our condemnation and disapproval of tn
J salary grab so strongly that those men wh'
say they are democrats in congress would
, have felt and known too that their acts wer
condemned by their own party. i hold had
this been done it would not have been sc
likely that Hon. w. s. Holman and Hon. S
s. Cox would have been all the democrats il
congress who had the nerve ant
: sense to refuse to vote for Fernando Wood
4 If the state central committee SHOULD
see proper to fill Col, Dowling's place by
: democrat from this portion of the state, tn
, marty here desire to be understood as want
i ing none in his place but a true-blue oil,
fashioned democrat. One who believes il
: the maintenances of the democratic part,
and its principles man identified with N
D cliques or rings-one who is known as
, thorough and full blooded democrat-I meal
by this man who believes that If we wan
to perpetuate this government, that we mus
perpetuate the democratic party; that
we want to rid the country of corruption il
high and low place, have honest and capabl
men for our officers; men who will see tina
reform is a reality and not sham; tina
! none but known and acknowledged demo
d Gratis shall be put in places. When tn
r future of the democratic party is involved