Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-01-08


negro might justly and lawfully be re
duced 20 slavery Tor his benefit" ffh
sshifs man's beneff.) "He was boughl
ttseafed and sold ~ IN ordinary arSicl'
Of mesehandise and traffic. wheReve
8 profit could Be made by u. Thi
opinion at that time was fxed and UNI
wersai in the civilized portion Of ih.
/ white race" that consequently sscl
persons were not included among fhs
people IN the genefal sccepsation Of ths
words ured in that Instrument and coule
not in any respect be considered - eif
! izens, and that the inhibition of slavery
in the Territories Of the United State,
lying north OF the line OF thiTty-six de.
grees, thirty minutes, known as the
Missouri Compromise, was unconstitu-
tional, and DTed Scott, slave blael
man, who was removed by his master
from Missouri to Illinois, lost whatey,
er freedoms be may have thus acquired
By being subsequently, removed to'ths
Territory Of Wisconsin and by his return
TO the State Of Missouri.
To the monstrous assumptions OF this
er parfe opinion, unsustained IS they
were by any authorities, and contradic-
ted by an able argument Of The Chief
Justice himself in his younger and per-
haps better days, Justices Nelson. Gri-
er, Daniel, Ware, Campbell and Catron
(the last named with some qualiica-
iions) gave their sanction, while JUS
tees Mclean and Curtis, confessedly
the ablest members Of the Court in that
day, dissenied in able opinions, which
exhibited The falaey Of The opinions oI
the Chief Justice.
II Is needless for me to say that Judge
Taney's decision was hailed with great
satisfaction by the South, which claimed
al once that il should be regarded as
having all the authority which the
highest decision Of the nation could
confer upon it, a demand which the
North strenuously opposed, and regard
ed this ultra Judicial deliverance OF the
highest officer of tbs United States Su-
preme Court with utter loathing and
contempt, and It was perhaps fortunate
for its author that no case came up to
test its authority before the Court was
by The death, resignation and secessIon
OF six OF It's members, including the
Chief Justice himself, completely re-
organized
One word further in regard to Judge
Taney's opinion / think am called
upon 10 say. He says that 'this opin-
ION was. nj that time fixed and univer-
sal in the civilized portion OF the white
race" This indeed shows the state Of
civilization century prior to The De-
claraiion Of Independence, and Col.
Harris feels himself called upon TO vim
dlcate Judge Taney from the charge
which think has been justly imputed
to him as having committed himself in
favor Of that type Of civilization, while
at this late day Col. Harris holds that
the negro, whether slave or free, may
Justly and lawfully be reduced to slave
nv Tor the white mans benefit. Ifsuch
be the case, which | :hink he will not
deny, why then does be endeavoF TO
exonerate Judge Taney by quoting the
following -
mo one, We presume, supposes that
any change in public opinion or feeling
in relation to this unfortunate race (ne-
groes) in the civilized nations Of Eu-
rope or in this country. should induce
the Court TO give to the words Of the
Constitution more liberalconstTuction
in their favor than they. we're Intended
10 bear whenthe instrument was framed
and adop,ed." The above clearly serves
to show that Judge fancy was con-
scious that change OF opinion respect
ing The negro race had been wrought.
Then why in the name Of all that is
good and noble in mankind did he in
corporate in an opinion Of his day SEN
timents which he saw clearly had been
repudiated by the age sentiments too
which were loreign TO the case at issue.
especially when We consider that Dred
Scott was a slave man; but Judge Ia
ney so spread out his opinion as to for
ever set at rest this question as effect
ing negroes in the general term, freeor
slave.
AS | do not desire to draw too hea-
vily upon your valuable space, shall
therefore without any disrespecf to
Col. Harris. whom | personally ad
mire, conclude BY saying that there
is q higher court than Judge Taney's.
court 10 which all mankind can appeal.
Dred Scott will De there, likewise Judge
Taney, and the advocates of slavery,
aud this famous case will be tried de-
moro and without idvoritIsm towards the
South or enmity towards the North;
equal justice will be dispensed, and
"the periured knaves," whether they
be high officials who have, prostiiuted
their positions TO crafty sectional hate.
or those who have sworn in days gone
by TO support the Constitution of their
country and disregarded the same. will
all have theiFjust deserts. There will
be no need of monuments to commean-
crate mems virtues. 1t will be sulfi-
cient 70 have their names written in the
s.lsmb's book Of life" which will be far
more desirable than chiseled m ever
lasting marble.
Yet ore relief this glance Of former years.
Brought mingled with its teass food Of tears,
Aud gushing warm after sleep Of Trost, .
Through valleys where their aou had long been
lost
ee"How Ear is II TO Cub Greek %
asked traveller OF German woman.
.