Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-11

court, decided II q negroes, wne-
Their free or slave, wera not citizens
OF the United States, and that they
could not become so by any process
known 10 the constitution; that the
Missouri compromise of 1920, as
well as the compromise measures of
1850 were unconstitutional and
void. This was a most damnable
decision, and one that viii forever
remain as a living monument OF the
greed and treachery of the Judges
Of that court who assented to this
decision, which placed the black
man on the level with the brute
and said that he had no soul.
Those two noble Judges, Mclean
and Curtis, who so valiantly es-
poused the cause of the negro, and
aissented from this Infamous de-
cision, should live forever in the
history of the country. Great ex-
element was the result of this
decision, and thousands OF indig-
nant comments and much bitter
opposition were provoked by the
dictum of the conrt. After the
issuance Of the bred Scott decision
the excitement in the United States
on the question of slavery became
constantly greater and more heated.
1t had been believed by the pro-
slavery party, and by the admins
tra:ion that the decision IN question
would allay the troubled waters AID
produce d calm, but on the contrary
it appeared to be the opposite. In
some of the free states the opposi-
ton increased, and what was called
personal liberty bills were passed,
the object of which vas to defeat
the execution of the fugitive slave
law.
In the fall of 1859 the excitement
was still further aroused by the mad
scheme of John Brown, OF Osawa-
tonne, to raise aservile instruction
in the south. With a party of
twenty-one men as daring as him
self, he made a sudden descent on
the United States arsenal at Harpers
Ferry, captured the place, and held
his ground for nearly two days.
The event was n which to the
present day excItes the keenest
Interest and liveliest discussion. 1t
is not easy to decide whether a man
supposing himself to be under the
direction Of the divine power, may
i'm such a manner attack the abuses
of the state. An issue had now
been created between the north and
south. The anti-slayery sentiment
spread in the former aud became
intense. 1t settled into "a couvic-
ton which could not be eradicated.
In the south the feeling grew that
lat was the settled aim of the north
eru people, first to gain the asceu-
dency In the national government
and then to attack them and their
peculiar institutions.
Such was the alarming condition
of affairs when the time arrived for
holding the nineteenth presidential!
election. Excitement, as usual,
rose high. The free soil party had
now permanently taken the name
of Republican. An IN con-
vention of delegates of this party
was held in Chicago and Abraham
Liucola was nominated for the
presidency. A platform Of priuci.
Piles was adopted, in which opposi.
ton to the principles OF slavery was
the one vital issue.
In April the Democratic conveu-
ton met in Charlestown. S. c., but
10 sooner had the body convened
than it's utter distraction of counsels
was apparent. The delegates were
divided on the slavery question,
aud, after much debating and
wrangling, the party was disrupted.
The delegates from the south, un-
able to obGaiu q distiact expression
Of their views in the platform of
principles, aud, seeing hat the
northern wing of the party was
determined to nominate Douglas,
the great defender OF popular