Dread Scott
The Dred Scott case was the final blow to Abolitionists. It ended the notion of freedom for African Americans. What makes this case interesting is the role the justices play on the issue of slavery. In 1856, a slave, Dred Scott, sued his master, Doctor Emmerson. Scott claimed that Emmerson had taken him from Missouri into the Northwest. The Supreme Court finally processed the case in 1857 and Chief Justice Taney delivered the decision on March 6th. It declared three things. First, according to the constitution, Negroes are not citizens of the United States. (Daily Courier) Secondly, the Ordinance of 1857 had no "independent legal effect subsequently to the adoption of the constitution, and could not operate of itself to confer freedom or citizenship within the Northwest Territory on Negroes, not citizens by the constitution." Lastly, he also declared "the Provision Act of 1820, commonly called the Missouri Compromise, so far as it is understood to exclude Negro slavery from and communicate freedom and citizenship to Negroes in the northern part of the country is unconstitutional." (Illinois State Register) Justice Catron stated that because the plaintiff was a Negro of African blood, he then had no rights as a c
and is based on the assumption that no Negro can be a citizen of the United States. It suggested that the court's decision was so bias that, "Any slave-driving editor or Virginia bar-room politician could have taken the Chief-Justice's place on the bench. The satisfaction was justified because, "It meets with our hearty, cordial, unqualified approval". (Mercury) Another Southern article entitled Negroes are not Citizens showed its delight with the Supreme Court's ruling by regarding "the decision. " (Untitled) It suggested that the only statement that is deadlocked in this case "is the fact that a Negro cannot sue in the United States Courts. " (The Supreme Court and Slavery) The Supreme Court's decision on the Dred Scott case appears to be a "he said, she said" type of battle with the north and south dueling over the decision's validity. The decision to them proved fatal for African American males because it now proved they "are not citizens. and that the Missouri Compromise was void.
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