Dredd Scott v Sandford Case Brief
Facts
In the year
1846, an African American slave named Dred Scott sued for his and his wife’s
freedom in one of the city courts in St. Louis. Dred Scott and his wife had
been previously taken by his owners to live in the free States of Illinois and
Winconsin, but they subsequently moved back to Missouri, a slave state.
Chief Justice
Roger Taney, a firm supporter in the concept of black slavery penned the
decision against Dred Scott, citing various reasons to propagate slavery.
Procedural History
The case was
filed at the city court of St. Louis but was subsequently brought up to the
Supreme Court of the United States for decision.
Issue
The issue was
whether or not Dred Scott and his wife could obtain their freedom based on the
existing laws.
Rule/s
In the time of
Dred Scott, laws were blatantly against slaves. There were no laws which
granted them freedom, rights, and any sort of equality with the white
Americans.
Application
Upon the
conclusion of the Dred Scott case, Chief Justice Roger Taney declared to
everyone that all blacks never could and never would be citizens of the United
States. This was regardless of whether they were free or not. Taney attacked
the very validity of the suit brought by Dred Scott, claiming that as a black
slave – free or not – Scott had no right to sue seeing as he was not a citizen
of the United States. Taney penned a lengthy decision which detailed all the
various reasons why and how blacks were and could never be citizens of the
United States. He even cited the creation of the Constitution of the United
States. He said that the grant of citizenship to everyone did not ever include
the blacks as they were not members of the exclusive peoples who formed part of
the new political body and country. He further claimed that it was never in the
contemplation of the authors of the Constitution to include the class of people
who were merely imported to become slaves. Their descendants were likewise not
extended the privileges of citizenship.
He further went
on to state that African Americans were beings that have always been regarded
as an inferior race in terms of social and political standpoints. No “negro”
should ever be afforded respect as they had never had any rights in the first
place.
More insultingly,
Taney concluded that the suit filed by Dred Scott was not to even be considered
as a suit of citizens from different states as Scott himself was not even
deemed fit to be a citizen. He dismissed the case by reason of the lack of
jurisdiction of the Court.
In addition to
this decision on the case of Dred Scott, Taney also declared that the Missouri
Compromise was unconstitutional. It was stated that Missouri could not be
declared as “free territory” because the said action was not within the powers
of the Congress. According to the Court decision, the power of the Congress to
create and obtain territories was only limited to the territories in the
Northwest. Furthermore, it was claimed that the deprivation of the ownership of
slaves of white folk was a violation of the Fifth Amendment and therefore,
allowing slaves to obtain freedom in “free” states was illegal as well.
Conclusion
The case of Dred
Scott is known today as one of the most racist and unjust decision ever to have
been made by the United States Supreme Court. Indeed, it is only considered
today as dictum and absolutely not binding upon the courts and existing legal
system.
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