DRED SCOTT CASE

a case of far-reaching importance on the slavery question decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, March 6, 1857. Dred Scott was a negro slave owned by Dr. Emerson an army surgeon stationed in Mi ouri. In 1834 the latter took Scott to Illinois where slavery was prohibited and in 1836 to Wisconsin Territory '\(now Minnesota) where it was also forbidden. Here Scott married one of his master’s slaves. In 1838 he was taken back to Mi ouri and on the death of Dr. Emerson was hired out and badly treated. In 1848 Scott believing that through decisions of the Mi ouri courts he was a free man in a free state, brought suit against Mrs. Emerson for a ault and battery. The St. Louis Circuit Court decided in his favor, but the Supreme Court reversed the decision. Mrs. Emerson now sold Scott to J. F. Sand ford, N.Y. The negro in 1854 brought suit against Sanford for a ault and battery in the Federal Court of Mi ouri and the case was carried to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1856. The verdict given in 1857 was to the effect that a slave had no rights, and could be taken by his owner anywhere. No negro could be a citizen of the United States; the Mi ouri Compromise (q.v.) was unconstitutional and neither Congre nor territorial government could protect slaves in territories. Chief Justice Taney said among other things that the slave had no rights a white man need respect; that the negro was a lower order of human being and could be lawfully reduced to slavery for his benefit. This decision caused great excitement throughout the country. In 1868 the ne amendment declared the negro a citizen.