Complete four-page issue of The Washington Union from September 5, 1858, reporting on a Stephen Douglas speech given in relation to the infamous Dred Scott decision rendered by the Supreme Court, which held that the U.S. Constitution did not extend American citizenship to people of black African descent, and therefore they could not enjoy the rights and privileges the Constitution conferred upon American citizens. The decision is widely considered the worst in the Supreme Court’s history, being widely denounced for its overt racism, judicial activism, poor legal reasoning, and the crucial role it played in the start of the Civil War.
The paper contains an extract of the decision: “And if the Constitution recognizes the right of the master in a slave, and makes no distinction between that description of property and other property owned by a citizen, no tribunal, acting under the authority of the United States, whether legislative, executive, or judicial, has a right to draw such a distinction, or to deny to it the benefit of the provisions and guarantees which have been provided for the protection of private property against the encroachments of the government.”
An extract of the Douglas's speech covers the questions raised during these tumultuous times, including what was basically his position on the issue, “Hence no matter what may be the decision of the Supreme Court on that abstract question, still the right of the people to make it a slave Territory or a free Territory is perfect and complete under the Nebraska bill.”
In very good condition, with dampstaining not significantly detracting from its overall appearance or legibility.
