The 4th of July vs. Justice Taney in Dred Scott Ruling

The 4th of July vs. Justice Taney in Dred Scott Ruling

In the years leading to the U.S. Civil War, the controversy over slavery became

not only a social issue, but also a political and legal one as well. Opponents and

proponents of slavery each looked to the American constitution, as well as the prevailing

culture of the time, for direction in dealing with this matter. Two such people who based

their landmark works on this were Justine Taney of the U.S. Supreme Court, and

Frederick Douglas, an emancipated slave, who fought tirelessly for the abolishment of

slavery.

In 1852, Frederick Douglas was asked to speak at a July 4th celebration. In his

speech, he made it known clearly, his detestment for the treatment of Black slaves of the

day, as well as the irony and hypocracy, that was especially evident on that day. He

explained that this hypocracy aimed at the black population was evident on several fronts,

and so, he refers to the fourth of July as " the birthday of your National Independence and

your political freedom."

However, Frederick Douglas never lost hope. Although in his speeches and

writing he aludes greatly to the detestable and horrid facts black enslavement, he

nonetheless saw a silver lining. "There is hope in the thought," Douglas said, after he

explicated how America is a new and young nation, despite it being around the "old age

for a man". Since the United States was recently formed, there is still plenty of room for

reform and changes that would not have been possible had America been older.

America, he said, was still in the "impressible stage of her existance."

As bleak and grim as the conditions were for blacks at the tim...

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...y many in the United States, at the time of the Civil War

(and after), versus that same culture held by people in the United States today. Justice

Taney never denied that blacks were human beings (or, 3/5 of a human being), rather,

they were of a lower life form, and as such, served only one purpose -- to serve the white

race.

It is further astonishing to note how Justice Taney and Frederick Douglas, drew a

parallel for their reasoning from that of the political and moral culture held by the

founding fathers, respectively, and yet, each concluded differently.

Ultimatly, this prevailing political environment, had gripped the hearts and minds

of all Americans during that trying era. The fate of the Nation was eventually to be

decided on the battlefield, in one of the costliest and bloodiest wars this nation has ever

fought.