The Dred Scott Decision
The war entered The United States Supreme Court on
March 6, 1857,in the case of Dred Scott, a slave, v.
John F.A. Sandford. The suit claimed Scott and his
family, as citizens of Missouri, were held illegally as
slaves in New York. The Due Process clause of The
Fifth Amendment to The U.S. Constitution protected
the rights of the person and the rights to private
property. Chief Justice Taney argued that to deprive
a citizen of his {slave} property because he brought it
into a territory. "could hardly be dignified with the
name of due process of law."
The Slave Dred Scott
The Honorable Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of The
Supreme Court of The United States
March 28, 1836-October 12,1864.
