for the first time-His judicial administration a reaction against the later tendency
of that of Chief-Justice Marshall - Mr. Justice Story - The influence of Chief-
Justice Taney on the working of the Federal Government shown by an analysis
of his leading opinions on constitutional questions - High opinion of Chief-Jus-
tice Taney entertained by Mr. Justice Story - Death of Mr. Justice Story-
Death of President Harrison-Chief-Justice Taney invited by Mr. Webster to
come from Baltimore to advise the Cabinet on the occasion - His answer - He
builds up the practice of the Supreme Court — His remarkable ability as a Judge
in the Circuit Courts - A letter from J. V. L. McMahon - Amusing case in the
Circuit Court at Baltimore-A letter to Mrs. Taney on the forty-sixth anniversary
of their marriage- The high estimate of the Chief Justice by great men - Clay
and Webster-A letter from W. H. Seward - The answer of the Chief Jus-
tice - Inauguration of President Taylor - Correspondence between him and the
Chief Justice on the occasion - His opinion on Law-reform-Quoit Club at
Richmond - Death of Mrs. Taney and their youngest daughter - Letters of
condolence on his heavy bereavement.
249-330

CHAPTER V.

JUDICIAL LIFE.-A. D. 1856-1860.

Antagonism in politics between the Southern States and the New England

States Anti-slavery - Slave-trade with Africa carried on by New Eng-

landers - Declaration of Independence and a sale of negroes published in the

same paper in Massachusetts-Slavery especially recognized by the Constitu-

tion - John Quincy Adams accuses New England Federalists of a design to

break up the Union - Character of Mr. Adams - The abolitionists -- The nature

of radicalism Abolition petitions in Congress - Mr. Adams's jubilee oration—

Chief-Justice Taney's letter on the occasion - President Van Buren - Both

political parties ignore great men for the Presidency Mr. Webster - President

Buchanan - The Dred Scott case- The accusation of Chief-Justice Taney by

William H. Seward - Letters from Mr. Justice Campbell and Mr. Justice Nel-

son in regard to the Dred Scott case - Letter from Reverdy Johnson in regard

to the case- - Chief-Justice Taney's opinion of Mr. Seward - The State of Wis-

consin by its Supreme Court nullifies the process of the Supreme Court of the

United States; and by its Legislature declares nullification to be a right of a

State-Chief-Justice Taney's opinion in regard to the conduct of Wisconsin.

331-400

CHAPTER VI.

JUDICIAL LIFE.-A. D. 1860-1864.

A new political era-Southern civilization superseded by New England
civilization in the policy of the Government - The means by which this was
effected Mr. Lincoln and other candidates for the Presidency A letter
from Chief-Justice Taney in regard to the canvass-The issue in the canvass
was whether the Dred Scott decision should stand — The pernicious doctrine
of President Lincoln's inaugural — Secession — The peace Congress — The Mer-

-

-

ryman case-Civil war

-

The Governor of Ohio disregards the Constitution of
the United States, and also a decision of the Supreme Court - Legislation of
Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana against free negroes - A letter from Chief-Justice
Taney to the Secretary of the Treasury in regard to the tax upon the salaries of
the Judges - His opinion in a case in the Circuit Court at Baltimore on the em-
ployment of detectives by the Government - Letter from the Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution relative to the conduct of the Chief Justice as Chancel-
lor of the Institution

. 401-446

CHAPTER VII.

PRIVATE LIFE.

The delicacy of the attempt to portray the private life of the Chief Justice —
The intercourse of the Chief Justice with the officers of the Supreme Court -
Their love and veneration for him-Anecdotes of the Marshal and the
Librarian of the Court expressive of their admiration of the Chief Justice-
A letter from the Chief Justice to the Judges of the Court of Appeals of
Maryland, in answer to one from them on his birthday - Letter from Judge
Morsell, who had been a playmate of the Chief Justice when they were boys,
thanking him for his photograph - Letters from the Chief Justice to his friend
Mr. Perine of Baltimore-A letter to Mr. Perine's son-Letters to S. Teackle
Wallis, Esq.- Letter to Conway Robinson, Esq., about the Merryman case - The
Chief Justice a peacemaker between the Clerk and the Reporter of the Supreme
Court- A letter to Mrs. George H. Pendleton - A letter from General R. E.
Lee - His domestic circle- Letter to Mrs. Taney - Letter to his cousin Ethel-
bert Taney-His religious character - Letter from Father McElroy-Kindness
to domestic servants - Refuses the interest due on his Virginia stock as a pre-
ferred creditor - Letter about his mother's grave, and his purpose to be buried
by her side - A reader to the last of general literature - His death - Proceed-
ings of the Bar of the Supreme Court - Speech by Judge Curtis at Boston, on
the character of the Chief Justice. .
447-516

APPENDIX.

Opinion in the Dred Scott case

--

A supplement to the opinion

Opinion in

the case of Ableman vs. Booth - Opinion in the case of Kentucky vs. Ohio -

MEMOIR

OF

ROGER BROOKE TANEY, LL.D.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION.

(Written by Mr. Taney himself.)

A. D. 1777-1801.

BEGIN this account of my life at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, on the 16th of September, 1854. It is late to begin it, for, if I live until to-morrow, I shall be seventy-seven years and six months old. I may not live to finish it, and, if finished, it may not be thought worthy of publication. Of that, however, my executors must judge.

The work is undertaken without much deliberation. Ten days ago, I had never thought of it. But I received at that time Mr. Van Santvoord's Lives of the Chief Justices of the U. States, and among them is a sketch of my own. The work is full of interest, and obviously prepared with much labor and industry.

My life is, therefore, to form a part of the history

of the country. The high offices I have filled, and the stirring and eventful political scenes in which I was engaged before I received the appointment I now hold, and in which my position compelled me to take a prominent part, may naturally create a desire to know more about me than can be found in Mr. Van Santvoord's life. Yet I am sensible that he has written it in the kindest spirit, and has used every means in his power to obtain information from those whom he supposed might be able to give it.

The truth is, that scarcely any one living could do much more than Mr. Van Santvoord has done. I have survived all my early associates and companions, and most of those also with whom I was acting in maturer life. At the moment I am writing, the names of dear and valued friends who are now in their graves come crowding on my memory, and I begin this work in sadness and sorrow.

But if there is any curiosity to know more about me than Mr. Van Santvoord narrates, it cannot be gratified, unless I write my own biography. Indeed, upon thinking the matter over, I have come to the conclusion that, if the public should be indifferent and careless as to my life and character, the work may derive some interest from its connection with men and things as they existed in the generation which has now passed away. I belong to that generation, and lived and acted in it and with it. And the history of my life is ne