most influential from the turbulent years leading up to the Abraham Lincoln would be elected President. The Early Years: 1809 – 1833DRED SCOTT, Plaintiff in Error, V.JOHN F. A. SANFORD. Plea in abatement, when may be reviewed -- the word "citizen" in the Constitution does not embrace one of the Negro race -- Negro cannot become a citizen -- slave not made free by residence in a free state or territory -- Declaration of Independence does not include slaves as part of the people -- the rights and privileges conferred by the Constitution upon citizens do not apply to the Negro race -- Constitution should have the meaning intended when it was adopted -- court may examine other errors besides plea in abatement -- Constitution expressly affirms right of property in slaves -- Missouri compromise unconstitutional and void. Where a plea in abatement, by defendant, to the jurisdiction of the court below is overruled on demurrer, and the defendant thereupon pleads in bar upon which issues were joined and the trial and verdict were in his favor, and the plaintiff thereupon brought the case into this court by writ of error, and the plea and demurrer below upon it are part of the record; held, that this court has power to review the decision of the court below upon the plea in abatement. It is therefore the duty of the court to decide whether the facts stated in the plea, are or are not sufficient to show that the plaintiff is not entitled to sue as a citizen in the court of the United States.Belonos 5 The provisions of the Constitution of the United States in relation to the personal rights and privileges to which the citizens of a state should be entitled do not embrace the Negro African race, at that time in this country, or who might afterwards be imported, who had then been or should afterwards be made free in any state. Such provisions of the Constitution do not put it in the power of a single state to make out one of the Negro African r...
