LAD # 16

At first the majority of the court chose justice Nelson as the writer as to avoid important controversial topics such as the Missouri Compromise. He went to work not including any topics that could be considered controversial and in his opinion that was what the majority wanted. However when it was presented to the court he was elected out and a new writer was chosen, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. His writing included all the controversial issues. Tany argured that only citizens have rights to the constitution and because even freed blacks are not citizens the constitution does not apply to them. Thus slaves are property