Dred Scott Essay

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up his hotel and moved his family into yet another house, but he died on June 23,1863. After Mr. Blow’s death in 1863 Dred was sold to meet debts for five hundred dollars to Dr. John Emerson who at the time had been trying to obtain an appointment as assistant surgeon to the United States Army. He received his commission and took with him a slave who was the former property of Peter Blow.

Dred could neither read nor write, and on legal documents he made his “mark”. He had very dark skin and may have been no more than five feet tall. He was described by a newspaper once as “illiterate but not ignorant” with a “strong common sense”. John Emerson moved to Fort Armstrong, Illinois, a free state with his slave Dred Scott. He spent some 9 years as an assistant surgeon in the United States Army. Life at an army barracks certainly may not have been difficult for Dred but it certainly must have been a shock for Emerson because within 2 months he asked for leave citing that he had ...

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by Mrs. Emerson. However, none of the testimony that was put forth that day proved what everyone knew to be true, that Mrs. Emerson owned Dred Scott. Justice was swift that day as verdicts were returned on that same day. The decision accomplished the effect that Mrs. Emerson was allowed to keep her slaves for the simple reason that no one had proved that they were her slaves. The Scott’s attorney motioned for a new trial.

By this time it was clear that the determination of the Scott’s to have freedom was matched only by determination of Mrs. Emerson to keep her slaves. After the death of her father in 1848 Mrs. Emerson left St. Louis for Springfield, Massachusetts to live with one of ...

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