(Annapolis) On the grounds of the Maryland State House in Annapolis is a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney. Judge Taney was the first Chief Judge from Maryland. He is well know for his decision in the case regarding a Missouri Slave by the name of
Dred Scott. Scott was taken by his slaveholder to various free states prior to the Civil War. Judge Taney writing for the majority said that no slave can be free. It was an affront to abolitionist who were trying to abolish slavery in the United States. It is literally a prelude to the Civil War.
Following the war several southern sympathizing members of the Maryland Legislature made a decision to raise money to erect a statue to honor Judge Taney. They placed the monument at the front of the capital. There was talk at the time that the erection of the Taney statue would be an affront to the northern victory over the south.
There have been several recent efforts to move the Taney statue. So you can imagine my surprise when I received word the relatives of the Taney family and the Scott family want to reconcile and do so in the shadow of Taney. I recorded what they said and how it happen.
https://soundcloud.com/c3-newsman/taney-scott-reconciliation-by-charles-robinson
Here you can find an idea floated about what to do with the site.
Moving Taney statue and adding Frederick Douglass
Following the war several southern sympathizing members of the Maryland Legislature made a decision to raise money to erect a statue to honor Judge Taney. They placed the monument at the front of the capital. There was talk at the time that the erection of the Taney statue would be an affront to the northern victory over the south.
