Decision
The judgment of the state supreme court was written by Judge Thomas Ruffin, who stated that "the power of the master must be absolute, to render the submission of the slave perfect", but noted that slaves did have legal right of protection from persons other than their owners. Ruffin, however, made it clear that his opinion was a legal one, and that his sympathy lay with Lydia. He wrote that "the struggle, too, in the Judge's own breast between the feelings of the man, and the duty of the magistrate is a severe one, presenting strong temptation to put aside such questions, if it be possible. It is useless however, to complain of things inherent in our political state. And it is criminal in a court to avoid any responsibility which the laws impose." Harriet Beecher Stowe cited State v. Mann as a source for her depiction of slavery in her novel Dred.
Read more about this topic: North Carolina V. Mann
Famous quotes containing the word decision:
“The impulse to perfection cannot exist where the definition of perfection is the arbitrary decision of authority. That which is born in loneliness and from the heart cannot be defended against the judgment of a committee of sycophants. The volatile essences which make literature cannot survive the clichés of a long series of story conferences.”
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)
“You can hesitate before deciding, but not once the decision is made.”
—José Bergamín (1895–1983)
“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)