Mr. Taney was appointed Chief Justice in 1836, when in his sixtieth year. He presided over the court until his death in October, 1864, a period of twenty-eight years. The Dred Scott decision received no respect after Mr. Lincoln became President, and, without reversal by the court, was utterly disregarded. When Mr. Chase became Chief Justice, colored persons were admitted to practice in the courts of the United States. When President Lincoln, in 1861, authorized the denial of the writ of _habeas corpus_ to persons arrested on a charge of treason, Chief Justice Taney delivered an opinion in the case of John Merryman, denying the President's power to suspend the writ, declaring that Congress only was competent to do it. The Executive Department paid no attention to the decision, and Congress, at the ensuing session, added its sanction to the suspension. The Chief Justice, though loyal to the Union, was not in sympathy with the policy or the measures of Mr. Lincoln's administration. CHAPTER VII. Review (_continued_).--Continuance of the Struggle for Kansas.-- List of Governors.--Robert J. Walker appointed Governor by President Buchanan.--His Failure.--The Lecompton Constitution fraudulently adopted.--Its Character.--Is transmitted to Congress by President Buchanan.--He recommends the Admission of Kansas under its Provisions. --Pronounces Kansas a Slave State.--Gives Full Scope and Effect to the Dred Scott Decision.--Senator Douglas refuses to sustain the Lecompton Iniquity.--His Political Embarrassment.--Breaks with the Administration.--Value of his Influence against Slavery in Kansas. --Lecompton Bill passes the Senate.--Could not be forced through the House.--The English Bill substituted and passed.--Kansas spurns the Bribe.--Douglas regains his Popularity with Northern Democrats. --Illinois Republicans bitterly hostile to him.--Abraham Lincoln nominated to contest the Re-election of Douglas to the Senate.-- Lincoln challenges Douglas to a Public Discussion.--Character of Each as a Debater.--They meet Seven Times in Debate.--Douglas re- elected.--Southern Senators arraign Douglas.--His Defiant Answer. --Danger of Sectional Division in the Democratic Party.