The Chief Justice included the NYT comment as an example of Northern opinion at the time. It is historical fact that Taney sold his house in Maryland in 1855 and in 1861 was living in Washington, D.C.
The content of the NYT editorial of May 29, 1861 is totally refuted by the historical fact that Taney sold his house in Maryland in 1855 and was, at the time of the Merryman case, living in Washington, D.C., while Merryman lived in Maryland. They could not have been neighbors as you claim. But do not let the facts get in your way. You never have.
Taney sold his home in Maryland in 1855 and moved to Washington, D.C. More specifically, he was living at 23 Blagden's Row, on Indiana Avenue, near the Court House. See Carl Brent Swisher, Roger B. Taney, pp. 471 and 472.
According further to Tyler, Taney was poor. In an interview with Tyler, published after Taney’s death in the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper, Tyler was asked: “Was Judge Taney rich, Mr. Tyler?” “No, sir,” replied Tyler, “always poor. He lived in Blagden row -- the row of stuccoed houses opposite the City Hall. They are four-storied; an iron balcony runs above the first story; two windows adjoin the hall door."
Your so-called "refutation" fails.