The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-12-05

same faculty of reason and thus rendered the
individuals equal, notwithstanding their diversi-
fed conditions and the natural varieties of sex
and complexion.
One unfortunate deviation from the dictates of
natural Justice has been tolerated 10 our national
system, upon the ground of nscsssiiy, which is a
lone its motive and its measure. fhe right.
which this exception gives. aud the rights which
II takes away, can never be extended on one
side or abridged upon the other beyond the limits
of the most pure and absolute necessity. The
power of keeping any class of our fellow crea
lures in perpetual bondage is confined TO the
persons of those orig ~ saf,rs of4fr ca who have
been legally introduced into those states of the
union in which Their introduction was permitted
prior TO the year 1903. and their anhsp progeny.
OF this institution, however, those states in which
slavery is not tolerated, have no right, upon the
principles of the compact. In complain against
those in which its existence is acknowledged to
be an evil. They only entitled to complain
of its extension or diffusion beyond those geo
graphical bounds by which it is clearly cir.
cumscrihel and within which it ought to be
gradually retiring, and coing to centre.
But it is an sres,;o~ of the evil 10 comprehend
within the pale of lis prescription, persons who
are not positively slaves while the exclusion OF
any such newly devoted class from Erisg in any
aggrav alton Of the evil. which was contended TO
be desirable for the dissipation Of the original
evil itself
The right alleged by Mr.. Lowndes to reside in
every state, Of discriminating between the phne
asd ne LACK mas. both ia respect to civil and
political privileges, is denied To exist No state
in the union, nor the Unted States inclusive
possess any moral or political right 10 reduce
to perpetual servitude any class Of persons
whatever, whether Africans or their descendants,
who have never been enslaved, or who have ever
been enancipated. The fee blacks IN the Uni.
ted States are the same level In regard to
political privileges with every class Of the popu.
lation whose colour varies through the interme-
date shades and changes from black 10 white.
States may. If they please, grant certain prlvi-
leges, but they may not pass general bills of pains
and penalties. They may exempt from military
duty; they may dispense with services on iuries
and discharge perhaps from the performance of
various other civil duties, as supernumeraries
those of whom they neither want the aid nor
wish the society. But this applies no more to
people IF colour, than IL does 10 females, pau
pers. ministers OF the gospel and members of the
military aud Other professions. Plotting IT in the
light Of privilege, however, II does not appear
that person Of colour is any more incompetent
to bo drawn as juror than quaker. To de.
prive him of his right 10 vote upon any rule
which would not operate equally upon any per-
son of different complexion-to faint md corrupt
his blood-to pronounce sentence Of disability
upon any class Of society and isiranchise any
body OF citzens-are Questions of very differ
ent nature. There may possibly be found some
such exercises of power. But they are not prac-
tised, certainly in New England, and they must
universally be regarded a, exercisedwthout right.
The citizen of any state is by the constitution
a citizen of the United State. and thereby be.
comes entitled TO the equal privilege. OF citizen
ship IL every state. Blacks are citizens ii those
states where they are not slaves. They vote IN
New England with whi,es--and those that are
equal to US are equal to our neighhors. They
are not reckoned In that ratio Of three fifths ny
which representation and taxation are apportion-
cd among persons cher than free 1t is not true
therefore that one state has right TO dis Grimm.
ate between the citizens Of another in regard 20
colour, in respect to civil and political privileges
Those who are citizen. Of Maine, arc proprio ig
r by the mere force OF citizenship, entitled to he
admitted as such into every state Of the union.
Missouri has no more right Is exc Jude those that
are OF African descent tran Louisiana has 10 ex-
cude all that are sas of french-or than Hayti
would have for example. If admitted member
| Of the coniederacy. To exclude all hat blacks aud
muiattoes. During the revolution IL was actu-
ally contemplated to Incorporate some of tie
Indian nations into the coniederacy.--It was to
secure the opera lion of this general principle Of
citizenship that Congress was empowered by the
constitution to establish an uniform rule of nat
ural izat.on.
But most interesting aud important question
arises IN regard 10 a constitutional power and
duty o. Congress. by which they are appointed 10
superintend the admission of new states and guar
antee the republicanism of their constitutions.
he oath also by which they qualified TO ad-
minister their authority requires them to support
the Constitution of the United States.
This is a delegated authority and they are oblig-
ed to exercise it themselves. They cannot del
egate 1t again. II is an authority which they
must exercise, or by their mere omission exclude
the state from admission into the federal circle.
II is an exercise OF authority which IS fnii-so
that il cannot be reviewed or reversed; and the
member thus admitted can never be elected from
the confederscy. The nation by IT'S regular or
gan receives Il into the union. The people by
lis proper funotonary gives its imperial and au-
thentc sanction Ia the provisions of the consttu-
tior with which the state comes apparelled, aud
pronounoes II To be in all respects confornable 10
| the supreme constitution OF the land
IL the decision Of thi, department subject 10
revision il it not conclusive upon all other 1e-
partmeHts Is il TO be ranked with any ordinary
act OF the national legislature, which il may al
| any time repeal or which the judiciary may feel
competent TO revoke IL 1T not 10 be rather re-
garded entire &C, complete in all il. parts,
as a finished affair. the truth of which can never