Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-23

or defeat the reserved rgnis OF lie states.
This is an uBquesiionable principle oi
CONSTRUCTING. Aud is not the power ol
granting or denying admission aud set
Element TO strangers, a state right? Ii has
been heretofore considered aud a ted up
on by the states, in regard 10 foreigners
But We shall be told, that The analogy
will not hold in relation 10 citizens oil
other states OF the Union. If This be so.
The policy OF one state NAV be circum-
vented by thai of another slate, in regard
TO foreigners themselves, and the little
state OF Rhode Island, IL il Thought pro.
per 10 invest foreigners with citizenship
az soon as they touched her s"il, might
quickly inundaie The United States with
these duSky citizens, or with a farrago
little mere acceptable To my political
appetite. Circumstances may be easily
i'Gaginrd. III which the exercise of
tins right would be very important 10
stale, even ~ regard 10 The mdtire cit;-
ftnS OF other states. Ii j. an iudi>puta.
BILE right oi all sovereign states. and ne
crssary 10 Ibrp, and noi being delegated
10 The federal government. il must belong
10 The states. II therefore The consiilu-
lion at the United States eau he 81 con-
strued AZ 10 be c0uSisien: with such a
pow III HE STATES, il is both our interest
aud our duty 10 do il: Let us quote the
disputed clause, for The purposr of scru-
tih'zipg lis phraseology. Citizens of
each Stale, shall he entitled 10 all The
rights, privileges, and immuni,ies of CHI.
Zeos IN the several states" Well, mark
now, II rs not that the citizens of each
stale, shall be ciiiZems of the several
q tat I'm tl,.f tc snl II.
di,y in terms, and breaks down the bar
ricrS between the s;ales al once; but
that tue cIliZsns of one state, (s,iil hold.
ing To The identity of their allegiance. J
" shall be eni'iled TO all the privileges,
rights and immouities OF citizens in the
other states ;" so far as 1t is possible, or
consistent with common stuse, that The
citizens of another government may pos.
SEES aud ENJOY these rights, privileges
and inmuuiiies.
This Is Clause Gi the constitution,
Which have often admired i'm principle,
because II cemeuts our union and tends
10 The general lra,ernizati0n of our ci!i
zcns. Bni II musi he property constrged,
ah1 according 10 lis spirit, for there is no
part 81 That instrument which when iniu
dIcIousiy interpreted has SO much lie as
prct ot consolidation al which wc are
sometimes alarmed. There must be some
limits 10 HE expression. I" all the rights,
privileges and immunilies," or where in
the name OF all that is reasonable, shall
we be carried The utmost latitude oil
these terms will warrant the ef.ciiun of
citizens ut other states, TO fl all lie de-
pa,tneDis and offices Of our state 20
vernmeni. executive, legislative aud Judi
cia', contrary 10 ihe express provision of
our stale constitution. The thing is moi
very likely to happen, ackuow ledge, but
The terms goIhe whole way. For eisibi.
liiv TO office IL surely either right, mi.
| ri'ege or immunity whichever YOU please,
bun II IL one or Ike OTHER. These terms.
then, will lcadius into absurdiiy, if moi
bridied III by common sense and The spi>
ri OF the Constitution. The whole OBJ
ieci OF that clause WAS TO facilitate and
encourage The intercourse ard trade be-
tween iiie states, and 10 bind closer The
cs!ords of social sympathy. Even al.
| uniting then the fact, that free persons OF
color arc ciliz rs III some of Tie states
| inr HE sake OF Argument, the refusal t.
admit them TO settle IN Missouri is no VIC.
iduon OF the constitution ef The L. States
aud ought mol 10 prevent this newly CON
StHuted government, from admission into
| Tins Union.
Il Citizen Of tie u. States.