Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-23
IL ru-GIaprr
POLITICAL RIGHTS OF CoLoRED PEOPLE.

FCrlltlNc character VI VhI htN't 80
regard to the cle,tivc franchise. They are such
MS may we'll silence Tic b~oastings Of our white
male" democracy.
We regret to perceive that efforts are still made to
maintain that they arc, citizens and that the lawsof'
tho Southern States which exclude this description
of persons-passed for the safety Of the commuui.
ties--arc violations of the national compact. The
clause that the citizens of each State shall be Gu
titled to all privileges and immutinics of citizens
in the several States is Gained to lie violated
The right Of slave States TO pass laws Of that
character is founded wholly in the duty of self
preservation. 1t is the first right of communities,
and is exercised with more or less Of frequency
and vigilance, as dangers arc more or less impend-
ing and threatening. The governments of France,
Austria and Russia, which restrict the power Of
large portions of the people, need moro care to cx
cludc suspected and dangerous persons, than do the
more liberal governments of England and the Uni
ted States. The fact that in the Northern States
there is no extensive class, shut out from political
privileges and hence interested in revolution, makes
it unnecessary to consider habitually, what mea-
sures are required to give security against internal
violence, The confidence inspired ly freedom
from such dangers is unfavoraLle to a clear CON
W VI Nlih tboN 'S "
need constant watchfulncss to prevent disorder.
Hence tho yitupcratiyo tone of portions of the
press, because of the exclusion of Mr.. Soule; and
hence, also, the fierce denunciation aimed Mt South
ern laws, founded in the same policy. The princi-
pie on which both stand, is misunderstood.
We suppose that even if the clause in question,
conft ring rights on citizens, did apply to colored
persons, the rights of police, or of safety and pre-
s~crvation, which arc Inherent in every community,
would so far operate in the South as to justify the
exclusion Of those who, from birth, color sympa-
thies, avowols and practice, are known as the here
ditary, determined and open enemies Of the longer
continuance of Slavery. But we think it clear be-
yond all question, that the clause has no applica-
ton to colored persons. The Constitution speaks
not only of citizens, bat of free persons and, in
contradistinction to these, of all oher persons.
The clause that fugitive slaves shall be delivered
up, describes them also as persons. 1t will be
manifest from examining the Constitution and the
history of the time when it was adopted, that the
word persons was intended to apply to those who
are colored, and that they were not denominated
citizens. A citizen Of the United States is one who
is invested with full national rights. The colored
race do not possess them. The naturalization law
of 100 provides that Any alien, being 4 free rhie
person, may become n citizen by complying with the
requirements after named In the law of 1895.
the language is similar: \ free white person may
become a citizen In the laws of 1893, 1902,
1913, and 1924, there is no variation in the phrase
ology. 1t thus appears that Congress, under the
power to establish n uniform rule of naturaliza.
tion'-the fourth of the granted powers-has acted
throughout on the understanding that the Constitu.
ton did not intend to confer the privilege of citi
zenship on colored persons. If this was not the
true intent of the Constitution, then the laws OF
Congress which cut off colored persons from the
right to transport the mail are unconstitutional as
being against the equal privileges of American citi-
zens. 1t has been decided by the highest tribunals
in this State, that native born Indians arc not citi-
zens, but distinct tribes: so that the fact of being
born within the United States does not of itself
confer citizenship. The writer's on public law de-
scribe the various classes in each community by
words, which indicatc.a difference in political priv
ileges. For instance, subject, denizen, and VIVA
Vattel calls perpetual inhabitants The SAINT
rulei is observed in our constitution. Chancellor
Kent, in the 2nd Vol. of his Commentaries, OK
plains the difference. lie says:-
In most of the United States, there is a distinc
ton in respect to political privileges between fret
WHO pcT6uIlS anu lTcc COlOTcu persons VI AIrlcul
blood and in no part of the country do the latter
in point Of fact, participate equally with the whites
in the exercise of civil and political rights. Tht
African race are essentially a degraded caste, o
inferior rank aud condition in society. Marriage,
are forbidden between them and whites in some
of the States, and when not absolutely contrary to
law, they are revolving, and regarded rs an offence
against public decorum. BY the Revised Statute:
of Illinois, published in 1929, marriages between
whites and negroes or mulattces are declared void
al tho A,nnr NJ r,,.R.-l n"n T. 60 tn Ia,
ped, fined and imprisoned. By an old statute OF
Massachusetts Of l105, such marriages were de
ciared void, and are so still. A similar statute
provision exists in Virginia and North Carolina
Such connexions in France and Germany consti
tute the degraded state of concubinage which i
known to the civil law. But they are not lega
marriages, because the parties want that equalit,
of state on condition which is essential to the con
tract
The Constitutions Of the Stat. Of this Union il
the provision in respect to suffrage, show witt
81 gular unanimity what has ever been the genera
understanding on this subject. The right Of voting
"a main test of citizenship-is conferred as fol
lows provisions with respect to freehold and resi-
dence being omitted =.
In Alabama, white male citizens of the L. S.
Arkansas, free white male citizens of the T.. S.
California, white male citizens Of TIE United
States, and upon every white male citizen of Next
60, who shall have elected to become a citizen. In
dams and their descendants may be permitted to
vote by two-thirds of the Legislature.
Connecticut, white male citizens Of the L. S.
Delaware, every white male citizen.
Florida, every free white male person.
Georgia, every resident citizen of the State.
Illinois, every white male citizen.
Indiana, upon every white male citizen of thu
United States, and upon every white male of for
eign birth.
Iowa, every white male citizen.
Kentucky, every free white male citizen of til
US.
Louisiana, every free white male citizen.
Maine, every male citizen of the United States