Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-04-04
Very respect fully.
j. II. uIDDINGS.
DOWNING TEACHING JUDGE TANEY Law
TIE OYsTERMAN's FIRST LESSON.

Wherc'n he prOres that a negro rho can teach a
ChiefJusicc Of the United States, is a cinaen
IF tie United States.
TO tie editor Of the Fleming Post.
DEAR Sir: | put it to the honor of Americans,
in view of all that the colOrel American has had
to endure, if history affords nm instance Of n reo.
pie who have stood up in virtue and morality,
IN general character, as has the cOlored American.
Read! fellow Americans--read the decision Of
our Supreme Court. Its judges seem to have lost
sight OF all moral obligations-to have forgotten
that there is n God, and that that God ha, written
ON the conscienceS of men that BLACK men, have
rights (which white men are bound to respect"
Cicero declares that whatever is Just il the true
law, nor can this true law be abrogated by my
written enactments."
desire to refer to some Of the positions Of the
court; it says that mo one can be a citizen of the
United States unless under the provisions OF the
constitution this leads us to look Ior the provision
alluded to; but look in vain, and come to the con.
clusion that if there DC a ~"citizen of the United
States" l am one though a colored man that |
am IA natural born citizen" being one scknowl-
edged and so regarded 10y at least the little State
of Rhode Island.
Congress has the power to establish q "unifurm
rule ut naturalization; but this has reference to
aliens, not to native subjects. l do not regard it
as affecting me. The term "citizen of the United
States occurs but three times In the Constitution
first, in article first, section second; where it is
used in reference to the eligibility to the Office of
Representative, it says that a person must have
been seven years a citizen OF the United States
again. the third section Of the same article says.
relative to the eligibility of Senator, that he must
have been for mine years n citizen of the United
States" then again, article second, section first.
relative to the eligibility to the Office OF President
1t says. mo person except n natural born citizen,
or a citizen of the United States at the adoption
Of this constitution, shall be eligible thereto."-
THESE are the only instances in which the term
citizen of the United States" is used.
In the absence of any constitutional definition
rs to who are citizens os the United States; of a
definition as to any difference between u citizen OF
n State and a citizen Of the United States; in view
of article nth section 2l Of the Constitution, which
declares that 1.-THE citizens o. each State shall be
entitled to all the privileges and immunities of
citizens in the several States;" with the fict that
others than those who were citizens of the United
States at the time of the adoption Of this Consti
tuition have been elected to the Presidency: with
the fact that all persons that have been received
rs Senators and Representatives, have been in the
light of citizenship by virtue of the same fact
that makes me II citizen Of the State of Rhode Is.
land, with no other qualification, except as to the
number OF years that they have been citizens,
seals the argument, and we are forced to Judge
Story's declaration, who says that every citizen
of II State is ipSe .Jacto a citizen Of the United
States"
Judge fancy and his court declare that it is
'trne that every person and every class and de-
scriptl0n o: persons at the time Of the adop-
e ton of the constitution. Regarded as citizens Of the
several States, became citizens of this new politi-
j cal body" | will give a case as sufficient: more
Z might be given to prove .hat black men, were
u so regarded at the time of the adoption Of the
Q Constitution. Paul CuHe, the son of a native AZ.
: rican, who was born in this country refused. in
lIIS, to pay a Massachusetts collector a personal
tax. unless he we're allowed to enjoy the whole
D rights of citizenship. The matter reached the
legislature, and a declaration went forth, previous
10 the adoption of the Constitution, securing 10
"black men" all the privileges belonging to olher
citizens. and they nave enjoved them ever since.
i when massachusetts adopted the Constitutions, one
: oi the ideas which led her to do 50 Was contained
y in the article of the Constitution above Quoted
t. which declares that 1.-THE citizens of each State
e shall he entitled to all the privileges and inmuni-
e ties of citizens in the several States"
We have the testimony Of the Constitution that
we can have "native born citizens - let MS see
= what testimony we can produce as to the minds of
d those that debated upon the formation Of This con-
I stitution. In the records of .he debate urcn the
e Federal Constitution, June IL, 1857, Mr.. Wilson
5 proposed in the matter of equitable ratio Of rem
resentation" the following words: in proportion
0 to the rhote number oe chite and other flee citi-
zens and inhabitants Of any age, sect aud condi-
e ton, i~rcluding those bound to service for a term of
3 years, and three ffths Of all other persons rot
comprebended in the foregoing description :" here
you will observe that there is a distinction in their
mind; the phoie number of phite citizens" and
> Other free citizens," which must have referred TO
Gidck citizens; then you will observe, by reference
. to the Constitution, that all distinction az 10
complexion in the matter of citizenship was re-.
ljecied.
James Madison, in the Federalist, saws. "because
it is only under the pretext, that the laws have
+ transformed the negroes into subjects of properry.
that Il place is disputed them in the computation
of members: and ii is admitted. thar it the laws
h "were to restore the rights which have been taken
e away. the negroes could no longer be refused nm
equal share in repres ~entation with other inhabi.
!. %tants." The rights taken away, above spoken Of
was by the holding of certain persons re slaves in
certain States, and did not apply TO any person
not a slave; it is a well know fact that there
, were many free colored persons previous to, and
lat the time Of the adoption Of the Constitution.