The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-05-27
BLOOMSBURG COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. WEDNESDAY,

ever in the meaning of the words "free" and
"propery," or in The peculiar status of the
African. AS has been indicated by the
Chief Justice, "bu, Two clauses Of the Con.
slilu,ion point TO the negro race"-lhe one in
reference TO the suppression Of the slave
trade after the year 1903, and The other re-
la,ing TO the rights Of The masler to recover
fus,lives from labor. There is not word or
syllable, in that we'll guarded instrument,
which couiers the high attributes of citizen
ship upon the coiored race. This position
is no new or "novel" one, as has been
strangely asserted in the majority report
II was first officially promulgated in 1912,
by William Writ, when Attorney General OF
the United States, xaore Than quarter OF
century before the Dred Scott decision ex.
cited the ateE,ion Of the people The ques.
lion arose uyon the construction of the navi.
cation laws of the United States, which re-
Quirs that masters Of vessels shall be citiSsns.
In view Of this statute, a difficulty arose in
the Treasury Department, as to whether
free negro of Virginia could be placed in
command of vessel; and the point was
submitted TO Mr.. Writ for his decision. In
answer TO the inquiry, he replied, officially,
as follows:
IL presume tha. the description, 'cilzens
of the United Slales,' used in the Consliiu.
tion, has the same meaning that il had in
the several acts of Congress passed under
the authority of the Constitution; otherwise
there will arise vagueness and uncertainty
in our laws which will make their execution,
if not impractcable, at least extremely diff.
cult and dangerous. Looking to the Consli-
tuition as the slandard Of meaning, it seems
very manifest that no person is included in
The description Of citizen of the United States
who has not the full rights of citizen in
the State of his residence. Among other
proofs of this, it will be sufficient 10 advert
to the constitutional provision, that the ciIi-
zens Of each State shall be entitled TO all the
privileges and immunites Of citizens of The
several States.
"Now. if a person born and residing in
Virginia, but possessing none of The high
characteristic privileges of citizen OF the
State, is nevertheless citizen of Virginia,
in the sense Of the Constitution, then, Oh his
removal 10 another State, he Acquires all the
immunilies and privileges OF a citizen of that
Stale, although he possessed none Of them
in the State Of his nativity, . consequence
which certainly could not have been in the
contemplation OF the convention. Again: the
only qualification required by tho cOns,itu-
lion TO render person eligible as President,
Senator, or Representative OF tho United
States is, that he shall be 'cilizen of the
United States Of a given age and residence.
Free negroes and mulaloes can satisfy the
acquisitions of age and residendetas well as
tho while man; and if nativity, residence and
allegiance combined (wilhout the rights and
privileges of white many are sufficient to
make him cllzen of the United Sta!es' in
the sense of The Constitution, then free ne.
eroes and mulaltoes are eligible 10 those
high offices, and may command The purse
and sword of The nation.
"For these and other reasons, which might
easily be multiplied, am of The opinion that
the Constitution, by the description of 'ciIi-
zens of the United Slatss,' intended those
only who enjoyed the full and equal privi-
leges OF white cliZens in the State of their
residence"
Alter further discussing the question, Mr..
Attorney General Writ concludes his opin-
ion in the following words
"Upon the whole, am OF the opinion,
tha, free persons of color in Virginia are not
citizens of the United States, within the in.
tent and meaning of the acts regulating FOR.
eign and coasting trade, so as to be qualified
10 command vessels." (Opinionsof Attorneys
Gen. Of U. s., Vol. 1.p. 500, ed. 1852.
Concurrent with this important decision of
the Treasury Department, under the direc-
lion of The Attorney General, runs the unbro-
ken action OF the Post Office Department of
our country. Since the organization Of The
government by the &C, of Congress, "no
person Of color can be engaged in the Post
Office OF in the transportation of mail matter"
In ,ha: branch of the government, the negro,
free or bond, has no constitutional existence,
and is not permitted TO be employed in any
of lis ramlfcalions. Not regarded by ii as a
citizen under the Constitution Of the United
States, he is therefore dsbaued from dis
charging any of its various functions. Nor
has the State Department been less decided
In its action upon this question. The fol-
lowing official document, in reference to The
granting of passports, was addressed to Cit
izen of New York, under the direction oil the
Secretary Of State, aud needs on comment
from the Undersigned:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Nov. 4, 1856
SIR: Your letters of the 29th ult. and Sd
inst, requesting passports for eleven colored
persons, have been received, and am direct.
ed by the Secretary 10 inform you that the
papers transmitted by you do not warrant the
department in complying with your request.
A passport is a certificate that the person
IN whom Il il ora ntsd Ia citizen of the Unit