Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-08-06

THE CONSTITUTION. CITIZENsHIp.

out we have no where seen so complete "a rct-
utation Of them in so small a compass
From the y. Y. Independent
The fourth section of the Articles Of Con-
federation reads thus "Tho free inhabitants
of each Of these free States, paupcrs, yaga-
bonds and fugitives excepted, shall be en-
titled to all privileges and immuniues Of free
citizens in the several States"
To this article South Carolina and Georgia
objected 1t was referred TO the several State
Legislatures. In june 177S. it was again
considered. having been submitted to the diff
icrent State Legislatures The delegates Of
South Carolina, under instruction. moved to
amend this fourth article by inserting the re-
strictivo word WHITE" after free and before
"inhabitants,' SO as to read ',trec iriife mhaJ-
HuHfs This motion was discussed and n.q-
oitred-South Carolina and Georgia alone
voting for il, whilst the vote Of Virginia was
divided
The Legislature Of Virginia. in May. l779
incorporated in a statute the restrictive word
"lrhte, which had been rejected by the Con
gress of the preceding year thus hoping to
limit the action OF the fourth article of con-
federation. In the year 1888. this statute Of
779 was repealed, and in its place was sub
stituted the following -"All free persons
born within the territory of this Common
wealth SHALL BE DEEMED CfTiLENs OF THIS
CoMWoNwrALrH Statutes at Large. vol
xi. p. 321.) This law of 1888 stood UNI
changed through AN the rcyisions of the stat
/ utcs until january 9th. S2G when il was re-
poaled
Thus at the adoption Of the Constitution
/. of the United States, the free c9iored people
of Virginia were, iy NE express statute OF 783
regarded as citizens of that Commonwealth
Additional evidence is found in the follow
ing statements: "All free male persons be-
tween the age of q and go shall, by the COM
manding officer ol the county in which they
reside. be enrolled or formed into companies.
the free mulattoes in said companies or bait
talions TO De employed as drummers ffers
and pioneers Again "Ali free born male
inhabitants above the age Of / must take the
oath of allegiance. Statutes at Large, vol.
tx. p. 267-2SO and 2Sl1
When. in the year 1888, tho Constitution
of the United States was adopted, of the IS
independent sovercigutics. II were ready to
vote for the immediate abolition OF slavery
only South Carolina and Georgia withheld
consent SO also, in of the / 3 States free
coiored persons were regarded as citizens Ia
the war of the Revolution they were regular
ly enlisted into the army. aud fought bled and
suffered in the protractcd sr+ugglcs for liberty
. as resolutely as did the whites When the
Constitution was finally adopted, they were,
in / / if not , States. entitled to vote. and.
in all human probability, did vote. either di-
/ roctly or through their representatives,.
According to the census of 1890. thero
were in the slave States 32.357 free colorod
persons. and IN the trce States thclc were
= 2Il09 free persons Of coior-in all. 59,466
p free persons of color. Here, them we have
b in the year 100 about ll,OOO eolored voters
in the United States.
d From the very beginning OK our govern
g mont, projections have been given to free coll
ored seamon as ct'-eHs of the United states,
d entitled TO the protection of the United States
Z as citizens During the Presidency OF Thorn
as Jefferson, he issued proclamation 10y rea-
IS son of the outrage committed against the
United States. when the Leopard, an English
- armed vessel, TOOK o'1 OF tAe Nhesap apeaNo' one
of our vessels 'lour american cft-tNs' Two
being white and two beng coiored citizens.
la 1873, James Ash' Maryland negro
slave, sued for his liberty IN the Circuit Court
of the United States OF the district OF Ooihm-
bia. 1t was carried up to the United states
supreme Court whore his Honor Chlei Jus
= tce fancy, thus delivered thc decision OF the
l Court This ease is brought here by writ
" of error rom the Citcuit Court ana came be-
!. fore the Court upon petition Tor freedom.
1t appeared upon the trial that inc Pettloher
t. was the property OF Mary Ann oreenneia' oi
Prince George $ county IN the State OIL Mary
e land who died m ST having uu'y maze ner
e. last VIII ana testament "neieoy, among o'1c'
things she oequeathea tne pot','oh'r' WIN ,r
sundry other slaves TO het hephe~, " l.
n Greenheia' win pto'lso III 'he iono"lhs
words; PROVIDED ne shau not carry 'neln OUT
j. OF the state ol larylRhu' OF sen 'nem 20 any
.- one IN e'ther oil Whlcn events ! VIII VIII au1 ue-
2 vlse the salu negroes 10 oe liee lor me pom
4. the oe"th oil inc eoSta'riN' N' l. Nreen"1'u
TOOK possession ol 'le PouIlohei '@uleS
" ASH. un' Deoeuoer IooV, Mnen ne SOU .le
I. peuuoner TO Gelenuan' " lii'''hS ana 'n'
peuuon was I'eG l,.s... SpoI',y al'eI salg PIn p
."'' o' iNon00 .'o
B jury that oy ,no ioo' u' sucn sole Oh '.ie pc
uuoher inc os'a'S vi pioP7'l % 'no po',''o'' ,i
er' SO oeqIe''nGu 70 ul1oiii'1'u ue'''vu '''V
is uetetlnlnou' anu NV ''ei'i'u t
pl 10 ms lrcouoW ''i,'iH s -, ~
B. "Ui was ..lt e., ta
10 lne pe5,''oner' "n1 'i'a' In 49, os , tE