The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-04-04
Are Negroes CitiZensf

Are Negroes Citizens.
The Albany Argus has an able article on
this subject in reply to some observations by
the Joarha!. We extract from it the fol-
lowing paragraphs:
But when and by whom was the doctrine
that oOlored men are not citizens first Off
cially decided? Not during the present
month by the Supreme Court in bred SCOTS
ease. Not in 1888 by the Supreme Court o f
Tennessee in the case OF The State VS. Loue
lace. Nor in 1884 by Chief Justice Daggett
in Prudence Crandall's dase. 1t hau an ear
Her, and doubtless in the estimation Of the
Journal, a more distinguished origin. IL
was first officially announced by william
Writ in 1921, when Attorney General OF
the United States-and lest the J0urnars
recollection should be at fault in relation to
that learned distinguished Jurist and Chris
tan gentleman, we add, that he is the same
William Writ, whom the journal dfler,oards
in 1892 supp5rted as the anti-Mls1nic can
dilute far the Presidency, 1t is true that
his official advice to Mr. Monroes admins
, traton not to recognise free negroes AS sct-
liens Of the United States set the Jousadl
to "howling and shreking,' but strange as
it may now seem, the bowls and shiieks
were in favor OF his election to the highest
Office within the gift Of the American peo-
plei We proceed to state the views Of Mr.
Writ put forth on this subject, and invite to
them the special attention Of the Journal:
The navigation laws of the United States
required that masters of vessels should be
cti-eHs. Under this statute a question
arose in the Treasury Department whether
free negro Of Virginia was Il citizen Cfthe
United States, and therefore entitled to be
placed in command of 4 vessel. The point
was referred by the then Secretary of the
Treasury to the Attorney General Of The
United States in the following forms-
Whether free persons Of color in Virginia
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
to command vessels?" -
To this query Mr.. Writ gave an Official
reply in letter from the Secretary Of the
Treasury, dated November :, 1921, from
which we make the following extracts
Looking TO the Constitution as the stand
ard 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, IL
will he sufficient to advert to the constitu.
tional provision that the citizen Of each
State shall be entitled TO all the privileges
and immuuities Of citizens in the several
States" Now if person born and rcsid-
ing IN Virginia, bnt possessing none Of the
high characteristic provisions Of citizen Of
the State, Is neACrthcless a citizen Of Nir-
ginia, in the sense Of the Constitution. then
on his removal 10 another State, he acquires
all the immlniles and privileges OF citi-
zen Of that State, although lac possessed
none OF them in the State OF his nativity; a
consequence which certainly could not have
been IN the contemplation Of the Conyen-
ton. Again: the only qualification requir-
cd by the Constitution TO render person
eligible as President, Senator, or Represent
atige Of the United States, j., that he viii be
"ctiZen Of the United states" OF a given
age and rcsidence.-Frce negroes and uuu,al-
. toes can satisfy the rcGUiSi;iens Of az. and
residence a. well as the white man: ant if
nativity, residence, and allegiance combined.
iYitGout the rights and privileges Of . white
NAM are sufficient TO make him As cit.L-n
# the United States in the sense Of the
Constitution. then .g- negroes and !uu!at-
toes are eligible = these nigh Offices. and
may command tie purse ana sword o. the
nation.
VI. Attorney General Writ, after further
discussing the subject, states AS conclusion
in the following words:
Upon IT, whole, am 81 Tie opinion that
free persons Of color IN Virginia are not cit
liens Of the United states, within the intent
aud meaning oi the acts regulating foreign
AMI coaSt.n- trade, 50 as - De qualified 10
command vessels.
We submit to II honest ruI,.-, whether
the attempt o! the Black Republican press
10 stir mp the pre- ud.,ts Of the peoi ,c aga, ust