The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-02-03

upon inquiry, as to whom this large slave
holding State regarded as included in the
word citizen In 8 Henning, 267-S, I
find can act for regulating and disciplin-
ing the militia" passed May 5, I77T,
and in force, so far as I find, at the time
Of the adoption of the Constitution. 1t
begins as follows:
For forming the citizens of this Common
wealth into a militia, and disciplining the same
for defense theref, be it enacted by The General
Asseably, that all free male persons, hired SER
wants and apprentice, between the ages of fifteen
and fifty years. Except the Governor, &c., shall,
they reside, be enrolled and formed into comPa-
MES of not less than thirty-two, nor more than
sixty eight rank and file. and these companies
shall again be into battalions," &c.
Hero We have it ON the rec, I'd, plain,
aud unequivocal, in the first year Of our
independence. call free male persons
are expressly recognized as included in
the words s~scitizeu of Commonwealth"
9But this 8 cannot be believed >" our
court what say. g The large slave hold
iog States could not so regard them and
as We have decided that free inhabitants
means free white inhabitants, so free male
persons must mean free white male per-
sons" But, IS if anticipating modern
judicial acumen, the same act goes on to
say " the free mnlattoes in said compa-
mics or battaEions, shall be employed as
drunmers3 ffers, or pioneers" So il
mast !" be believed that I" free male per-
sons" means free male persons.
Further on page $50, | find it provided
that the recruiting officers shall not /" en-
list ~anysnegroe or mulatto into the ser
Sicelof this or either of the United States,
until such negroe or mulatto shall spro-
duee q certificate from some justice Of the
county wherein he re ides, that he is a
free man..
land insview of the fact that all the
States enlisted in the armies of the Rev
olufion their free colorcd, as well as white
citizens, and upon tho sams terms; that
they focked to their conntry's standard
With the same alacrity as tho whites ;
that they fought and bled on every battle
fold the first blood shed in the contest was
that negroe that ever since, they
have beene pensioned under tie same laws
Aszwhtte soldiers how intensely mean
the bold assumption that they were not a
part Of the people of the United States
Grefs are the necessities of ~despotism,
and humiliating the shifts to which it
drives its yotaries
If those who fought through the war
to establish our liberties, who were cleo
tors IN nearly every State, and voted for
the delegates that adopted the Constitu-
ton, who were embraced under the gene
raj law of citizenship, and nowhere ex-
cluded-if they formed no part of the
people or citizens of the country, I should
like to know on what rest the claims of
any man, when the necessities of despo-
tism demand his exclusion
/ have, I believe, succeeded is showing
that United States citizenship, in respect
to natives, is q matter exclusively of State
regulation ; so that the citizens of each
State are citizens of the United States ;
and I have also negatived the assumption
t~hat,colored natives were nowhere treated
and considered as a part of the people, or
citizens of the several States, at the
adoption of the Federal Constitution. So
that, With the u~ndisputed and universal
modern law, that makes all native mem
.hers Of the community citizens, which law
is nowhere repealed, and is faithfully en-
forced IN many of the States, it plainly
appears that a native born free descendant
of African slaves may be a citizen of the
United States.
have thus sought to vindicate the law,
the tights of the States, and the rights
of an oppressed class. / know that some
are disturbed by any a~llnsion to the
wrongs of mere blacks. They would get
tho negro out of politics. not by binding
up his wounds, but by passing by Jon the
other side. 70 such shallow politicians
I have only to say that, ifyou have not
the moral instincts that impel you to
withstand injustice wherever exhibited,
At least have. the sagacity to look to your
own future. Tyranny always creeps on
apace. Its first presidents pander to the
public appetites, or fatter the public pref
udiee. Power after power has been drawn
to this tribunal till, grown strong by ac-
quiescence, and reckless by strength, at
the very political existence of indi-
is assaulted. sVerdant, indeed,
it have boen had its attack not
ehitded with the vulgar prejudice. But
let this become an u~ndisputed precedent
and upon whom will light the next pro-
scriptive edict? and how long before po-
opinion, rather than complexion,
will be cause of outlawry7 When will
men learn that though justice may for a
time sleep, its exactions are iniexible and