The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-03-29

pSiooho diS lOG ClIlLcuS, us may De
assumed from the proposed legisla,
ton to make them such, the grave
question presents itself whether,
where eleven of the thirty-siX
States are unrepresented in Con-
gress at this time, it is sound poll
cy to make the entire colored pop
ulation, and all other excepted
classes, citizens of the United
States. Four millions of them have
just emerged from slavery into
freedom. Can it be reasonably
supposed that they possess the req
uirite qualifications to entitle them
TO all the privileger and immuni,
| ties of citizens Of the United States2
Have the people of the several
States expressed such convictions?
1t may also be asked whether it is
necessary that they should be de-
clared citizens in order that they
may be secured in the enjoyment
Of the civil rights proposed to be
conferred by the bill. Those rights
are, by Federal as well as by State
laws, secured to all domiciled al
lens and foreigners, even before
the completion of the process of
naturalization, and it may safely be
assumed that the same enactments
are sufficient to give like protection
to those for whom this bill provides
special legislation. Besides, the
policy of the Government. from its
origin to the present time, seems to
have been that persons who are
strangers to, and unfamiliar with
our institutions and our laws, shO'd
pass through a certain propation.
at the end of which, before obtain
ing the coveted prize, they must
give evidence of their fitness to re
ceive and to exercise the rights of
citizens as contemplated by the
Constitution Of the United States.
The bill in effect proposes a dis
elimination against large num-
Der Of intelligent, worthy and pat
riotic foreigners, and in favor of
the negro, to whom, after long
years ofbondage, the avenues to
freedom and intelligence have just |
now been suddenly opened. He |
must, Of necessity, from his prcvi-
GUS unfortunate condition Of servi-
tude, be less informed as to the ma
ture and character Of our institu-
tions than he who, coming from
abroad, has to some extent, at least,
familiarized himself with the prin-
ciplcs Of a Government to which
he voluntarily entrusts "life, liber-
ty ard the persuit Of happiness y
Yet it is now proposed, by single
enactment, to confer t&e
rights Of citizens upon all persons
Of African descent born within the
extended limits ofthe United States,
while persons of foreign birth,
who make our land their home,
must undergo a probation Of five
years, and can only then become
citizens upon proof that they are
d good moral character, attached
10 the principles of the constitu-
ion of the United States, and well
disposed to the good order and hap
Diness Of the same.
The first section of the bill also
contains an enumeration of the
lights to be enjoyed by those class
IS so made citizens. In every STATE
md Territory in the Uuited States
hese rights are, to make and en-
orce contracts, to sue, to be par
les and give evidence, inherit,
purchase, lease, sell, holland con-
Tey real and personal property,
o have full and equal benefit of all
proceedings for the security of per
ons and property as enjoyed by
white citizens. So, too, they are
made subject to the same punish
nent, pains and penalties common
With white citizens, and to none
,thers. Thus perfect equality of
he white and eolored races is at
empted to be fixed by Federal
aw in every State of the Union,
)ver the vast field of Stale jurisdic-
ion covered by these enumerated
lights. In no one of them can any
State exercise any power of dis
elimination between different ra-
,es. In the exercise of State poll
~ over matters exclusively affect
ng the people of each State, it.has
frequently been thought expedient
70 discriminate between the two
races. BY the statutes of some of
the States, North as well as South,
it is enacted, for instance, that no
white person shall intermarry with
a negro or mulatto. Chancellor
Kent says, speaking of the blacks,
that "marriages between them and
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