, 1866-02-05

Senator Trumbull's Speech on the
Bill to Protect the Freshmen.
CITIZENSHIP OF THE C0L0lED
MAN.



Ir1ur SENATE Feb. g. 1866
Mr. ThcMBu11 BeEpre pfoeecdtr7 with the tal
nntCr consideration, destfe 70 o1ex an aneodmeni
to 1nsest after the word that tn the thlrd line o
the fryt section, the uordf al pet1ons Of african
crrcd 10 le ci,i-cn. Of The United sates and; 50
that The section will read:
t- thai Ill ps1tona Of African descent born IN the
Iniird foee are hereby declared to be c1tixrns OF
lie TurJ ala.44 aod hefp s1all he no di-eFfmtna-
tfon IN r,1l rCns or tnnrutties smonz lhe inhHh-
ftantr Of ary state or Territory OF the United Stntes
On aocpunt Of rec, color or preFions coalition OF
Mt. Trreioent. regard the bill to which the a.-
tcution Of tho senate ts now called ss the most IN
pp4+sps Deasuc 3h3 has haen under jts cousId era
fior ripce the adoption Of The Constitutional amend.
| rnenl aboheh,ng Eisse1y. That amendment de-
ca1ec that all Icrrons ia the United Sta:cs ebonld
be free This measure If intended to cire edect 10
that declaration and eeeurc 10 al persons within
sbe Cni,cd States practical freedom There Il yctJ
little importance In the general declaration Of ab-
Etract tfuIhs and principles unless they can be
red in,o effect, miles. The rrr<oas who art to be
cGeccd By them haye some Ee1us ol ara1(ng them.
sclsrs Of thets tcnc1ts. III what aral w.s ihc.in.
mortal defamation ''tha II men are GRATED eqaM
1naiicnable chte; that 1one these are life, lbeE
cnro lhc+r .;isa:s G :nEnents aEe instituted
I tn1. corns1y who =: ground dosu and degraded
md srnjrr1ed : : siavGy nozc intolet1b1e and
czucl than ste, world eyer before knewl Of
vho, few ycaF acc won't TO South Caroane to en-
fa.tr sts,utlonal .'rht IN coust that the Con-
ention Of tse un. d state. declared thst the cit
OF cach ssatc hall be enitled 10 ali The p1iy
ilecCe and Emn1II les OF citizens in the several
s1aet: And oi what avail will L now BE- .hs. ths
Constitution Of The United States has dcclaned thai
slavery thalI not e15et II in the late sayehodinr
slaex aNr arc 10 be caacted and enforced d.priyne
peTEont Of African descent ol privileges which are
essential to trremcn:
It Is the intention OF this bill 10 eecure ihoss
fnh 1ntEl IN the s1x
made dt.iincion against persons OF Aft1can de.
sceul on sceount Of ihrtr color, whether free o.
tiase. I a3ve hclo;c ne ths statute< .of Mis.
sDy nee negro or mu!atto, shali come into thai
Stair for tho pupose Of :ling there, he shal Be
ed Ing :de ios w. IS;, I et n
county TO another without having p1ss or cc.tl.
cate or bis freedom he Il liable to be committed 10
jail mud 70 be dealt with ns person who is in tbs
.tatue prohibit my negro OF mnlatln ron nayinc
firearms and one provision Of the sta.u,e decarrs
That so1 a2eErslng the fuuc1on Of minister Of ths
Gotpel Tree negroes md 1nulatioes, on conviction
may he pnnisntd By any number OF h>bes moi ex
ccctinC fhlttx.nlue On the hare back. nad shall pa,
the COSTS. Other provisions OF the etatute OF hi;
-tssppt nroh1st1 me- negro OF mulatto Irom keep
me Aouse oi entertainment and tub3ect hin il
ia! before two justices Of The te1ce aud 1ye slave
holders for violating the pro1eone OF this iaw Jbi
| statntes Q. south csroltna make II = highly pena
slaves and similar provisions are 10 be found run
ming through al tue ststutes Of the Late sls ,ehold
q hen the conf ftitntit nal amendment was aacptet
/ and slavery abolished NIL theee sfatues bttan,t
null End sod because the5 we're MI passed IN sid
FiaEsT, tor the purpose oi maintaining and sup
poE,ing Il. stnee the abolis,on q slavery, Il.
Legislatures Which have assembled in the IN .urrac
1'onaiy sla:es have passel laws relating 10 ihe
tretalncn and IN ncar]y all The Sistes thcy hare dis
xsgisss. srn,cea them to scvere penalties, aud stii
!nttote rpon them The very restrictions which wer
1mlNseu upon them IN consequence Of the exist
| cnCe OF slavery, and fore it w1s ABOLISHED Th
purpose Of The bill under co,ls,dela,,o; Il todesi
:l these DISCRIMINATING. md to carry into cffes
the Institutional amendment The t1fst ecc:ioa d
ns n,!a 4, q ~ ~ now pi9posca to Be amended, De
ct,i,tr. Of The Tnised Stntes, a1t-
t.1lat there shall be no discrimination In ciyl
iast OF 1e1zi'ory Of the United Statcs On accoan
Of race. coo or previous condition Of elafcsy; bp
the Inhabitants Of eves5 Eace and color, without n
:at. TO ans previous condition Of SLAVERY Or iu,o
| untcfy ftfvlt1de. except az pun1shueui for Grim
whs1eof the party shall have bean duly couyicied
-hal have the same tirht to make md enforce con
raes, to Eae. Be parties, and gse evidence. 10 IN
and personal property, and TO full and equal bened
Of all lo"s and ptocecdlnss fot the SECURITY OF per
fon and propests, aud shail be subject 10 like pm
an. law. fta:ufe, ordnance, regulation. OF custom
| 10 The coulIaEy notwithstanding"
tits section l. The hasis of the whole hill Th,
othtr provisions OF the bill contain The ueoe ,ear
maca,1ei. 70 cisc effect e What are declared 10 b
r tti' III II ~ at,p aH ~ lag NJ! son, ana th
| !Ech LII: Ills coucre-s auttns1ty to give peactt
cal etcc1 10 the great declar3lun that slavery sha,
no: east IN the Unict states7 II ii has moi, the,
no'linr hat been accomplished By the Adoption o
sle eonsti,uhonal amendment. In my Judgment
Cclgrcss Ia this authority. Its difficult perhzps
10 me accutafc!y what flaser5 II and *at libez
H. Liberty md slavery are opposite terms; one /
opposed TO tle utht1. Nc know that IN u,1l 70,
stgment. ID ofE:antzed s,c1cfy, no each thing ca
GNet a. nalhfai q nosolnfe Liberty Natural nbeft
If de1ned 10 be The
toMeE Of acting as one th1nks IT. without an
fe1t5a1nt Or control, unless By fhe law OF nature
beahr ngh! inherent IN ~ by birth. aud cno Of h
/ Efite OF G0d 10 man In his CREATION. when he In