The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-02-03

be considered as citizens. This decision
though now generally regarded by the mas
ses as infamous In its meaning and intent
has been recognized by Congress in the pas
sage OF the CIVIL Rights act-that great
measure of Justice and reparation to a long
prosecuted, downtrodden, victim race-as
valid and binding; as res ddjHdicdtd- The
language of the first Section OF said law is as
follows:
THAT all persons born in the United States
and not subject to any foreign power, ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed, are hereby de-
clared to be citizens of the United States
land such citizens of every race and color,
without regard to any previous condition OF
punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall have
the same right in every State and Territory
in the United States to make and enforce
contracts; to sue, be parties. and give evil
dence; to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, bold
and convey real and personal property and
to full and equal benefit of all laws and pro-
eeedings for the security of person and prop
erty as is enjoyed by white citizens, and
shall be subject to like punishment, pains
and penalties, and To none other, any law,
statute. ordinance, or custom, to the contra
ry notwithstanding"
From the above citations it appears that a
person, to become Senator of the United
states. must have been nine years citizen
of the United States; that colored men, ac-
port and design of the fundamental law of
the Union, as declared by the highest court
known to our political system, were not cit
liens nine years ago; and that Congress, by
the very fact of comforting citizenship upon
such persons BY special enactment, acknOwl-
edge the binding force of the judicial decis-
ion, for it would have been a work Ofsupero-
CATION. If the slaves bee anne citizens as an
immediate effect OF the emancipation proc
lamation, or if the bred Scott decision had
not been binding upon the Government, to
go through the legislative form of making
citizens of those who were citizens already.
1t is plain that Congress did not consider
negroes citizens up to the time of the pas
sage of the Civil Rights act.
With these facts and precedents in view,
we are forced to the conclusion that not
only Mr.. Revels, but all of his race, are. as
vet, ineligible to the place of Senator of the
United States. The citiZeniZing law alluded
to was passed by Congress on April g. 1866,
alter it had been vetoed by the President.
Then, until nine years after that date no
colored man can be regarded as qualified to
become a United States Senator, nor until
seven years after that date, a Representative
in Congress. These are the constitutional,
Judicial and legal aspects OF the question.
The natural equities of the case are very
matter. We believe that we have
in this country some colored men well fitted
by native talent, intellectual training, and
with public affairs, TO be mem
bers of either branch of our National Legis-
lature. The time is not far distant when
we shall have colored men in such national
positions. 1t is due to a victim race that it
should be represented on the floors of Con-
gress as soon as practicable, but we do not
see how any of that class is to become eligi-
bic to seat in the House of Representatives
until April 8, 1873, or to a seat in the SEN
ate until April 8, 1875, unless by an amend
ment of the Constitution, changing the term
Of citizenship required.