Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-08-11
OF THE 15rm AMENDMENT.

m.nt. which has been presented in vari-
ou- forms. has not been stated mor- terse-
i ari logically .han III the following rN-
,r.c;, from work in preparation for
the pr.>s. entitled Sovereign Legislation
b. the rcopl" III America, by William
-. Ba,"man. Esq author of :" CONNER
eial Law" etc
Some have supposed that one Of the
rights, privileges or lInmunltics' Of a cit
iE,n "f the I nitci S,a;c=. is that Of voting
at public elections Nothing can De furth-
cr from tn truth. Not q vote is cast from
ON" end Of the country to the other, by
any person ia virtue merely Of his being
n citizen of ia" United States Pomc-
ray's Constitutional Law, ?. 20s.) Nor
l. II in the name. character or capacity of
such citizen. that any pnIiticoi rights or
powers arr ever enjoyed. but only in iii"
character or capacity Of an ei,ctor, tha, is,
Of a mcu,hcr "f the y,liical bod v or State
= What. then, is the meaning Or effect
g III" Fiitcrr,:h amendment to the Fcde-
raj ;uu>ritu'i"n 'Thc right of citizens
"f the nitrt States to vote, shall not br
denied or abridged by the United States,
"r by any STATE. on account of race, color
ar previous condition of scrvitudc' This
l. gyH, rally understood to mean that citi-
zcns II the United Statcs shall MT be- de
nicd the right 10 vote. or that the right to
vote shall not be- denied Ia citizens of the
United States. nor shall the right be
,hriigci. Ly the United States or by any
Stat" on account ofrace, color, etc. The
amendment unquestionably presupposcs.
~ the basis and possibility of its obliga-
ton. that a right or power somewhere cx-
ists. other than that of any State. by
which the right "f suffrage. the essential
sovereignty "f the people Of State,
may br controlled without their consent
Ia this the amendment is SIMPLY suhvcr-
Five "f the sovereignty Of 'th" pcoll'
which has always existed, AMI could only
exist in union of States. as the supreme
and uncomfortable right of each body of
electors To say who should or should not
bc admitted I" 4 participation in the soy
crcign deliberations aud resolutions. No
matter what view is taken Of the amend =
mcnt. the all-important objection that it
takes from the people of each State the
peculiar essential Of their Internal right OF
self government, must remain an unan-
swcrablc one In addition 10 this. the
meaning (pcrhaps the conversion of ths
States int" single Statc) is hidden un-
der very unusual and ambiguous form
cf expression the right of citizens of the
United States 10 vote In this connec-
tion. it is peculiarly important 10 rccollect
who were '.'itizrns II the United States.
and in whom the right Ia vote was YES
ted. prior to this amendment
/" Thcrr arr in our system. and have
ever been. as W. have f"rmrrly seen, thr,c
-.rts or kinds of communities or States :
First. IN. >cr,,7' L,|i,< Of electors. which
bodies are the several States themselves.
considered ~ several. sovereign aud ind, :
i'cndcnt ysli'iom communities. and which
,"ach ~ the people of 4 State. invested
with thr character and qualifications Of
electors or voters by virtue of thcir own
peculiar law. and acting as a sovereig gn
h'~iy or State) originally and severally
formed our several State constitutions, and
separately and severally 'assensed TO rat
ifie,t and 80 'c.1ained and established our
Federal constitution. Secondly. TAs ser
snss b-siies az cifiz,As, which are the sew
cral States as separate cirii communities !;
each u; which bodies is subjec, u the gov
srnmen, and entitled to the protection OF the
roi:.ical stat. 20 which il belongs. but has
no voice or sharc in the government. State
cr Federal. Thirdly. The wha,s heiy II
.'iti>.ss OF ~, United .Sstsss. this body be-
ing the cirl community Of the Cuited
States. made up of the citizens of each
STATE as entitled to all privileges aud I'M
muniiics II citizens in the several States.
and bcing subject 10 the Federal govern
mcn,, AMI cutitlci to its protection, with
in che sphere ot II constitutional action,
but possessing L" sort ~ po''tisuf power.
nc voice in the government of State or
q: .hc United States. and having no poin-
isssa daties 60 perform and no politic,sl
rights "a enley.
a. By the Fourteenth Amendment. An
persons born OF naturakxei in the United
Stsfes, and subject 10 the jurisdiction
thereof. are citizens cf the United States
.-iu r-rsoRs. men. women. and children.
Of all races. coiors. sexes. and conditions
Ncy, ne one ever lmaginad that these bad
q rurAt 10 vote. YSs the nrw amend
saess says, the right Of citiS.as cf'tAe w
SD Mate. 10 vote. shall no. be. denied cr
ahrsd sed, etc Read il As We viii, one
sof ssc ssounais naSa b taken ;eishel
tsss tAS umendnsat confers eAoils ssx
r;.s', rish; =, vote urun 'caiasns o