The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-29
EQUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP.


secured by our civil government was
the largest exercise Of natural liberty
compatible with such civil restraints
as were necessary to secure equal pro-
lection; that the original Constitution
guarantees to every State republican
form Of government, and protects each
citizen In the exercise Of all the rights
of citizenship, irrespective of sex; that
no distinction is made between the
sexes in any of its PROVISIONS that the
terms persons" "people," and "citi-
zens" are Synonymous terms, and in
clude both sexes. have also shown
that after the emancipation Of the
slaves and the adoption Of the Thir-
teenth Amendment, declaring that
neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude, except as punishment for crime,
whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist in the United
States, thus throwing upon our nation
a class Of people who must either be ex-
PEELED from the country, treated as resi-
dent aliens, or adopted as citizens, this
latter course was decided upon, aud in
order to settle all disputes among the
States on the question OF their citizen
ship, and 10 secure them, as we'll as to
all citizens Of whatever race or color,
the full and free exercise Of the rights,
privileges, and immunities of citizens,
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments 10 the Constitution were framed
and adopted. The Fourteenth Amend
meut declares who are citizens, secures
to all citizens the equal protection of the
laws, readjusts the representation, and
I secures the vote against reduction. The
Fifteenth Amendment secures the bal
lot TO all citizens, of whatever race or
color, by putting il out of the power of
'"the United States, or any State, to
deny TO any citizen, Of whatever race OF
color or previous condition of seTvitude,
the right 10 vote,n thus adjusting the
balance Of power among the races, and
preventing the United States aud the
States from bringing up the question OF
the former condition of slavery Of the
African race as an excuse for denying
them the right to vote But there is
more than this contained in the provis-
ions Of these amendments. Il is thought
by some that because the words "female
citizens" and irrespective Of sex" are
not inserted in these amendments, as
specially defining their provisions, that
woman is excluded from any benefits
arising therefrOm. Let US see. Had
the Fifteenth Amendment read, "The
right Of citizens, Irrespective Of sex, OF
the United States to vote shall not be
denied or orabridged by the United States,
or any State, on account Of race, or
color, or previous condition of servi-
tude," would it have been any better
than it is now? Does not the simple
use Of the word "eilizeus" express both
sexes? or had il read, "The right Of
male citizens and Of female citizens Of
the United States to vote" etc, would
there not have been a supeIhuity Of lam
guage by inserting the words "male"
and ''female," when the word "citi-
zeus" is all sufficient? This being ad-
mitted, we wish to call your attention
to the fact, and one that is admitted
without a dissenting voice, that by the
adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment
all the people of African descent in the
United States, including not only those
recently emancipated from slavery, but
also those previously free, but debarred
the privilege Of becoming citizens, were
enfranchised, and endowed with all the
rights, privileges, aud immunities Of
citizenship, and the equal protection Of
the laws in the exercise of those rights.
In enfranchising the colored race, no
distinction is made between them and
other races. They are, along with the
others, included in the provisions Of
both Of the amendments, and only as
forming a component part Of the citi-
zens Of the United States. But admit
ting that only the coIored race was in
tended TO be included in the provisions
of these amendments; that they were
enacted especially for the enfranchise-
ment and protection Of this special
class Of people, the fact still remains
that both men and women are in
cluded in their provisions, and that
whatever rights, privileges, and i'm
muuities are secured to the colored
man are also secured TO the colored
woman. There is no escaping this fact.
II takes no penetration to see that, as
there is no distinction made between
the sexes in the act Of acknowledgements
Of this race, they were adopted en-
mQSsc by the nation, and were all equally
endowed with and declared to be enti-
tied to all the rights aud benefits arising
from and pertaining to the state Of citi-
zenship; that by these special acts Cthe
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
their enfranchisement was secured, all
encroachmeut upon their rights, priv.
ileges, and immunities forbidden, and
their life, liberty, and property pro-
tected by the equal enforcement Of the
+ laws that both sexes are recognized
as citizens, and that the male citizen.
of this race are no more entitled to vote
than are the female citizens Of this race
neither can their right to vote be de.
MED to them by the United States, mol
. by any state, any more than it can b,
denied to the male citizens. This beip,
the case, it is evident that in accordin,
. To- the cOlOrad men fba avaro;s.. ~ a.