The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-07
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Z, 10000.
THE ponro R1cAN TARIFF IN
CONSTITUTIONAL.

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So far as it has obser=sd, The Times is
the only journal, speaker or writer that
has male the point against the Porto
Rico tariff kill that 1t is repugnant to the
Fourteenth Amendment 70 the Constitu-
ton of the United States. Yet The Times
is perfectly satisfied that the Fourteenth
Amendment is the battle ground upon
which the fight has TO be made, and that
by degrees, as the subject becomes I'M
derstood the. lines Of argument pursued
abandoned, and the true lines viii be en-
tered upon. The subject is one of as
great Importance as any that has ever
come up under our government, and We
propose, therefore, to give it a very thor
ouSh consideration and discussion.
No conquerers ever made a greater
change in the laws of a conquered terri
tory than the Fourteenth Amendment,
adopted directly after our civil war,
made in the theory of our laws. It was
one of the three amendments called the
war amendments, designed to consecrate
and seam the results of the war. The
Thirteenth and the Fifteenth had refer
cnce solely to the future estate of
was the exciting cause that produced the
Fourteenth. Nevertheless. while the
Thirteenth and Fifteenth named the negro
as the subject upon which they were to
operate. the Fourteenth spread itself out
and took in all Americans of whatever
color or race. 1t declares that ALL
persons born or naturaliZed in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof. are citizens of the United States
and Of the State wherein they reside
Prior TO the civil war there had been
no citizenship of the United States, except
as the individual was citizen of a State.
The theory was that the individual was
a citizen of Virginia. for instance. and
thereby citizen of the United. States,
but that those who resided In the District
OF Columbia and in the Territories We're
not citizens of the United States 1t had
also been held by the Supreme Court OF
the United States in the bred Scott
case that a person of African descent was
not and could not become a citizen Of the
United States or ola State 1t was to
cut this whole theory up by the roots that
the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted.
1t was intended by that amendment to
say that every American. of whatever
race or color. and whether he resided in
L a State or Territory, is citizen Of the
United States. and the amendment then
went on to say that in virtue of his citi-
zenship Of the United States he had GER
tain national privileges and im1punities
wllich We're fundamental in their charac-
Ter. and which no power on earth could
de2rive itm of. AL this can be seen in
the Slaughter House Case. 16 Wallace, by
those who can read 1t Understandings.
Tho court goes further and points out
some of the fundamental privileges and
ammunities of citizens OF the United
States, one OF which is a right to resort
freely and without obstruction to the
ports OF the country where Ats foreign
commerce is conducted.
s. The Fourteenth Amendment anlenoeo
then that every foot Of territory belonging
to the. United States when II was adopt
!. ed, ana every foot OF territory the United
States might thereafter acquire, should
become an antegral part Of the United
States. and every person residing upon
any part OF that territory should become
cittzen OF the United States. entitled to
the privileges and drnununities of citizens
OF the United States. in which they would
DO guarded and projected By the consti-
tuition Of the United States. That Is the
4 u,ea1,ina Of The Fourteenth Amendment.
which worked a. yer. bic q revolution
IN our theory Of government g he seyo-
lution o. 1s@ worked N the theory3o OF the
4 nGonA 0oN1umant Ard 1t WAS ons Of