ProblemNotSolved: BlackCitizensandBlackSlaves

2011DanGoodman IntheUnitedStates,beforetheFourteenthAmendment,therewereblackcitizens aswellasblackslaves(whobecomeinvariouswaysunderthelaw,freepersonsof color). FreepersonsofcolorisshowninthecaseofDredScott,decidedbytheSupreme CourtoftheUnitedStatesintheyear1856: Thequestionissimplythis:Cananegro,whoseancestorswereimportedinto thiscountry,andsoldasslaves,becomeamemberofthepoliticalcommunity formedandbroughtintoexistencebytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,andas suchbecomeentitledtoalltherights,andprivileges,andimmunities,guarantiedby thatinstrumenttothecitizen?Oneofwhichrightsistheprivilegeofsuinginacourt oftheUnitedStatesinthecasesspecifiedintheConstitution. Itwillbeobserved,thatthepleaappliestothatclassofpersonsonlywhose ancestorswerenegroesoftheAfricanrace,andimportedintothiscountry,and soldandheldasslaves.Theonlymatterinissuebeforethecourt,therefore,is, whetherthedescendantsofsuchslaves,whentheyshallbeemancipated,orwho arebornofparentswhohadbecomefreebeforetheirbirth,arecitizensofa State,inthesenseinwhichthewordcitizenisusedintheConstitutionofthe UnitedStates.Andthisbeingtheonlymatterindisputeonthepleadings,the courtmustbeunderstoodasspeakinginthisopinionofthatclassonly,thatis, ofthosepersonswhoarethedescendantsofAfricanswhowereimportedinto thiscountry,andsoldasslaves..... Thequestionthenarises,whethertheprovisionsoftheConstitution,inrelation tothepersonalrightsandprivilegestowhichthecitizenofaStateshouldbe entitled,embracedthenegroAfricanrace,atthattimeinthiscountry,orwhomight afterwardsbeimported,whohadthenorshouldafterwardsbemadefreeinany State;andtoputinthepowerofasingleStatetomakehimacitizenoftheUnited States,andenduehimwiththefullrightsofcitizenshipineveryotherStatewithout theirconsent?DoestheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesactuponhimwheneverhe shallbemadefreeunderthelawsofaState,andraisedtheretotherankofacitizen, andimmediatelyclothehimwithalltheprivilegesofacitizenineveryotherState, andinitsowncourts? 1

Thecourtthinktheaffirmativeofthesepropositionscannotbemaintained.And ifitcannot,theplaintiffinerrorcouldnotbeacitizenoftheStateofMissouri,within themeaningoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,and,consequently,wasnot entitledtosueinitscourts.DredScott:60U.S.(Howard19)393,at403,406 (1856).

http://books.google.com/books?id=CQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA403#v=onepage&q&f=false

BlackcitizenswerecitizensofaState,entitledtoprivilegesandimmunitiesof citizensintheseveralStates,andthus,werecitizensoftheUnitedStates: ...Thattheprocesstorequiresuretyforgoodbehaviorwasacriminal process;andthat,atcommonlaw,suchsuretycouldonlybedemandedupon convictionofsomeoffence.Thatitisnotreasonabletosupposethatcongress intendedthatcoloraloneshouldbeagoodcausefordemandingit.Thatthe constitutionknowsnodistinctionofcolor.Thatallwhoarenotslavesareequally free;thattheyareequallycitizensoftheUnitedStates,asthosefreewhite personsinVirginiawhohavenofreehold,orthoseintheotherstateswhohavenot thepropertyrequiredtoqualifythemtovoteortoserveonjuries,orwhoaretoo agedtobeenrolledinthemilitia.Thatthosepeopleofcolor,whoarecitizensof anystateoftheUnion,havearighttocomehereandclaimalltheprivilegesof citizenshipunderthatclauseoftheconstitutionwhichgivestothecitizensof eachstatealltheprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensintheseveralstates. Thattocauseawarranttoissueforsuretyofgoodbehaviororofthepeace,without anallegationofsomecrimeactuallycommitted,oroftheapprehensionofsome crime,supportedbyoath,oraffirmation,wouldbecontrarytotheconstitutionof theUnitedStates,andthereforethechartermustnotbeconstruedsoastogivethat power.Costinv.Washingtion:6Fed.Cas.(No.3266)612,at613;2Cranch,C.C. 254(1821).
http://books.google.com/books?id=pwA7AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA613#v=onepage&q&f=false

...[B]utnomanofcolour,unlessheshallhavebeenforthreeyearsa citizenofthisstate,andforoneyearnextprecedinganyelection,shallbeseized andpossessedofafreeholdestateofthevalueoftwohundredandfiftydollars,over andabovealldebtsandincumbranceschargedthereon;andshallhavebeenactually rated,andataxthereon,shallbeentitledtovoteatanysuchelection.ArticleII, Section1(QualificationsofVoters),ConstitutionoftheStateofNewYork,1821.

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/constitutions/1821_constitution.htm

...IbelievethatthecoloredcitizensofMassachusettsshouldbepermitted toenjoythesamerightsandprivilegesthatweourselvesenjoy,andiftheydesireit, shouldbeallowedtocarryouttheirpatriotism,asallgoodcitizensofthe 2

Commonwealthoughttodo.OfficialReportoftheDebatesandProceedingsinthe StateConventionassembledMay4th,1853,toReviseandAmendtheConstitutionof theCommonwealthofMassachusetts,VolumeSecond;1853;(Boston:White& Potter);Page72,Mr.Whitney,ofBoylston.

http://books.google.com/books?id=8D1HAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA72#v=onepage&q&f=false

AgainIaskwhatrighthavewetososhapeourconstitutionthatourLegislative bodiesmaypassalawwhichwilldisregardtheconstitutionoftheUnitedStates. ThereisaprovisionintheconstitutionoftheUnitedStateswhichguaranteesinthe firstplacethateachStateshallhavetherighttodeclareforitselfwhoshallorshall notbecitizens.ThatrighttheStatedetainsinitshands.WhentheStatesassembled inConventiontoformaconstitutiontheyneversurrenderedtheirright,andinthe exerciseofthatrightthereareseveralStatesofthisUnionthatrecognizecolored menascitizens.NowtheconstitutionoftheUnitedStatesunderwhichwenow live,saysthattherightsandimmunitiesofthecitizensoftheseveralStatesshallbe securedinalltheStates.Ifthatbethecase,Iaskyouwhatrightwehaveasa Conventionsittingheretoformaconstitution,todenythattheLegislaturemaypass alawdisfranchisingthecoloredcitizensofNewYorkorMassachusetts,and therebyviolatetheconstitutionoftheUnitedStates.TheDebatesofthe ConstitutionalConvention;oftheStateofIowa,assembledatIowaCity,Monday, January19,1857,Official,VolumeI;1857(Davenport:Luse,Lane&Co.,Publishers); Page193,Mr.Clarke.
http://books.google.com/books?id=HrmCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA193#v=onepage&q&f=false

Whereas,amongalltherightsofaRepublicnonearesosacred,andamongall thesafeguardsofthelibertiesoffreemannonearesopowerful,astherightof suffragearight,indeed,whichgivespoliticalexistencetothosewhopossessit, andispoliticalannihilationtothosewhoaredeprivedofitarightparamountin vitalityandimportancetoallpoliticalrights;andtoobtainwhichwhendeprivedof it,nolaborshouldbecountedtoosevere,nosacrificetoogreatand,Whereas,the ColoredCitizensoftheCommonwealthofPennsylvaniaare,byherpresent Constitution,deprivedoftheexerciseofthissacredright,fornoothercausethan thatithaspleasedtheAlmightyCreatortoclothethemwithadarkhue,a circumstanceoverwhichtheyhadnocontrol,andforwhichnojusttribunalcanor willholdthemaccountable,andtopunishthemforwhich,withthehighestpolitical privation,isnotonlydoingviolencetonatureherself,butisofferinginsultand mockerytotheAlmightyCreatorofallthingsandJudgeofallmen.Proceedingsof theStateConventionoftheColoredFreemenofPennsylvania,HeldinPittsburgh,on the23d,24thand25thofAugust,1841;1841(Pittsburgh:MatthewM.Grant);Page 3.
http://books.google.com/books?id=sxgaAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2PA43#v=onepage&q&f=false

Mr.SumnerpresentedamemorialofcoloredcitizensoftheStateofFlorida, 3

prayingtobeallowedtherightofsuffrageandprotectionintheircivilrights;which wasreferredtotheJointCommitteetoinquireintotheconditionoftheStateswhich formedthesocalledConfederateStatesofAmerica.JournaloftheSenateofthe UnitedStatesofAmerica,beingtheFirstSessionoftheThirtyNinthCongress, begunandheldattheCityofWashington,December4,1865;1865;Page1.

http://books.google.com/books?id=BH1HAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA164#v=onepage&q&f=false

...[N]omasterorcaptainofanyshiporvessel,oranyotherperson,shall importorbring,orcausetobeimportedorbrought,anynegro,mulatto,orother personofcolour,notbeinganative,acitizen,orregisteredseamanoftheUnited States...intoanyportorplaceoftheUnitedStates,whichportorplaceshallbe situatedinanystatewhichbylawhasprohibitedorshallprohibittheadmissionor importationofsuchnegro,mulatto,orotherpersonofcolour.Section1oftheAct February28,1803.

http://abolition.nypl.org/content/docs/text/Act_of_1803.pdf

Whereas,WethecoloredcitizensofIllinois,inConventionassembled.... 4thResolved,ThatweclaimtobecitizensofIllinoistoallintentsandpurposes, andareofrightentitledtoalltheimmunitiesofothercitizensofthecommonwealth; thatwebelievewiththefathersofSeventySix,thattaxationandrepresentation shouldgotogether;thattotaxuswhilewearenotallowedtoberepresented,isbut toenact,uponagranderscale,theoutragesthatforcedourRevolutionaryFathersto treatKingGeorgetoacontinentalteapartyinBostonHarbor.Proceedingsofthe StateConventionofColoredCitizensoftheStateofIllinois,HeldintheCityofAlton, Nov.13th,14th,and15th,1856;1856;(Chicago:Hays&Thompson);Page6and Page7.
http://books.google.com/books?id=_pwTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thepartialortotalexclusionofcoloredcitizensfromtheexerciseofthe electivefranchise[Footnote1]andothercitizenrights,insomanyStatesofthe Union,especiallydemands,andoughttoreceive,thecontinuedconsiderationof everycoloredman,andoftheCongressofthenation.Surely,theFourteenth AmendmentoftheUnitedStatesConstitution,recentlyadopted,doesnotjustify suchexclusion.Surely,citizenship,asdeclaredbythatamendment,carrieswithit therightsofcitizens;andtheevidentdutyofalibertylovingandaloyalCongressis toseethataRepublicanformofgovernmentisguaranteedtoeveryState.Thatis notguaranteedwhileanyStateispermittedtowithholdfromcitizens,onaccountof colormerely,therightsofcitizens.CallForANationalConvention,TotheColored menoftheUnitedStates;ProceedingsoftheNationalConventionoftheColored MenofAmerica,HeldinWashington,D.C.,onJanuary,13,14,15,and16,1869; 1869;Page1.
http://books.google.com/books?id=UMxtAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false

____________ Footnotes: 1.Theelectivefranchiseistiedtocitizenship;thatis,itisarightofbeingacitizenof aState.ThisisshowninthecaseofCorfieldv.Coryell,decidedbyJustice Washington,intheyear1825: 2.Thenextquestionis,whetherthisActinfringesthatsectionofthe ConstitutionwhichdeclaresthatthecitizensofeachStateshallbeentitledtoallthe privilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensintheseveralStates? Theinquiryis,whataretheprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensinthe severalStates?Wefeelnohesitationinconfiningtheseexpressionstothose privilegesandimmunitieswhichare,intheirnature,fundamental;whichbelong,of right,tothecitizensofallfreegovernments;andwhichhave,atalltimes,been enjoyedbythecitizensoftheseveralStateswhichcomposethisUnion,fromthe timeoftheirbecomingfree,independent,andsovereign.Whatthesefundamental principlesare,itwouldperhapsbemoretediousthandifficulttoenumerate.They may,however,beallcomprehendedunderthefollowinggeneralheads:protection bythegovernment;theenjoymentoflifeandliberty,withrighttoacquireand possespropertyofeverykind,andtopursueandobtainhappinessandsafety; subjectneverthelesstosuchrestraintsasthegovernmentmayjustlyprescribefor thegeneralgoodofthewhole.TherightofacitizenofoneStatetopassthrough, ortoresideinanyotherState,forpurposesoftrade,agriculture,professional pursuits,orotherwise;toclaimthebenefitofthewritofhabeascorpus;to instituteandmaintainactionsofanykindinthecourtsoftheState;totake,hold anddisposeofproperty,eitherrealorpersonal;andanexemptionfromhigher taxesorimpositionsthanarepaidbytheothercitizensoftheState;maybe mentionedassomeoftheparticularprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizens,which areclearlyembracedbythegeneraldescriptionofprivilegesdeemedtobe fundamental;towhichmaybeaddedtheelectivefranchise,asregulatedand establishedbythelawsorconstitutionoftheStateinwhichitistobeexercised. These,andmanyotherswhichmightbementioned,are,strictlyspeaking, privilegesandimmunities,andtheenjoymentofthembythecitizensofeach State,ineveryotherState,wasmanifestlycalculated(tousetheexpressionsofthe preambleofthecorrespondingprovisionintheoldArticlesofConfederation)the bettertosecureandperpetuatemutualfriendshipandintercourseamongthe peopleofthedifferentStatesoftheUnion.Corfieldv.Coryell:4Wash.C.C.371 (1825);CasesonConstitutionalLaw;JamesBradleyTheyer;(Cambridge:CharlesW. Sever);1894,pages453thru456.
http://books.google.com/books?id=CFwPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA454#v=onepage&q&f=false

Note:fundamentalprivilegesandimmunitiesunderArticleIV,Section2,Clause1 oftheConstitutionarenotthesameascommonprivilegesandimmunitiesunder ArticleIV,Section2,ClauseoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica. Commonprivilegesandimmunitiesare: ButtheprivilegesandimmunitiessecuredtocitizensofeachStateinthe severalStates,bytheprovisioninquestion(ArticleIV,Section2,Clause1),arethose privilegesandimmunitieswhicharecommontothecitizensinthelatterStates undertheirconstitutionandlawsbyvirtueoftheirbeingcitizens.Paulv.Stateof Virginia:75U.S.168,at180(1868).

http://books.google.com/books?id=bwGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA180#v=onepage&q&f=false

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