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2011DanGoodman Itsaddensmethatslaveryexistedinthiscountry.Nobody,blackorotherwise, shouldbeaslaveintheUnitedStates,letaloneintheworld. AtthetimeofthedecisionoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesinDredScott v.Sanford,intheyearof1856,therewereblackcitizensaswellasblackslaves. [Footnote1]Blackcitizensweredescendantsofblackswhowerecitizensatthe timeoftheadoptionoftheConstitution.Blackslavesweredescendantsofblacks whowereslavesatthetimeoftheadoptionoftheConstitution. Muchconfusionexistsonthis.However,thiscanbeclearedupbythefollowing. TheActforthegradualabolitionofslavery,passedthefirstdayofMarch,1780,1 SmithsLawsofPennsylvania492,statesatsectionfour: Itisprovidedthateverynegroormulattochild,bornwithinthisstateafterthe passingofthisact(whowouldincasethisacthadnotbeenmade,havebeenaservant foryears,orlife,oraslave[Footnote2])shallbebyvirtueofthisacttheservant ofsuchperson.... Atsectionthirteen,itreads: [T]hatnocovenantofpersonalservitudeorapprenticeshipwhatsoevershallbe validorbindingonanegroormulattoforalongertimethansevenyears,unless suchservantorapprenticewereatthecommencementofsuchservitudeor apprenticeship,undertheageoftwentyoneyears,inwhichcasesuchnegroor mulattomaybeholdenasaservantorapprentice,respectively,accordingtothe covenant,asthecaseshallbe,untilheshallattaintheageoftwentyeightyears,but nolonger.[Footnote3] ThisactofPennsylvaniachangedthestatusofnegrosandmulattoswhowere slavestothatofservants.Inaddition,asservants,theycouldbeaservantnolonger thansevenyears,sincethepassageoftheact;thatbeingMarch1,1780.Theonly exceptionwasifonewasundertheageoftwentyone,atthepassageoftheact. Then,asaservant,anegroormulattocouldbesuchuntilheorshereachedtheage oftwentyeight. 1
Thus,anegroormulatto,onMarch1,1787,becameafreeperson,andassuch, underthisprovisionoftheArticlesofConfederation,wasentitledtoallthe privilegesandimmunitiesoffreecitizensintheseveralStates,ifaresidentin Pennsylvania. TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmericawasratifiedonJune21,1788, withtheninthstateofNewHampshireapprovingit.[Footnote5] UpuntilJune20,1788,then,anegroormulattowhoreachedtheageoftwenty eight,becameafreeperson,andentitledtoprivilegesandimmunitiesoffree citizensintheseveralStates,ifaresidentinPennsylvania,underArticleIVofthe ArticlesofConfederation. OnJune21,1788,andthereafter,however,anegroormulattowhoreachedthe ageoftwentyeight,becameafreeperson,butbeingnotacitizen,thougharesident ofPennsylvania,wasnotentitledtoalltheprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensin theseveralStates.ArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitutionoftheUnited StatesofAmerica,provides: [T]heCITIZENSofeachStateshallbeentitledtoalltheprivilegesand immunitiesofcitizensintheseveralStates.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Thus,accordingtoDredScottv.Sanford: Itistrue,everyperson,andeveryclassanddescriptionofpersons,whowereat thetimeoftheadoptionoftheConstitutionrecognisedascitizensintheseveral States,becamealsocitizensofthisnewpoliticalbody;butnoneother;itwasformed bythem,andforthemandtheirposterity,butfornooneelse.Andthepersonal rightsandprivilegesguarantiedtocitizensofthisnewsovereigntywereintendedto embracethoseonlywhowerethenmembersoftheseveralStatecommunities,or whoshouldafterwardsbybirthrightorotherwisebecomemembers,accordingto theprovisionsoftheConstitutionandtheprinciplesonwhichitwasfounded.It wastheunionofthosewhowereatthattimemembersofdistinctandseparate politicalcommunitiesintoonepoliticalfamily,whosepower,forcertainspecified purposes,wastoextendoverthewholeterritoryoftheUnitedStates.Anditgaveto 3
ThecaseofDredScottv.Sanforddealtwithfreepersonsofcolor;thatis,with blackslavesemancipated,aftertheadoptionoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates ofAmerica: 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? 4
Therefore,thecaseofDredScottv.Sanford,hadnothingtodowithblackcitizens. NordidthecaseapplytoancestorswhowerenegroesoftheAfricanrace,and importedintothecountryoftheUnitedStates,andsoldandheldasservants. [Footnote2] Thus,ablackslave,setfreeaftertheadoptionoftheConstitutionoftheUnited StatesofAmerica,cannot,UNFORTUNATELY,beacitizenofaState,aswellasa citizenoftheUnitedStatesbecause,althoughafreeperson,heorsheisnotacitizen requiredbyArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitution. Inaddition,ablackslavemadeacitizenofaState,byaState,aftertheadoptionof theConstitutioncouldnotbeacitizenofaStateunderArticleIV,Section2,Clause1 becausesuchaperson;thatis,theblackslave,hadtobeacitizenofaStateunder ArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitution: Itistrue,everyperson,andeveryclassanddescriptionofpersons,whowereat thetimeoftheadoptionoftheConstitutionrecognisedascitizensintheseveral States,becamealsocitizensofthisnewpoliticalbody;butnoneother;itwasformed bythem,andforthemandtheirposterity,butfornooneelse.Andthepersonal rightsandprivilegesguarantiedtocitizensofthisnewsovereigntywereintendedto embracethoseonlywhowerethenmembersoftheseveralStatecommunities,or whoshouldafterwardsbybirthrightorotherwisebecomemembers,accordingto theprovisionsoftheConstitutionandtheprinciplesonwhichitwasfounded.It wastheunionofthosewhowereatthattimemembersofdistinctandseparate politicalcommunitiesintoonepoliticalfamily,whosepower,forcertainspecified purposes,wastoextendoverthewholeterritoryoftheUnitedStates.Anditgaveto eachcitizenrightsandprivilegesoutsideofhisStatewhichhedidnotbefore possess,andplacedhimineveryotherStateuponaperfectequalitywithitsown citizensastorightsofpersonandrightsofproperty;itmadehimacitizenofthe UnitedStates.DredScottv.Sanford:60U.S.(Howard19)393,at406thru407 (1856).
http://books.google.com/books?id=CQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA403#v=onepage&q&f=false
TheanswerofcourseistomodifyArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitution sothatthosebornaftertheadoptionoftheConstitutioncanbecomecitizensofa State,aswellascitizensoftheUnitedStates.[Footnote8] ________________________ Footnotes: 1.Therewerealsofreepersonsofcolor;thatis,blackslavesemancipated,before theadoptionoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaaswellasafterthe adoptionoftheConstitution. 2.ServantsaswellasslavesarerecognizedintheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates ofAmericaatArticleI,Section2,Clause3,whichprovides: RepresentativesanddirectTaxesshallbeapportionedamongtheseveralStates whichmaybeincludedwithinthisUnion,accordingtotheirrespectiveNumbers, whichshallbedeterminedbyaddingtothewholeNumberoffreePersons, includingthoseboundtoServiceforaTermofYears,andexcludingIndiansnot taxed,threefifthsofallotherPersons.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
AndthefollowingusefulincomprehendingArticleVI,Section2,Clause1ofthe ConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,andotherprovisions: Freeinhabitantsincludedaliens,foreigners,citizens,andservants(butnot slaves,slaveswereconsideredproperty). Inhabitantsincludedaliens,foreignersandcitizens. Freecitizensincludedcitizensandservants. Citizensincludedonlycitizens. Note:theseveralStates,undertheArticlesofConfederation,hadthepowerto naturalize.Therefore,withineachState,therewerealiens(living),foreigners (visiting),citizens(nativeandnaturalized)andservants(citizensundercontract). IntheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica(organic),servantsaretreatedas freepersons.[SeeFootnote2]Assuch,thephrasefreeinhabitantsorfree inhabitantdoesnotappear.Rather,theterminhabitantiswritten;atArticleI, Section2,Clause2;ArticleI,Section3,Clause3;andArticleII,Section1,Clause3. And,ofcoursecitizensappearsatArticleIV,Section2,Clause1,ratherthanfree citizens.InhabitantsshouldappearatArticleIV,Section2,Clause1insteadof freeinhabitants,howeverthetermcitizensisusedastheruleofnaturalization wasgiventoCongress.Sinceservantsareconsideredtobefreepersons,andthus byextension,freecitizens,undertheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,andsince aliensandforeignerscanonlybenaturalized,thisleavescitizens. 5.ThisdayinHistory,June21,1788,leadstory:U.S.Constitutionratified
http://www.history.com/thisdayinhistory/usconstitutionratified
Itwillbeobserved,thatunderthisConfederation,eachStatehadtherightto decideforitself,andinitsowntribunals,whomitwouldacknowledgeasafree inhabitantofanotherState.Thetermfreeinhabitant,inthegeneralityofits terms,wouldcertainlyincludeoneoftheAfricanracewhohadbeen manumitted.Butnoexample,wethink,canbefoundofhisadmissiontoallthe privilegesofcitizenshipinanyStateoftheUnionaftertheseArticleswereformed,and whiletheycontinuedinforce.(*)And,notwithstandingthegeneralityofthewords freeinhabitants,itisveryclearthat,accordingtotheiracceptedmeaninginthat day,theydidnotincludetheAfricanrace,whetherfreeornot.DredScottv. Sanford:60U.S.(Howard19)393,at418(1856).
http://books.google.com/books?id=CQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA418#v=onepage&q&f=false
(*)SeeTheActforthegradualabolitionofslavery,passedthefirstdayof March,1870,1SmithsLawsofPennsylvania492atthebeginningofthiswork. Negroandmulattoslavesweremadeservants.Thiswasthefirststeptobecominga freecitizen.Thissameprocedurehadbeendoneintheearlyhistoryofthecolonies. [SeeFootnote7] 7.Slavery,however,didnotdevelopatonceinColonialAmerica.Thefirst Negroescameasindenturedservants,andastheirindenturesendedtheywere freed.Notuntilthe1660sdidenslavementbegin.Between1664and1682slave codesinmanycoloniestransformedtheNegroservantintoaslave.Historyofthe LaborMovementintheUnitedStates;FromColonialTimestotheFoundingofthe AmericanFederationofLabor;PhilipS.Foner;(InternationalPublishersCo.,Inc.); 1947,1998edition;Vol.1,page19.
http://books.google.com/books?id=yVoxQv0KqwYC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q&f =false
By1619,theBritishcolonyatJamestown,Virginia,hadsurvivedformorethan adecade.Theresidentsofthesettlementhadfoughtwiththelocalnativesand struggledcontinuouslytoekeoutalivingfromtheland.Starvation,disease,and deathwerefrequentvisitors,andthefutureoftheenterprisecontinuedtobein doubt. InAugustofthatyear,aDutchshiparrived.Themasteroftheshipneeded provisionsandofferedtotradehisonlycargo:about20blackAfricans.Manyofthe detailsofthistransactionhavebeenlost,andweprobablywillneverknowexactly howthesepeoplecametobechainedintheholdofaship.Regardless,thisbrief episodewasalandmarkeventintheformationofwhatwouldbecometheUnited States.IncombinationwiththestrainedrelationsbetweentheEnglishsettlersand AmericanIndians,thepresenceofthesefirstfewAfricansraisedanissuethathas neverbeenfullyresolved:Howshoulddifferentgroupsinthissocietyrelatetoeach other? ThecolonistsatJamestownhadnoreadyanswer.In1619,Englandandits coloniesdidnotpracticeslavery,sothesefirstAfricanswereprobablyincorporated incolonialsocietyasindenturedservants,contractlaborerswhoareobligatedto serveamasterforaspecificnumberofyears.Attheendoftheindenture,or contract,theservantbecameafreecitizen.Thecoloniesdependedheavilyon indenturedservantsfromtheBritishIslesforlabor,andthisstatusapparently providedaconvenientwayofdefiningthenewcomersfromAfrica,whowere,after all,treatedascommoditiesandexchangedforfoodandwater. ThepositionofAfricanindenturedservantsinthecoloniesremainedambiguous forseveraldecades.Americanslaveryevolvedgraduallyandinsmallsteps;infact, therewaslittledemandforAfricanlaborduringtheyearsfollowing1619.By1625, therestillwereonly23blacksinVirginia,andthatnumberhadincreasedto perhaps300bymidcentury(Franklin&Moss,1994,p.57).Inthedecadesbefore thedawnofslavery,weknowthatsomeAfricanindenturedservantsdidbecome freecitizens.Somebecamesuccessfulfarmersandlandownersand,liketheirwhite neighbors,purchasedAfricanandwhiteindenturedservantsthemselves(Smedley, 1999).DiversityandSociety:Race,Ethnicity,andGender;JosephF.Healey;(Pine ForgePress);1945,2010;3rdedition;page107.
http://books.google.com/books?id=XmC3Q5Y8k_gC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q&f =false