negatived the right of the negro to become a citizen by saying that
Congress might pass uniform rules upon the subject of the
naturalization of white immigrants and nobody else; but that they did
not do. They left it to Congress. Congress, in the exercise of their
discretion, have thought proper to insert the term 'white' in the
naturalization act; but they may strike it out, and if it should be
stricken out, I do not think any lawyer, except my friend from
Kentucky, would deny that a black man could be naturalized, and by
naturalization become a citizen of the United States.

"But to go back to the point from which the questions of my honorable
friend from Kentucky caused me to digress, we have now within the
United States four million colored people, the descendants of
Africans, whose ancestors were brought into the United States as
chattels. It was because of that condition that they were considered
as not entitled to the rights of citizenship. We have put an end to
that condition. We have said that at all times hereafter men of any
color that nature may think proper to impress upon the human frame,
shall, if within the United States, be free, and not property. Then,
we have four million colored people who are now as free as we are; and
the only question is, whether, being free, they can not be clothed
with the rights of citizenship. The honorable member from Kentucky
says no, because the naturalization clause does not include them. I
have attempted to answer that. He says no, because the act passed in
pursuance of that clause does not include them. I have answered that
by saying that that act in that particular may be changed."

On the following day, February 1st, the discussion of the bill was
resumed by Mr. Morrill, of Maine. He said of the bill: "It marks an
epoch in the history of this country, and from this time forward the
legislation takes a fresh and a new departure. Sir, to-day is the only
hour since this Government began when it was possible to have enacted
it. Such has been the situation of politics in this country, nay, sir,
such have been the provisions of the fundamental law of this country,
that such legislation hitherto has never been possible. There has been
no time since the foundation of the Government when an American
Congress could by possibility have enacted such a law, or with
propriety have made such a declaration. What is this declaration? All
persons born in this country are citizens. Tha