ns in
those rights which are fairly conducive and appropriate and necessary
to the attainment of his 'protection' as a citizen. And I think those
rights to contract, sue, testify, inherit, etc., which this bill says
the races shall hold as races in equality, are of that class which are
fairly conducive and necessary as means to the constitutional end;
to-wit, the protection of the rights of person and property of a
citizen. It has been found impossible to settle or define what are all
the indispensable rights of American citizenship. But it is perfectly
well settled what are some of these, and without which there is no
citizenship, either in this or any other Government. Two of these are
the right of petition and the right of protection in such property as
it is lawful for that particular citizen to own."

The debate was closed by Mr. Wilson, Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee. He said: "This bill, sir, has met with opposition in both
houses on the same ground that, in times gone by, before this land was
drenched in blood by the slaveholders' rebellion, was urged by those
who controlled the destinies of the southern portion of the country,
and those who adhered to their fortunes in the North, for the purpose
of riveting the chains of slavery and converting this republic into a
great slave nation. The arguments which have been urged against this
bill in both houses are but counterparts of the arguments used in
opposition to the authority the Government sought to exercise in
controlling and preventing the spread of slavery.

"Citizens of the United States, as such, are entitled to certain
rights, and, being entitled to those rights, it is the duty of the
Government to protect citizens in the perfect enjoyment of them. The
citizen is entitled to life, liberty, and the right to property. The
gentleman from Ohio tells us, in the protection of these rights, the
citizen must depend upon the 'honest purpose of the several States,'
and that the General Government can not interpose its strong right arm
to defend the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and in
possession of property. In other words, if the States of this Union,
in their 'honest purpose,' like the honesty of purpose manifested by
the Southern States in times past, should deprive the citizen, without
due process of law, of life, liberty, and property, the General
Government, which can draw the citizen by the strong bond of
allegiance to the battle-field, ha