under some guarantee of freedom in the
National Constitution, originally intended only for white men,
all lovers of freedom would have rejoiced. When Alvan Stewart,
thirty years ago, attempted to get such a decision from the
supreme court of New Jersey, there was not a cavil heard among
the opponents of slavery. So when, in the face of the whole
legal opinion of England, Granville Sharpe got a decision in
favor of the slave Somerset, forever overthrowing slavery in
England, by an application of latent principles of the English
constitution, the whole world applauded, and does to this day. It
was thus, as we understand it, that slavery was overthrown in
Massachusetts, a lawyer claiming before its courts the
application to a slave of a clause in its bill of rights supposed
to have been intended only for white men. We would add that it
would not accord at all with the good sense and directness of
method that specially characterize the American people, for the
friends of woman suffrage to labor years for the passage of a
further constitutional amendment when they already have all that
such an amendment could give.

Having attempted a strictly legal view of this question, permit
me, gentlemen, to say that in my heart my claim to vote is based
upon the original Constitution, interpreted by the Declaration of
Independence. I believe that Constitution comprehensive enough to
include all men and all women. I believe that black men needed no
other charter than white men. I recognize the stress laid upon
Congress, by reason of the infancy of that race, their past
bondage, and the duty of protection toward them. But the great
principles of liberty and responsibility contained in the
Declaration and the Constitution should have afforded protection
to every human being living under the flag, and properly applied
they would have been found sufficient. For my own part, I will
never willingly consent to vote under any special enactment
conferring rights of citizenship upon me as upon an alien. Like
Paul, I was free-born. "With a great sum obtained I this
freedom," said the Roman centurion to this old patriot apostle,
but he replied, "I am free-born." There is music in those words
to my ear. They are the deep vibrations of a soul that loves its
country as