rew
the feeling of absoluteness in regard to the Nation. But is it
not strange that after the late sad experience there can still be
found people so stupid as not to see that the security of
individual citizens of the Nation in matters pertaining to their
personal political rights, does lie, and in the very fact of our
Nationality must lie, in National power superior to State power?
The corner-stone of our Nation is political equality. Our
ancestors came here for civil and religious freedom. To secure
political freedom they formed themselves into a Nation; if the
United States has no power to protect its citizens it is not a
Nation.

The eighth step in centralization, the XIV. Amendment,
specifically declares that "all persons born or naturalized in
the United States, are citizens of the United States, and of the
States in which they reside." Notwithstanding this plain
language--notwithstanding the corner-stone of this Nation is
political equality--notwithstanding the chief right of
citizenship in this country is a right to share in making its
laws--notwithstanding the Constitution and laws of the United
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, are declared to
be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or law of
any State to the contrary notwithstanding, yet 10,000 naturalized
citizens of the United States have, during this session of
Congress, petitioned that body for protection of their rights as
citizens of the United States against the State in which they
live.

"State rights" is again rearing its head. Rhode Island is again
raising her hand against National power. She again assumes to be
superior to the United States. All foreign-born citizens of that
State, not possessed of a freehold estate of $134 value, or
property amounting to an annual rental of $7, are, by State law,
forbidden to vote. These men were naturalized under a law of the
United States, not under a law of Rhode Island. The United States
not only made them citizens, but expressly in the XIV. Amendment
declares them to be citizens, and yet little Rhode Island
presumes to be stronger than the United States.

Here again arises what I have shown to be the question of the
hour. Is