ber
term, 1874; decision rendered adversely by Chief-Justice Waite,
March, 1875, upon the ground that "the United States had no
voters in the States of its own creation." This was a most
amazing decision to emanate from the highest judicial authority
of the nation, and is but another proof how fully that body is
under the influence of the dominant political party.

Contrary to this decision, I unhesitatingly affirm that the
United States has possessed voters in States of its own creation
from the very date of the constitution. In Article I, Sec. 2, the
constitution provides that

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members
chosen every second year by the people of the several
States, and the electors in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State legislature.

The persons so designated are voters under State laws; but by
this section of the national constitution they are made United
States voters. It is directed under what conditions of State
qualification they may cast votes in their respective States for
members of the lower house of congress. The constitution here
created a class of United States voters by adoption of an already
voting class. Did but this single instance exist, it would be
sufficient to nullify Chief-Justice Waite's decision, as Article
VI, Sec. 2, declares

The constitution and the laws of the United States which
shall be made in pursuance thereof * * * shall be the
supreme law of the land.

This supreme law at its very inception created a class of United
States voters. If in the Minor case alone, the premises of the
Supreme Court and Chief-Justice Waite were wrong, the decision
possesses no legal value; but in addition to this class, the
United States, by special laws and amendments has from time to
time created other classes of United States voters.

Under the naturalization laws citizenship is recognized as the
basis of suffrage. No State can admit a foreigner to the right of
the ballot, even under United States laws, unless he is already a
citizen, or has formally declared his intention of becoming a
citizen of the United States. The creation of the right here is
national; its regula