ery and its political
status in the United States.

This purpose we can accomplish no better than by quoting parts of
the Syllabi of the case.

We quote:

"A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to
this country and sold as slaves, is not a 'citizen' within the
meaning of the Constitution of the United States.

"When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any
of the States as members of the community which constituted the
State, and were not numbered among its 'people or citizens.'
Consequently, the special rights and immunities guaranteed to
citizens do not apply to them. And not being 'citizens' within
the meaning of the Constitution, they are not entitled to sue in
that character in a court of the United States, and the Circuit
Court has no jurisdiction in such a suit.

"The only two clauses in the Constitution which point to this race
treat them as persons whom it was _morally_ lawful to deal in as
articles of property and to hold as slaves.

"The change in public opinion and feeling in relation to the African
race which has taken place since the adoption of the Constitution
cannot change its construction and meaning, and it must be construed
and administered now according to its true meaning and intention
when it was formed and adopted.

"The plaintiff, having admitted (by his demurrer to the plea in
abatement) that his ancestors were imported from Africa and sold
as slaves, he is not a citizen of the State of Missouri according
to the Constitution of the United States, and was not entitled to
sue in that character in the Circuit Court.

"The clause in the Constitution authorizing Congress to make all
needful rules and regulations for the government of the territory
and other property of the United States applies only to territory
within the chartered limits of some of the States when they were
colonies of Great Britain, and which was surrendered by the British
Government to the old Confederation of States in the treaty of
peace. It does not apply to territory acquired by the present
Federal Government, by treaty or conquest, from a foreign nation.

"The United States, under the present Constitution, cannot acquire
territory to be held as a colony, to be governed at its will and
pleasure. But it may acquire and may govern it as a Territory
until it has a population which, in the judgment of Congress,
entitles it to be admitted as a State of the Union.

"Duri