Dred Scott v. Sandford
60 U.S. 393 Supreme Court 1857any of them … and laws, are citizens of the State are thereby citizens of the United States. It may be proper here tonotice … of the subject. It has been often assertedthat the Constitution was made exclusively by and for the white race. It … possessed the elective franchise, and were among those by whom the Constitutionasordained … that the Constitution was made exclusively by thewhiterace. … in the Constitution, but contradicted by its opening declaration that it was ordained and established by thepeopleof … of at least five States, and so in every sense part of the people of the United States, theywere … and established. Again, it has been objected that if the Constitution hasleftto the several … the r…l power to determine who … inhabitantsshall be citizens of the United States, the … acquire by birth citizenship of the United States; it has not left to them any power to prescribe any rule for the removal of the disabilities of alienage.poweris exclusively in … fourth article of the Constitution, such persons would be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States, and, if so, then colored persons could vote, and be Page 60 U. S. 583 eligibleto … persons from voting or being elected to office. But this position rests upon an assumption which Ideem … one can be deemed a citizen of the United Stateswho is … to me clear. A naturalized citizen cannot be President of the United States, nor a Senator till after the lapse of nine years, nor a Representative till after the lapse ofeven … ars, … Territories, eligible to the office of Senator or Representative in Congress, though they may be citizens of the United States. So, in all the States, numerouspersons, though … of their age, or sex, or the want of the necessary legalations. … not dependent on the possession of any particular political or even ofall … of the necessities or expediencies of its condition. What civil rights shall be enjoyed by its citizens, and whether all shall enjoy the same, or how they may be gained or lost, are to
