All Citizens Entitled To Equal Privileges And Immunities—Right To Vote Not Abridged

The great achievement in American government was the establishment of a Nation composed of independent and sovereign States. It was not an easy matter to bring all these States together as one government, so that there would be harmony and unity; but the framers of the Constitution succeeded in a wonderful way in adopting rules and regulations—the Constitution—which made this the most powerful and the most peaceful Nation in the world.77

Only once has there been any serious question between the States, and the Civil War settled that forever. Following the war, to bind the States more firmly together by the establishment of the rights of citizens of the various States, an amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1868, by the people of the Nation, which is as follows:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”78

This portion of our Constitution establishes the citizenship of every person born or naturalized in the United States, and guarantees the rights of such citizens, not only in the State where he lives, but in any State. No State has the power, since the adoption of this amendment, to make or [pg 139] enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges, rights, or immunities of citizens, no matter in what State they may make their home.

By this amendment all States are prohibited from enacting any law, or permitting any procedure of their courts, which shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”.

You will recall that immediately after the adoption and approval of the original Constitution there were ten amendments adopted which became effective in 1791, in one of which it was provided that no person “shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law”. This forever barred the United States government from depriving the humblest citizen of his life, his liberty, or his property, except through the regular processes of the law which we have heretofore considered; and by the amendment of 1868 the same restriction was placed upon every State in the Union, thus completing the guaranty to every man, woman, and child, that life, liberty, and property would be safe and sacred. No power exists in the State or Nation by which life, liberty, or property may be interfered with, except through the tribunals established by the people themselves to hear and determine in a judicial way after proper notice with full opportunity to be heard in a public trial.

No secret schemes can be devised which will interfere with the rights of the humblest citizen, no power can be created strong enough wrongfully to invade the right to life, liberty, and property. These guaranties, being written into the Constitution, will stand forever, unless the people by their own choice shall throw away these great guaranties and destroy these great blessings.

Then following the Civil War, the people of America adopted the following as part of the Constitution of the United States:

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“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”79

You remember the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln which struck the chains from the limbs of men and women and children who had been slaves for generations. They were human beings, though of the colored race. They were lifted from the position of slavery to the dignity of citizenship, and clothed with power to help in the government of their country by being given the privilege of going to the ballot box to vote. To establish this right and protect this privilege for all time, this amendment to the Constitution was adopted by the people of the United States. It was a bold thing to do, to clothe a subject race which had little opportunity for education with the rights of citizenship. No nation in the world ever before attempted such a wonderful and radical experiment; but the people of America, having real confidence in human beings, regardless of color, race, or creed, assumed the responsibility of admitting the former slaves as part of the power of government in this country.

Of course you realize that the value of a citizen to his country, when it comes to voting and making laws, depends upon his knowledge of public affairs, and his confidence in his government; and therefore education is absolutely necessary to real service to one's country. That is one of the big objects of education—to qualify persons for full citizenship.80

Too many of us consider the right to vote simply as a privilege to help some neighbor to be elected to some public office. This view is all wrong. Our country is first, and we never should help a neighbor to be elected to an office unless that neighbor can help to make this a better government.81

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When we elect any one, we are selecting a servant to represent us, to act for us. Therefore great care should be exercised in selection. We must inquire not only whether the person is good and virtuous, but also whether the person is useful, and has right ideas about public service.82

If congressmen, judges, legislators, mayors, or other public servants are not honestly or truly representing the people, if they are not carrying out the will of the people in their official actions, this simply proves that the people have not selected the right kind of men to represent them. There are honest men; there are men who are tried and loyal and patriotic. They are our neighbors. We have the choice of selecting them if we want to. The truth is that nearly all public officers are honest and patriotic. The truth is that as a rule they try to do what the people want. But the truth is that the majority of the American people take so little interest in public affairs that they make no effort to have their servants in public life know what they do want. People are ready to criticise if a mistake is made, but they will do little to help avoid mistakes.

I'll tell you what I would like to see. I'd like to see this assembly room in this school filled one night each week with children and men and women, with parents and teachers. It would be a real community meeting to talk over community, State, and National matters. I would like to see such a meeting in every school in this city, in this State, and in the Nation. I wish someone would start a movement to have the movies closed one evening each week, so that the people might have at least one night to give some little consideration to the serious problems of life. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Vigilance means watchfulness, care, and thought. Every man, woman, and child in America should watch and pray that our liberties so dearly bought with the life blood of heroes should not be taken away.

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ELEMENTARY QUESTIONS

1. Show how the United States gave citizens of the different States equal rights.

2. Who can vote in the United States? Who are citizens of the United States?

3. Is the power to vote simply a privilege?

4. Why is it that our representatives sometimes do not truly represent us?

5. How can we interest people in voting?

ADVANCED QUESTIONS

A. Show how it is important that people should have equal rights in the various States.

B. Give some illustrations of the variations from State to State of certain local laws, such as automobile laws, etc.

C. If the law of New York limits the speed of an automobile to 25 miles per hour and the law of Massachusetts limits the speed to 20 miles per hour, can a citizen of New York travelling in Massachusetts legally operate his car at 25 miles per hour? Under like circumstances can a citizen of Massachusetts while in New York operate his car at 25 miles per hour?

D. Show in detail the dangers of not voting.

E. How may a person obtain citizenship?

F. What has education to do with citizenship or voting?

G. Should you vote for a neighbor simply out of friendship? What should be taken into consideration?

H. Discuss Roosevelt's definition of a good citizen given in Note 5.

I. Outline a proper program for a community meeting.

J. Write a paper on the following:

The Privileges of the Citizen

The Danger of Not Voting

The Ballot—An Obligation Not a Privilege

How to Become a Naturalized Citizen

Voting and other Duties of Citizenship

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