Speech #670153373

There remains to be considered tile question as to tie validity or constitutionality of the bill. I can not do otherwise than admit that grave doubts have arisen upon this subject. that there have been numerous decisions in which not only expressions obiter but decisions or the court upon questions submitted have seemed to deny the application of the fourteenth amendment to Conditions justifying time passage of this bill. Let ine read from the fourteenth amendment the portions applicable to this subject: 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. It will be noticed that prior to this declaration citizenship in the States was the primary consideration and citizenship in the Nation was secondary. derivative as it were from citizenship in the States. Thlis amendment il that regard snakes a sweeping change: No State sliall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States nor shall any Sate 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.