Arguments of Counsel and Opinion of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, on the Woman's Suffrage QuestionSara J. Spencer and Sarah E. Webster each brought cases before the court in the District of Columbia arguing that they were enfranchised by the Fourteenth Amendment. This pamphlet contains the arguments of their lawyers in this regard and the decision of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, denying their claim. |
Common terms and phrases
abridge the privileges American argument attributes of citizenship authority boroughs CHIEF JUSTICE citi civitas claim clause common law confer Congress Constitution construe contend coverture decided decision declared denied or abridged deprived District of Columbia effect elective franchise enforce any law entitled to vote exclude exercise exist express female Fifteenth Amendment Fourteenth Amendment free governments freehold Hakewell Holt honors House of Commons immunities of citizens Ingram inhabitants Judge Justice Daniels Justice HUMPHREYS Justice WYLIE language legislative liberty Lord Lord Coke Lyle male citizens ment MILLER natural right never opinion optimo jure Parliament parliamentary plaintiffs principles privileges and immunities privileges or immunities prohibited qualification question regard RIDDLE right of suffrage right to vote rights of citizens rule scot and lot second section society sovereign statute Supreme Court teenth Amendment thing Thirteenth Amendment tion United vote is denied voters woman women word citizen zens zenship
Popular passages
Page 26 - We feel no hesitation in confining these expressions to those privileges and [immunities which are, in their nature, fundamental ; which belong, of right, to the citizens of all free governments...
Page 23 - The words people of the United States and citizens are synonymous terms, and mean the same thing. They both describe the political body who, according to our republican institutions, form the sovereignty, and who hold the power and conduct the Government through their representatives. They are what we familiarly call the "sovereign people," and every citizen is one of this people, and a constituent member of this sovereignty.
Page 23 - Upon a principle of etymology alone, the term citizen, as derived from civitas, conveys the ideas of connection or identification with the State or Government, and a participation of its functions. But beyond this, there is not, it is believed, to be found, in the theories of writers on Government, or in any actual experiment heretofore tried, an exposition of the term citizen, which has not been understood aS conferring the actual possession and enjoyment, or the perfect right of acquisition and...
Page 61 - ... •it is one of the privileges of every American citizen to adopt and follow such lawful industrial pursuit, not injurious to the community, as he may see fit, without unreasonable regulation or molestation, and without being restricted by any of those unjust, oppressive and odious monopolies or exclusive privileges which have been condemned by all free governments.
Page 28 - The privileges and immunities " secured to the people of each State, in every other State, can be applied only to the case of a removal from one State into another. By such removal they become citizens of the adopted State without naturalization, and have a right to sue and be sued as citizens; and yet this privilege is qualified and not absolute, for they...
Page 29 - But the Fourteenth amendment prohibits any state from abridging the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States, whether its own citizens or any others. It not merely requires equality of privileges, but it demands that the privileges and immunities...
Page 27 - ... either real or personal ; and an exemption from higher taxes or impositions than are paid by the other citizens of the state ; may be mentioned as some of the particular privileges and immunities of citizens, which are clearly embraced by the general description of privileges deemed to be fundamental : to which may be added, the elective franchise, as regulated and established by the laws or constitution of the state in which it is to be exercised.
Page 29 - They may have had in mind but one particular phase of social and political wrong, which they desired to redress. Yet, if the amendment, as framed and expressed, does, in fact, bear a broader meaning, and does extend its protecting shield over those who were never thought of when it was conceived and put in form, and does reach...
Page 61 - It was very ably contended on the part of the defendants that the fourteenth amendment was intended only to secure to all citizens equal capacities before the law. That was at first our view of it. But it does not so read. The language is: 'No State shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.