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Constitutional Constitutional Equality Arguments Equality Arguments Before the Before the Constitution Constitution Mentioned Equality Mentioned Equality

Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

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Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality. Declaration of Independence. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

Constitutional Equality Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Arguments Before the Constitution Constitution Mentioned EqualityMentioned Equality

Page 2: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence ““We hold these truths to be self-We hold these truths to be self-

evident, that all men are created evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.the pursuit of happiness.””

[A description of natural law; most [A description of natural law; most agreed that slavery violates natural agreed that slavery violates natural law – see, e.g., Blackstone]law – see, e.g., Blackstone]

Page 3: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

Natural Law v. Positive Natural Law v. Positive LawLaw If positive law trumps natural law, first If positive law trumps natural law, first

we must determine what positive law we must determine what positive law provides:provides:

International Law (La Eugenie; the International Law (La Eugenie; the Antelope; Amistad)Antelope; Amistad)

State constitutions (State constitutions (““All men are born All men are born free and equal and have certain free and equal and have certain unalienable natural rights . . . .unalienable natural rights . . . .””))

The U.S. Constitution?The U.S. Constitution?

Page 4: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

The Three-Fifths The Three-Fifths Clause:Clause:“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. . . .” (Article I, section 2)

Page 5: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

The Importation The Importation Clause:Clause:“The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person. . . .”

(Article I, section 9)

Page 6: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

The fugitive clause:The fugitive clause:

“No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, But shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due. . . .”

(Article IV, section 2)

Page 7: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

Arguing About Slavery,

by William Lee Miller

Page 8: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

“[T]he object of this clause was to secure to the citizens of the slaveholding states the complete right and title of ownership in their slaves as property in every state in the into which they might escape. . . .

“[The fugitive slave clause] was so vital . . . that it cannot be doubted that it constituted a fundamental article, without the adoption of which the Union could not have been formed. . . .

“We have not the slightest hesitation in holding that under and in virtue of the Constitution, the owner of a slave is clothed with entire authority, in every state in the Union, to seize and recapture his slave . . . .”

Page 9: Constitutional Equality Arguments Before the Constitution Mentioned Equality

Article IIIArticle III

“The [federal] judicial Power shall extend to all Cases . . . between Citizens of different States . . . .”