Both the language _and spirit_ of these articles are to
have their full and just weight in any question of construction.
Undoubtedly while negro slavery alone was in the minds of the
Congress which proposed the thirteenth article, it forbids any kind
of slavery, now, or hereafter. If Mexican peonage, or the Chinese
cooley labor system shall develop slavery of the Mexican or Chinese
race within our territory, this amendment may be safely trusted to
make it void."
This is the language used by the Supreme Court of the United States in
reference to this thirteenth amendment; prohibiting any, _all_, and
every kind of slavery, not only now, but in the hereafter, and this,
although the decision, also acknowledges the fact that only African
slavery _was intended_ to be covered by this amendment.
The Court further said, "And so if _other_ rights are assailed by the
States, _which properly and necessarily fall within the protection of
these articles_, that protection will apply, though the party interested
may not be of African descent."
What "other rights fall within the protection of these articles?" What
"other rights" do these amendments cover? The fourteenth article, after
declaring who are citizens of the United States, and of States, still
further says, "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.
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