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Show .I 24 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN A$FAIRS. In the oase of Corfield v. Uorycll (4 Washington's circuit court, 371), Mr. Justice Washington, in delivering the opinion of the United States circuit court for the district of Pennsylvania, discussed the privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States in tho following lan. gnage : The inquiry is, What are the privileges and immunities of oitisens of the several States? We feel no hepitation In confining these expressions to those privileges and immunitiw whiah are plmdamental, which belong of right to the ai t i~enso f all free governments, and which have at all times been enjoyed by citieena of the several States whioh compose the Union from the time of their becoming free, independent, and sorereign. What, these fundamental principles are it would be more tedious than diffioolt to enumerate. They may all, however, be comprehended under the following general heads: Protection by the Government, with the right to ;loquire and p088088 property of every kind, and to pursue and obtain happinws and safety subject, nevertheless, to suoh restreinta as the Government may prescribe for th general good of the whole. This definition of the privileges and immunities of Oitizens of the States has been adopted by the Supreme Court in the base of Ward v. Maryland (12 Wallace, &0), and again in the Slaughter House cases (16 Wallace, 76). Indians who become citizens of the United States have the right to claim and are entitled to receive from the government of the State in which they reside full protection in those fundamental privileges and immunities "whioh belong of right to the citizens of all free governments and which have at all times been enjoyed by citizens of the several States," as embraced in the general heads above quoted. These fundamental privileges and immunities are civil in their char-aoter and may be further defined as those which are granted to man by his Creator and for the protection and reatriotion of which governments are designed and courts are established. Besides these there are other privileges and immunities enjoyed by certain classes of the citizens of the several. States which the Indiaus possessing the proper quali6cations will be entitled to claim and enjoy as citizens thereof. These are artificial, such as may be granted by the body politic and may be termed political libertles. They embrace the rights to participate in the government of the State? to vote, to hold office, and such other privileges find immunities of a like character as may be granted by the State to its citizens. In compensation for his protection by the State in all these privileges and immunities, or such as he may be qu+lifled to exeroise, the Indian as a citizen will owe allegiance to the government of the State. Allegiance seems to be the term adopted to express in one word all the burdens and obligations of the citizet~so f a State or nation. Among these are those of obedience to the laws of the State, contributing, as by payment of taxes, to its support and bearing arms in its defense when called upon to do so. |