Being a Native American of dark complexion, I would have not signed the Constitution, nor would I have been invited to sign the Constitution. In the previous week's class discussion, it was suggested to the class to answer this question as a citizen of that era. The reasons given by the professor was in order to make sure that we had an understanding of the material. In understanding the reading, it is evident that people of darker complexion had really no political say during that era in regards to them as individuals or a group acquiring liberties.
When the class attempted to inquire about the position of blacks, (slaves and free), the professor responded, “There were free blacks around during that time period”, but the professor neglected to elaborate on the position of those, “free blacks” of that era. If a free black was invited to state the position of the people he represented in a political forum, the doctrine would have been amended to consider those, (black), people as citizens with the right to life and liberties. In addition it would have been a violation to take away those rights as it states in the preamble to the constitution, “secure the blessings of liberties to our selves and our posterity”.
In Article I, section 9 of the constitution it states that,
“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”.
In laymen terms any new slave brought into the states after that year 1808 would be taxable goods through the authority of the government. In addition it shows that those people considered to be taxable goods were not citizens of the state but more so property of the state with no right to life or liberty. Actually this section was written to control those that could acquire slaves which took away their liberties also. It also shows that the only political voice that people of darker complexion did have was through slavery and how much a slave should cost. In Article IV, Section 2, it again addresses those forced into servitude by stating,
“No person held to service or labour in on state, under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation there in be discharged from such service or labour, but shall be delivered up on claim of party to whom such service or labour may due”,
meaning that slavery was like a roach motel, you could check in but you couldn't check out”. In other words, if you were a slave in one state, but you ran away to another state where slavery wasn't as prominent, you better have some freedom papers, or they would return you to your prior position at your previous plantation address, under the ownership of the same owner you ran away from. This section doesn't describe the rights of a person entitled to acquire the liberties entitled to any citizen, it more so describes a person of color as a liberty to be acquired by a citizen. This section definitely supports the fact that a slave wasn't considered a man but just a piece of property, and in fact provides further proof of why I would not have signed this document as a dark skinned American.. I would have had no right to life or liberty and there for no political voice or representation because of the majority of citizens with political power not considering me to be a citizen.
In conclusion, the same text, (the Constitution), has been taught to me in repetition since 4th grade. I understand the text as being an attempt of its writers, (politicians and other influential citizens), to map out a plan for the future of the United States and how to govern its' territories and inhabitants lucratively, in order to,” create a more perfect union”, as stated in the Preamble. The preamble also states that they want to, “establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”. Maybe if it had stated, secure the blessings of liberty to all men, and had representation for all inhabitants of all states I still may not have signed it, but at least I would have had the option.
