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[[start page]] 6 liberty or property without due process of law, nor deny to any [[underline]] person [[/underline]] the equal protection of the laws." Since the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, Congress has legislated for the purpose of executing its provisions. Re-enacting laws passed in 1870, the Revised Statutes now declare that "all [[underline]] persons [[/underline]] within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State & Territory to make & enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, & to the full & equal benefit of all laws & proceedings for the security of person & property, [[underline]] as enjoyed by white [[end page]] [[start page]] 7 citizens [[/underline]], & shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses & exactions of every kind, & to [[underline]] no other [[/underline]]" (Section 1977) The American Constitutional distinction between citizen & person under national law, & the rights which the nation guarantees to [[underline]] persons [[/underline]], however humble, & of whatever race or color, are the Ithuriel Spear by which the Indian Ring, "squat-like a toad" at the ear of careless officials in Washington, as Satan once was seated at the ear of Eve, must be pierced through all its hideous disguises & made to [[end page]]