Of Equality I shall speak, not only as a sentiment, but as a principle embodied in the Constitution of Massachusetts, and obligatory upon court and citizen. It will be my duty to show that this principle, after finding its way into our State Constitution, was recognized in legislation and judicial decisions. Considering next the circumstances of this case, it will be easy to show how completely they violate Constitution, legislation, and judicial proceedings,--_first_, by subjecting colored children to inconvenience inconsistent with the requirements of Equality, and, _secondly_, by establishing a system of Caste odious as that of the Hindoos,--leading to the conclusion that the School Committee have no such power as they have exercised, and that it is the duty of the Court to set aside their unjust by-law. In the course of this discussion I shall exhibit the true idea of our Common Schools, and the fallacy of the pretension that any exclusion or discrimination founded on race or color can be consistent with Equal Rights. In opening this argument, I begin naturally with the fundamental proposition which, when once established, renders the conclusion irresistible. According to the Constitution of Massachusetts, _all men, without distinction of race or color, are equal before the law_. In the statement of this proposition I use language which, though new in our country, has the advantage of precision. * * * * * EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW: ITS MEANING.