The Constitution, where we find this word, follows the Declaration of Independence, and refuses to recognize any distinction of color. Search, and you will confess that there is no word of “color” in its text; nor is there anything there on which to found any disfranchisement of a race. The “qualifications” of different officers, as President, Vice-President, Senators, and Representatives, are named; but “color” is not among these. The Constitution, like the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, embraces all alike within its mandates and all alike within its promises. There are none who must not obey it; there can be none who may not claim its advantages. By what title do you exclude a race? The Constitution gives no such title; you can only find it in yourselves. The fountain is pure; it is only out of yourselves that the waters of bitterness proceed. The dictionaries of our language are in harmony with the Constitution. Look at “Qualification” in Webster or Worcester, the two best authorities of our time, and you will find that the word means “fitness,” “capability,” “accomplishment,” “the condition of being qualified”; but it does not mean “color.” It embraces age, residence, character, education, and the payment of taxes,--in short, all those conditions which, when honestly administered, are in the nature of _regulation_, not of _disfranchisement_. The English dictionaries most used by the framers of the Constitution were Bailey and Johnson. According to Bailey, who was the earliest, this important word is thus defined:-- “(1.) _That which fits any person or thing for any particular purpose._” “(2.) _A particular faculty or endowment, an accomplishment._” According to Johnson, who is the highest authority, it is thus defined:-- “(1.) _That which makes any person or thing fit for anything._” EXAMPLE.--“It is in the power of the prince to make piety and virtue become the fashion, if he would make them necessary _qualifications_ for preferment.--SWIFT.” “(2.) _Accomplishment._” EXAMPLE.--“Good _qualifications_ of mind enable a magistrate to perform his duty, and tend to create a public esteem of him.--ATTERBURY.”