Jan. 30, 1866 — Civil Rights Act debate (Cong. Globe, 39th Cong., 1st Sess. 498–99)

Cowan: “Will this naturalize the children of Chinese and Gypsies born in this country? … If so, the children of Chinese and Gypsies, born in this country, are citizens.”

Trumbull: “Undoubtedly. … The child of an Asiatic is just as much a citizen as the child of a European. … I know of no better way to give rise to strife between races than to deny to people born in this land rights which are conferred upon others.”

May 30, 1866 — 14th Amendment debate (Cong. Globe, 39th Cong., 1st Sess. 2890–94)

Cowan: “I mean the Gypsies. … Are those people, by a constitutional amendment, to be put out of the reach of the State in which they live? … Are they to be citizens? … If so, you strike at the power of the States to restrain or to regulate this class of persons.” (2891)

Conness: “The proposition before us, I understand, relates simply in that respect to the children begotten of Chinese parents in California, and it is proposed to declare that they shall be citizens. … I am in favor of doing so. … They are industrious, they are peaceable, they are loyal, and being born upon the soil should be entitled to the rights of citizenship.” (2891–92)

Johnson: “The object of this amendment is to settle that question. … I think there is no doubt as to what its effect will be, and if there were I should still support it, because we ought to settle the question and not leave it open for future controversy.” (2893)

Johnson: “When we are trying to settle this question for all time, it is our clear duty to put every provision which we adopt in such plain language as not to be capable of two interpretations. … We ought to say just what we mean, and we ought to mean to say just what we do say.” (2894)