Julia v. McKinney
Julia v. McKinney
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was an action commenced under the statute for freedom. Verdict and judgment against Julia, the plaintiff. The bill of exceptions shows the following case: that McKinney, the defendant, bought the plaintiff as a slave from one Lucinda, Carrington; that in the year 1829, Mrs. Carrington lived in the State of Kentucky; that she then had in her possession the plaintiff, Julia, as a slave; that she then and there determined and declared her intention to be, to remove and take with her Julia to the State of Illinois; that a witness in this cause applied to her to buy Julia, telling Mrs. Carrington that she could not hold Julia in Illinois as a slave; that if she took her there she would be free. Mrs. Carrington refused to sell Julia 5 said she would not keep Julia in Illinois, but intended to hire her out in Missouri. Accordingly Mrs. C. moved to Illinois, brought with her said Julia, arrived in Pike county, Ill., about 27th or 28th of October, settled herself there,
Several instructions were asked by the defendant, which were given and excepted to. The plaintiff also moved for a new trial, which was refused.
The first instruction given by the Court is, that if the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff, Julia, was takeninto the State of Illinois by her owner without any intention on the part of such owner to make that State the residence of Julia, that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this action. We will consider this instruction before we notice the others. The plaintiff’s claim to freedom is based on the 6th article of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, which declares that neither slavery' nor involuntary servitude shall hereafter be introduced into this State otherwise than for the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. The article then goes on to make some provision with regard to hiring persons bound to service in other Slates, and concludes by saying, any violation of this article shall effect the emancipation of such person from his obligation to service. We see by this Constitution that the very introduction of slavery, works an emancipation of the slave, and it is argued that if we give this Constitution a literal construction, no one can travel through that State with his slaves, without emancipating them. It is true that a literal construction would lead directly to this result. Every law should be adjudicated on with a view to the end and object thereof. The object of the Constitution of Illinois was riot to prevent persons owning slaves in Kentucky, from passing through Illinois with their slave property to Missouri, but to prevent the relation of master and slave from existing in that State by an inhabitant and resident thereof. We are furthermore of opinion that all persons who are citizens of any of the States, have a right by the Constitution of the United States to pass through Illinois with any sort of property that they may own in the State where they migrate from. The 2d section of the 4th arricie of the Constitution of the United States says, that the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. We are of opinion that it is the undoubted right of every citizen of the United States to pass freely through every other State with his property of every description, including negro slaves, without being in any way subject to forfeit his property for having done so, provided he does not subject his property by a residence, to the action of the laws of the State in which he may so reside. Another view of the subject is, that out of the general words of the Illinois Constitution, of necessity exceptions must be raised. Though it is true, that slavery shall not be introduced into that State under penalty of forfeiting the property, yet it can be so introduced so far as to permit persons passing through the State, as emigrants or mere travelers, to carry with them their slave property and to retain in them their right to such property, while they retain the character of emigrants or travelers, otherwise there could be no emigration through the State with
The second instruction given assumes that the slave is not entitled to freedom, because she was taken to Illinois and remained there till she was cured of sickness. We will give no opinion on this point, as we consider the case fully decided on the first and third instructions.
The third instruction is, that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover under the 2d section of the 6th article of the Constitution of Illinois. The section declares “ that no person bound to labor in any other State, shall be hired to labor in this State except within the tract reserved for the saltworks, &c.” It then concludes as before stated, that any violation of this article shall effect the emancipation of such person from Ms obligation to service. Whether this instruction intends to decide that the facts testified are true or untrue,-or only decides that the proof and case made does not in law entitle the party to recover, we do not exactly know. It seems however that the instruction is wrong, because it decides both the fact and the law. But if the instruction only assumes to decide the law, yet it is wrong. The evidence is, that after the slave was fairly introduced into Illinois and settled for the time being, but with an intent on the part of the owner to remove the slave at some future time to Missouri, the owner did hire the slave to a person to labor for one ot two days, and received the pay for the hire. The Court instructed the jury that this hiring is not a hiring within the prohibition above cited. We suppose the Circuit Court thought the degree or quantity too small. We believe the object of this prohibilion was to prevent slave labor from becoming a substitute for white or free labor throughout the State. The Constitution makers have therefore prohibited the thing in every possible degree. Here was a hiring of a person bound to labor in Kentucky, whilst in Kentucky, brought into Illinois, (not to reside there say if you •will,) and hired to labor for one or two days by the owner. What difference can it make if the hiring hadbeen for one hundred days ? We can see none, except in the degree or quantity of time: with regard to the motion for a new trial, we think the Court erred in refusing it. The reasons assigned for the new trial are, that the verdict is against law and evidence. The evidence is sufficient to bring the case within the operation of the Constitution.
The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed, the cause is remanded for a new trial.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I think the Circuit Court erred in giving the third instruction, assuming to decide the facts as well as the law of the case, and therefore concur in reversing the judgment. The first and second instructions were, in my opinion, properly given. The claim to freedom under the provisions of the Illinois Constitution must be founded either upon a residence of the slave, or a hiring of the slave to labor. What shall
Any other doctrine will convert the kind and tender nursing by the master of his sick and helpless slave into a sort of crime.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Julia (a woman of color) v. McKinney
- Status
- Published