As I noted earlier (I thought to the list but maybe not), voting was entirely a state matter before the 15th Amendment and mostly until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the 19th century many states allowed immigrants to vote if they were intending to become citizens -----Original Message----- From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Johnson, Kirk N. Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 12:31 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Dred Scott decision -- Procedure for anyone who cares -- is is important to understand the cas Well, I'm assuming that Taney might have thought those states were making a mistake. But, while voting is now restricted to citizens, that was not always the case. I'm just answering this off the top of my head, but I'm thinking that in the 1850s "citizenship" wasn't yet defined as a requirement. Kirk Johnson Serials Manager Prince William Public Library System 13083 Chinn Park Drive Prince William, VA 22192-5073 (703) 792-4883 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Burnett Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 6:21 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Dred Scott decision -- Procedure for anyone who cares -- is is important to understand the cas Help Please--How can you vote if you are not a citizen? On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 3:33 PM, Finkelman, Paul < [log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Rather, Taney said that "blacks" could not sue even if they were free > people. He asserts that even in Massachusetts, Vermont, or other > states where blacks could vote (and hold office) they could not be > citizens of the United States -- Douglas Burnett Satellite Beach FL As a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Florida State Genealogical Society(FSGS) and the Virginia Genealogical Society(VGS), I support and adhere to the APG's Code of Ethics. ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html