It is true, every person, and every class and description of
persons, who were at the time of the adoption of the
Constitution recognized as
citizens in the several States,
became also citizens of this new political body; but none
other; it was formed by them, and for them and their
posterity, but for no one else. And
the personal rights and
privileges guarantied [sic] to citizens of this new
sovereignty were intended to embrace those only who were
then members of the several state communities, or who should
afterwards, by birthright or otherwise, become members,
according to the provisions of the Constitution and the
principles on which it was founded.
[
Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 393, 404 (
1856)]