A Treatise on the Word "Person"

This treatise explores the legal definition and historical evolution of the word person within the United States legal system. The author posits that there is a fundamental, often misunderstood distinction between the sovereign people—defined as white citizens of the several states—and persons, a category created by the 14th Amendment to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals. The paper argues that this distinction has been obscured over time, leading to a system where most Americans are unknowingly classified as US citizens or residents, thereby subjecting themselves to federal jurisdiction and the administrative state rather than the protections of the original Constitution.

Central to the author's argument is the claim that the 14th Amendment created a second, distinct class of citizenship. According to the author, this class, referred to as US citizenship, is subordinate to the original state citizenship. The author asserts that legal fictions, such as corporations, were later incorporated into this person category, effectively expanding federal control. By analyzing cases like Dred Scott v. Sandford and the Slaughter-House Cases, the author attempts to demonstrate that the rights afforded to US citizens are privileges granted by Congress, whereas the rights of state citizens are inherent and protected by the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.

Why this matters, according to the author, is that modern legal interactions—such as obtaining a driver's license, registering a vehicle, or filing taxes—are based on the presumption that an individual is a resident or US citizen. The author suggests that by accepting these labels, individuals inadvertently waive their status as sovereign state citizens. The paper concludes by suggesting that individuals can reclaim their sovereignty by disassociating from these federal classifications, operating through trusts, and relying on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to bypass administrative regulations that lack a clear victim or provable damages.