[T]he legislation and histories of the times, and the language used in the Declaration of Independence, show, that neither the c
lass of persons who had been imported as slaves, nor their descendants, whether they had become free or not, were then acknowledged as a part of the people. The main subject of the excerpt is:
Explanation: In the opinion of the court, the legislation and histories of the times, and the language used in the Declaration of Independence, show, that neither the class of persons who had been imported as slaves, nor their descendants, whether they had become free or not, were then acknowledged as a part of the people, nor
