"This equality of right, with exemption from all disparaging and partial enactments, in the lawful pursuits of life, throughout the whole country, is the distinguishing privilege of citizens of the United States. To them, everywhere, all pursuits, all professions, all avocations are open without other
restrictions than such as are imposed equally upon all others of the same age, sex, and condition. The State may prescribe such regulations for
every pursuit and calling of life as will promote the public health, secure the good order and advance the general prosperity of society, but when
once prescribed, the pursuit or calling must be free to be followed by every citizen who is within the conditions designated, and will conform to the
regulations. This is the fundamental idea upon which our institutions rest, and, unless adhered to in the legislation of the country, our government will
be a republic only in name. The fourteenth amendment, in my judgment, makes it essential to the validity of the legislation of every State that this
equality of right should be respected. How widely this equality has been departed from, how entirely rejected and trampled upon by the act of
Louisiana, I have already shown. And it is to me a matter of profound regret that its validity is recognized by a majority of this court, for by it the right
of free labor, one of the most sacred and imprescriptible rights of man, is violated."
- Justice Stephen Field, dissenting opinion, 1873
Which Supreme Court decision does Justice Field address in this statement?
O
A Dred Scott v. Sandford
B. Slaughterhouse Cases
C. Plessy v. Ferguson
O
D. United States v. Cruikshank