Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-03-09

esu'aung the appointment Of members to 1t, spe.
:dysng the qualifications Of voters, &c. In that
way most Of the States were received. Of late,
without any previous sanction OF authority from
Congress, several Territories, have proceeded Of
themselves to call conventions, to form constitu>
lions, and demand admission into the Union, and
they were admitted. do not deny that their
population and condition entitled them to admis-
sion: but insist that it should have been done
in the regular and established mode In the case
Of Michigan aliens ,re,e ao,red to rots 40 aliens
hare been al;ored to become pre-emptiomers IN the
psblie lands. And majority in Congress sane
TONED the proceeding"
Who, we asf, are tie great p,rtion Of the eli
zens Of these Territories? Were they not ori-
Einally SETTLERS on the public domain? Are
they not the very persons whom Mr.. Clay has
slandered? Let them answer! Let every rauE
WEsrERN MAN answer!!
While upon the subject, it may not be impre-
per here TO introduce brief reply to that por-
tion Of the article in last Thursdays "Hawk-
eye" which alludcs to his acts towards foreign
ers. The "Hawkeye' alludes to the fact that
Mr.. Brophy, member of the last Legislature,
land man whom every true democrat may be
proud of-not only for his consistency, but his
untiring exertions in the advocacy of true prnci-
plesJ opposed motion to allow every foreigner
to vote on the question of stConyentioa'' or ssNc
Convention" M
Being present at the time the motion was
made, and knowing Mr.. B. and his motives bet
ter than most Of the editors Of the Hawkeye, we
can safely speak in regard to his intentions in
making such opposition.
1t was notorious fact that every wing men,
Der Of both branches Of the Legislature were OPP
posed to letting any but naturalised citizens vote
on the Convention question. Mr.. Brophy was
well aware that tho democrats advocated the
rights Of our foreign population, The himself being
democrat and that il the proposition to allow
all to vote, whether they had declared their inten-
lions or not, had been embodied in the amend
ment, there would have been no chance what
ever for the amendment to have received the
sanction of the WING Council lie therefore
properly opposed the motion, knowing that all
foreigners who felt an interest in our government
would make the necessary declaration; and, a.
would have been the case, that none would have
omitted 50 to do. But with what impudence, we
ask our readers, does this charge come from
wing paper, when EVERY WING in the Council
voted down the rights of the foreigners, and moi
single democrat in either House but what votec
for them?
But to Mr.. Clay and his enmity to this worth,
class Of our citizens Let them read the above
extract from his speech. Let them answer fo
themselves. In the meantime we will give al
extract from an editorial in the ssIowa Capito
Reporter" commenting upon this speech, anc
published in that paper, on the 23d of July, ls43
which exhibits this matter in its true light:
at is tn. n, it would seem, terrible crime, in
the estimation of Mr.. Clay, for Territory s'ft
proceed Of itsef to call conreation to form con-
stiwtion, aud de nasd admission into the Union, .
without having obtained ssany precious sanction
or authority from Congress" who, according t.
Mr.. Clay, should first have been humbly aske q
to pass law a1-regulating the appointment Of
members Of II, specifying the qualification Of vo'
ters," SC!
And, because democratic "maiority in Con.
gress," have Sanctioned the proceeding" and
bes des, ssGilosced aliens TO rote," I'sas alters
have been allowed to become pre-emptioners in
the public Iands!' the Democratic party, accord.
ins TO Mr.. Clay, have exhibited ga spirit and
bearing, dangerous TO the permanency aud stabil-
ity Of our inst;tutoas!''
What think the people Of Iowa of this new cx.
A;h:tia- &c tho ss.Pi.;t and eeerinSs' Of Mr. Clay
towards them-for who doubts that it was intend.
| ed to bear upon the question of their admission
into the Union? Was there, we Indignantly de.
md, in the name of the people of this Territory
gros-er and more burning insult ever offered
to fres,aen9 who are coolly and imprudcntIy told
by Mr. Clay. = SO many words. you are incapa.
bic Of "specifs ing he qualification Of voters, and
regulating the appo;;,tn mt ofmembers,"t a ne
Constitution under w;.icSS you are to live: but
You should have asked "Coagrcss to pass previ'
oasiy lawo regulating the whole matter TO,
you! Is not this the doctrine of Federalism, and
Toryism, in its broadest and most abhorrsnt
What! the people Of Iowa and their representa-
tives not as competent as the people Of the States
from whes c. they came; to regulate the qual6-
cation of voters among them. and to say who
shall be eligible as members Of convention to
ID pit State CONSTITUTIONS
Want Of room compels US to lay over Mr.. Clay
and further reply TO the articles as published in
the Hawkeye Of this and last week for another
paper.