Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-02-17
Aliens---wiscens1n g. Ietgss


ave 6lsd their appllestioAt 10 become nsssssiiatd
citizens all participation IA such elections A
more palfdbls and unwasrantable piece Of rolAi- |
al intolerance, or one II traer keeping with che
Dpirit Of sheieIt fsdesSlism, than that Of which
HE wings Of lows have been guilty towards
hose among No who happen to have been born
ihan ii the United States, an things
considered, csnaotbe insfanced. We blush for
our Territory 70 witness the triumph Of such d
spirit Of exeiosi.ensss and bisotty ii her eoun.
riIs, especially when il i held up Il, contrast
With the just and kind treatment extended BY
the Wisconsin Legislature 10 the Thousands Of
aliens inhabiting that Territory. y XIII
Z Let Is look, for = mcmeat, Il the character Of
our alien pepalation, and see what II is that
they ask, or, rather, the privilege that has been
denied them. Il i speaking within bounds, we
think, to say, that shes fourths Of them are Ger
mans class Of people proverbial for their in
sioseTy and ecenosny, generally Of staid habits,
and many Of them possessing larger share of
intelligence than some Of those BY whose votes
they have been denounced a. unfit subjects for
The exercise Of the elective franchise They are
lovers Of liberty, and come to the United States
to enjoy the blessings Of freedom, and to secure
10 their labor that reward for which industry
may toll in vain in the monarchical governments
Of Europe. Bringing with them, generally,
means sufficient to purchase d much land as
they are DESTROYS Of eutivating, OF, If mechanics
to give them fair start in their various avoca-
tons, they settle among Us q permanent citizens
yield strict obedience to our laws, and IS far as
possible, assimilate to the manners and customs
Of our people; and they not only feel. but in re-
Atty possess, - deep stake in the admins
tration Of our public affairs, As native born citi-
zens. Wherein, then, we ask, consists the dan
ger Of allowing to such men voice in the
decision Of 20 important question IS that which
u to be decided in April next? will any one Of
the seven factious proscriptionists in the Coun-
Gil answer this question, bearing in mind at the
same time that the extent Of the proposition Of
the democrats Of the House was only to make
legal voters Of such as had fled declaration Of
intention to become naturalized citizens? No.
they will not, for they cannot. The only iusti-
hcation they have attempted to assign is the
pitifol plea Of want Of power. But this plea
will not avail them; for the history Of the past
shows that Congress has in repeated instances
recognized the right Of all free inhabitants of the
Territories to participate in the formation Of
State Governments. They voted for delegates
to the conventions for framing constitutions in
the several States Of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan
and Tennessee; yet, when such constitutions
were submitted to Congress for ratification, no
objection such q is urged BY the wings Of the
Iowa Legislature was thought Of In recent
message to the Wisconsin Legislature, Gov.
Dor,, in ailoding 70 this subject, says:
"But can no longer. regard this as = question
open for discussion since the admission Of the
States Of Tennessee and Michigan, whose consti-
tutions were formed under this Ordinance. In
those States foreigners were enumerated as ssfree
inhabitants," and voted for delegates to the con-
ventions to form their constitutions. This fact
was distinctly presented to Congress and fully
discussed; and It ought to be n srded a. settled
by the admission Of those States. therefore
consider it the constitutional right Of foreigners
who are the inhabitants Of this Territory, 10 par
tcipate in the formation Of the State Government
for Wisconsin, &c.''
It matters not, however, what the prctext as
signed BY the federal majority Of the Council
the immortal seven-for their course; the real
motive BY which they were actuated is well
known. 1t so happens that nine-teuths, if not
nineteen twentieths, Of those Of foreign birth,
here As elsewhere, are democrats. To extend
TO these, or even such as had given legal evil
dence Of their intention to become citizens, the
right Of suffrage, would be, it was fore.een.
greatly to increase the chances Of democratic
majority in the convention, should one be held:
and hence il was determined to prescribe them.
This was the sole governing motive, and it is
proper that all should know it. The vote bears
rs out in what we say. And that there NAV be
no mistake about the matter, and aliens NAV
know their prosecutors, we conclude BY giving
the names efthose BY whose votes the law a.
lowing them to vote for or against 4 convention.
and for delegates, was defeated. They are Is
follows: ~.
Mr.. WALLACE, Of Henry,
TEAS, Of Jefferson,
a" SPRINGER, Of Louise,
R. M. G. Patterson, of Lee,
Cook, Of Cedar,
: CHRrsr1E. of Scott,
JENKINS, Of Van Buren,.