The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-20

Does he propose giving to residents Of the Territories
privileges which are not extended to the same class OF
individuals within The States Il certainly cannot be that
he intends extend 10 Chinese, Sandwich Islanders and
all SORTS of human beIngs-with no preparation whatever
Tor approaching or understanding our institutions, but
who may be induced BY political demagogues 10 make
declaration OF their intention 10 become citizens-lhe
important tight OF suffrage! presume i cannot be pos
sible thai such Is his intention, and hereiorehai must
have mlsappsehended the tenor OF his amendment
Mr. WALKER | mean precisely, Mr. President
what the amendment expresses--ihal all those persons
specified in the amendment should have The right OF sui
irage The section as II now reads ID as follows:
Propidsd That the RICH, Of suffrage aud Of holding Office
shall be xefcsed only by citizens Of the United States
ding those recognised as citizens BY the treaty. Nc
Propose to amend BY adding the words, and those
PERSONS aiken born who have declared their intention TO
become citizens OF the United States"
would remark that there has been some discussion OF
this question in Congress heretofore. While Wisconsin
was Territory this question produceda good deal OF dis
cusson and feeling, nasmuch large part OF our pop
ualion OF foreign origin They were called upon
10 aid in sustaining the burdens Of the government and
abstract principle, II seemed to be entirely right that
theyshould have voice in the formation and admnstra
lion Of the government which they had to obey. Our
Legislature aay passed act making theprovsion pros
posed in this amendment in reference TO the question
OF forming State government, and afterwards IN The
election Of delegates TO the convention 10 frame cons
tulono the State Of Wisconsin The measure produced
satisfaction, and generally sautary in its effect
That portion OF population met with us IN conve
ton, and at the polls and never heard OF any evil thai
resulted
Mr. BUTLER am sorry that the chairman Of the
Committee on Territories is not in his place. recOllect
distinctly hatthe question now raised BY the amendment
q the senator from Wisconsin was considered before
the committee, and OF opinion that there ought
not to be any extension OF the franchise beyond that
specified in the bill, and that ought 10 confne il TO
Wso as shs yo q a y a
for extending the franchise. think that laws upon
this subject are already extremely lberaperhaps too
LIBERAL raherhan not liberal enough There are certain
rights which conceded TO those who not cIzens
such as the right to hold property and to receive the
tecttn OF their persons and property think this an
ample consideration for all the burdens imposed them,
and do moi think we should be authorized to 20 further
The question being then taken upon the amendment,
il was rejected
Mr. WALKER. Mr. President. have another amend
ment, Of which Ispoks some time ago. in discussing
another provision oil the BILL propose TO strike out OF
the tenth section from the eighth 70 the tenth lines from
The word nor TO the word residents" Inclusive Id
i hatprovision which restricts the legislature from ma
king any discrimination taxation against residents
and favor oil residents lpresume that there is no per-
who has lived in the western country in new Ter
rtores anywhere, who is not aware Of the embarrass
ments that entaed upon these new Territories, SO
as they begin % bea little prosperous. By the buying up
and holding OF the best lands for purposes Of speculation
These lands are held BY parties who reside at distance
who, while they contribute nothing whatsoever to the
prosperity Of the country themselves benefited BY
every stroke OF labor that is done by the actual settlers in
bringing the country forward Their land is increased
value, and their benefit secured while they bear no part
Of the burdens which the residents have 70 endure
shall simply ask the vote oil the Senate upon this propo-
eor as did before II liz not my intention to debate it.
offered this amendment to the Oregon bill The
Senate did not then deem IT best to adopt The suggestion
make the notion and wish to elicit the views OF the
Senate on the subject as they at present exist
Mr. CLAY. Mr. President. think that this amend
ment, ii adopted would be in violation of the principles
and practice of the government. so far as remember
them, which have heretofore pevaedihats to author
ize any discrimination TO be made in the imposition OF
taxes between residents and residents is very
true as stated by the from Wisconsin, that there
is Inconvenience the part OF residents but he
Ought 10 recolec that II the residents bear large part
of the burden OF the government they have also the
greatest part of the advantages resulting from it There
many respects in which the residents not BEN
Gifted at all by the taxes that are laid, and OF which they
have pay their proportion There class OF taxes
especially to which this remark vii apply with peculiar
force. refer 10 The road tax which. IN new country
is very important tax, The land OF the non-resdents
is equally subject 10 the road-lax with that OF The res
idenis; while they have no occasion to use The roads,
and derive immediate advantage from their constfuc
tion such as the residents do.
On the whole, il we were to authorize the Territories
TO make Discrimination. am afraid that there might
be, in some cases--not in ALA disposition 10 abuse
such privilege In some instances, The whole burden
There are, undoubtedly, some Inconvenience resting on
the country consequent upon the holding oil land
within their borders BY non residents This same que
ton was raised on the Oregon BILL and 4 was not per-
mcd to her TO make this distinction. think it will be
better not to make any such discrimination.
The question being then taken upon the amendment, It
M r II UNDERWOOD. Mr. President rise 10 offer an
amendment of very considerable importance, and upon ii
would like to have The yeas and nays. shall not
trouble the Senate with speech upon but wish to
state one or things in relation to the amendment
The Oregon bill contained provision granting
tons OF land in each township for educational purposes
instead OF the usual grant. similar bills oione section
This bill, perceive, contains the provision. II
specifies The 10th and 36th sections, instead OF the l6h
which has been usually selected
When the Oregon bill was passed, and this provision
slipped into H. there discussion at all upon
the subject | do not recollect that single senator
opened his mouth when this provision passed II went
through SUB siisnto This Is very great change In the
land system OF the listed States-a change introduced
after fifty years Of opposite action, adverse such
liberay My object in calling the attention OF the SEN
ate TO this subject get at the Of the body in
lson 10 the existing Territories, and all that may here
after be acquired, in reference 10 this grant oil double
quantity OF land for purposes OF this sort.
myself for adheTng 10 the old practice OF granting
section in each township, and leaving the law 10 stand
as IL was administered In Ohio, in the northwestern
reason for changing The policy OF the government at this
late day.
therefore TO strike out, in The 18th section, 9Th
line, the words sixteenth and" and leave the section
10 read thus
That when the lands in the said Territories shall be
vey under the direction oil the OF the UBite
states, preparatory y bringing tne into market,
ton NO 80 IN % IA township IN aid Territories, shall be-
ard he hereby, reserved the purpose OF being
applied 70 schools IN said Ter,to;ies
At the suggestion Of senators, MIR u. so modified his
amendment as 10 strike out and thiriysixth, and leave
The sixteenth In, so Ms 10 leave II IA the law now
stands with respect TO The other Territories.
Mr. u said he did not intend 10 Jeialn the Seaae al
all by gong into discussion oil the policy OF the govern
ment, aud advocating The proprey OF adherng It's
long settled pracre but he would like have vote
f.r