The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-15

indispensable. No ACT Of single State oan DO put
N concurrence with such pover. IL not Left dereEot
and seized upon by Others from sheer necessity, IL
must be e1cius,reiy in the hands where primarily
lodged There is wide field left for the exercise on
the part of the several States Of the power to de-
termine what shall be tho Qualification" (alisnage
and naturalization asde) requisite for the electors
Of the most numerous branch of the State Legisla-
ture" There is the land and other property quail
fcations in Some States, age, militia service, &c.,
in others-a, however, within the range Of cisi.em-
ship, whether by birth naturalization which Con-
gress may determine for all 1t can say what qua
lifcations, for the good Of all Union, shall be
imposed upon adopted citizens in respect to the po-
Etical franchises Of voting throughout the United
Stotes-as the constitution itself imposed the qua
liGcationS we have seen above, on other political
Enthusiastically to federal Offices and trusts
Both fcdat and State eligibility to Office the pro-
posed bill leaves where they were found
The constitution was q compromise and com
pact between all the people, (nearly) whether citi-
zens aliens, (or foregnen) Of one State and SINH
lar people Of the other States; or between the peO
pie generally throughout the whole Union; which,
1t is unmportant to the present question to deter
mine. There had been, previously, no intimate
union between the Partes-no uniform rule Of natu-
IhEhollOn. Eacu Ctdto nuQ loosely adODted, IN its
own way, nearly all aliens, not alien enemies, who
had como within their limits
Natives who were tories were Us generally ex-
PEELED. Political and military services were the
great inducements to adoption-in most cases with
out certificate as without record. All, very nearly
all, had earned general citizenship An army Of
patriot heroes had been recently disbanded far from
their native homes, and many were still unsettled
in any new residence. Hence the language of
the constitution" The citizens of each State
shall be (&c) citizens Of the several States" That
clause was a sweeping adoption, or recognition. 1t
called nation of AMERICANS into existence, and
fixed their united being. Their descendants, and
those since adopted, with their children, are the
present AMERIcANs-the PEOPLE Of the United
States.
II may, perhaps, be objected to any bill like that
proposed-WLat would be its binding force, should
it become law Particular States might still, at
their pleasure, Gt may be said,) permit aliens to
vote for all functonaries, State and federal, i'm
mcdiately on coming, for the first time, within the
threshold Of the State. The only answer is-oaths
registered in heaven, as earth. If these cannot
bind then there is an end to all human society or
government The constitution Of the United States,
in the name Of the whole people, commands
"This constitution, and the laws of the United
States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof,
(&c) shall be The supreme ia,c Of the land, and
the ridges ~ euery State shall be bound thereby;
anything in the constitution or rs of any State to
the contrary notwithstanding" Also. " The mem
tire and judicial officers, shall be bound by OATH or
i Fl .etsss te o ,go this constitution (A
But have not time for defamation or polish,
and have had but little to cite principles or press
arguments haze only ,c'1hen notes. Much sup
port might be derived from the equally judicious
distribution of power over the militia between fede-
raj and State authorities. The analysis and appli-
cation are left to ADLER hands. They will find that
what required uniformity was given to one side all
that allowed to disconfmmity left to the other.
The reasons were the same as in the case Of citizen
ship.
It is not probable that the proposed bill will have
the good fortune to concilia.e the general favor of
either Nat,re americans or Wings The leading
Democrats will no doubt reject it as an attempt
upon their : spoils." Yet it is not seen why the
liberal Of the three parties may not support the
measure. More cannot be attained, if more were
desirable, without alteration Of the constitution
and even something less would not be accepted by
those who are already more than satisfied with
undue advantages. But the Wings are yet
surely under unmerited defeat, and the Mattress
flushed with the first fruits Of their young endeayors
The green tree waves its branches and the foliage
to the breeze, and looks with the confidence of in
experience to the returning season. No nipping
frost has ever scared its hopes. Yet this party
stands on the "unsteadfast footing of SPEAR" or
at least narrow isthmus, which the first wave Of
success, coming from either side, may for ever wash
from under its feet Triumph would indeed, be
more fatal to its existence than defeat Asyet has
no concerted system Of principles measuresor has
proclaimed none-for carrying forward the business
anu tne OeVelOpement OF TINS concrete and mighty
Republic. My humble advice to all around us is, to
revive your spirits, to moderate the ntoxicaton of
victory, to look to the Constitution, to serve your
country in soberness and faith and to scorn to be
the slave OF party, or the tool Of dcmagogues
AMERICCs.
EXTRACT OF THE LETTER ACCEPTING TIE BALTIMORE
NOMINATION OF JUNE, 1852
WASHINGTON: June p, 1852.
The political principles and measures laid down in
those resolutions broad that but little is left
for me to add. l. therefore, barely suggest in this
place, that should I, by the partially of my coun-
trymen, be elevated to the chief magistracy of the
Union, l shall be ready, in my connection with
Congress, to recommend, or to approve of measures
in regard to the management of the public domain,
SO as to secure early settlement of the same,
favorable to actual settlers but consistent neverthe
less, with due regard to the equal rights of the
whole American people in that vast national inheri-
lance and also to recommend or approve of single
alteration in our naturalization laws suggested by
my military experience, viz Giving to all foreign
ers the right of citizenship, who shall faithfully
serve, IN time Of war, one year board Of our pub
lie ships, or in our land forces-regular or volunteer
on their receiving honorable discharge from the
service.
have the honor to remain, sir, with great esteem
your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
To the Hon. J. G.. Chapman, President of the
Wing National Convention.
Literary Reviews.
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