Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-07-29
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY es, 1859.
QuaIifications of Voters for President.

We have but recently discovered that the Whig lead
ers have been industrousy attempting create the i'm
preston among the voters of foreign BIRTH that tho
provision in our State Constitution permitting them to
vote before being naturaized, upon residence Of six
months in the State is violation of the Constitution OF
the United States 50 far relates to the Presidential
election and that such have the right of voting
for President. This is mistake, and is circulated by
the Wings for the purpose of lessening the Democratic
vote next fall Persons entitled to vote State
elections have the same right vote for President of
the United States There is nothing in the constitution
of the United States prohibit the several States from
granting the right of suffrage whom Trey please and
this right has always been exercised by the ststes and
Congress has power to pass any laws upon the sub
jeet whatever.
The only clause in the constitution of the United
States which reference is made the qualifications
of veters in the second section of article one which
in speaking of tina House Of Representatives of Con-
gress, says:
"The House of Representatives shall be composed Of
members chosen every second year. by the people Of the
several States and the electors in each State shall haze
the qualifications requisite electors Of the most aHmsr-
Gus branch Of the State Legislature"
1t will be that the electors declared to be
not the citizens of the United States, but-the ''psope
tants of the States whether citizens of the United
States not who may be entitled by the laws of the
State, to vote for members 'of the most numerous
branch of the State Legislature"
The naturalization laws of the United States are not
for the purpose Of making voters and do not any in
stance confer the right of suffrage Naturalization is
thing and the right vote another and entirely diff
fsrent thing foreigner by becoming naturalized does
abv a he ha mir
is the right hold property and claim the protection
Of our National Government, wherever he may be.
The right to define the qualifications of voters belongs
each State, and Congress has power interfere
in the suffrage laws of any State in any what
ever.
Our State constitution in section 2 article 2, defines
the qualifications of voters as follows:
s'SEc. 2 In all elections otherwise provided for
by this Constitution every white male citizen Of the
United States Of the age of twenty years and up
wards ho shall have resided in the State during the six
months Immediately preceding such election; and every
white male Of foreign birth, Of the age OF twentyone
years and upwards who shall have resided in the Unit
ed States year. and shall have resided in this State
during the months Immediately preceding Such eee-
tion and shall have declared his intention become
citizen of the United States conormably the laws Of
the United States the subject of nauraization shall
be entitled vote in the township precinct where he
may reside"
Under this clause Of the constitution ''eyery white
male of foreign BIRTH Of the age of twenty-one years
and upwards, who shall have resided in the United
States year. and shall have resided in this State du
ring the six months Immediately preceding such elee
tion and shall have declared his intention become
citizen Of the United States conformably the laws OF
the United States the subject OF naturalization" /"
will have the right for President next Novem-
bsr. We hope voter OF foreign birth will suffer him
self be misled by the msstatemens Of the Wings in
regard to this matter. All have precisely the same
right to vote for President that they have to vote for
constable any other officer.