Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-07-01
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
THE NEBRASKA QUESTION.
In the Senate, May 25, 1854.

of Nebraska and Kansas, and the pending
question being on the amendment of Mr..
Pearce to the fifth section, 10 strike out
the words
"And those who shall have declared on
oath their intention to become such, and
shall have taken an oath TO support the
Constitution of the United States and the
provisions of this act"
so that the proviso shall read
"ProUided, That the right Of suffrage
aud of holding Office shall be exercised on
ly by citizens Of The United States.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, said: have
no intention, of course, TO reply 10 the
Senator from Ohio. His speech was one
Of that kind 70 which should not care TO
reply under any circumstances, and espe-
cially under the circumstances which pre-
sent themselves 10 us now. But, intend
inc to vote for the amendment of the Sen
atOr from Maryland, | wish 10 assign We
ry briefly the reasons why shall do so,
advertising the Senate, however, that l
have no speech 10 make on this bill.
The fifth section Of the bill provides:
"That every free white male inhabitant
above the age Of twenty-one years, VINO
shall be an actual resident Of said Terri
tory, and shall possess the qualifications
hereinafter prescribed, shall be entitled to
vote at the first election, and shall be ell
gbIe to any office within the said Terrific
~, but the qualifications of voters and OF
holding office at all subsequent elections
shall be such as shall be prescribed by the
Legislative Assembly PrOUided' Ina'
the rFtht of suffrage and of holding once
shall be exercised only by citizens oil the
United States"
Now comes the part proposed TO be
stricken out
"And those who shall have declared on
oath their intention TO become such, and
shall have taken an oath 10 support the
Constitution of the United States and the
provisions of this act find proUlded
| further, That no officer, soldier, seaman,
or marine, or other person in the army or
navy of the United States, or attached TO
troops in the service of the United States,
shall be allowed to vote or hold office in
said Territory by reason of being on SER
vice therein"
If the section passes as it stands, 1t is,
beyond all question, that foreigners IN the
Territory, and not being in the service OF
the United States, may vote, no difference
what may have been their character a.
broad, or what their inducement TO come
here. However discreditable to the coun-
try from which they came, they have moth
inc to do but to make bare declaration
Iof their intention to become a citizen and
take an oath to support the Constitution
to entille them to vote; while American
) citizens, who have been so from their
birth. and whose characters are above re-
t proach, if they are in the military service
of their country in these Territories, will,
bv the same act, be denied the right to
vote. l ask Senators to pause before
they legislate TO give foreigners rig hts
which are denied to our own citizens up
e on American soil. How will this act ope
. rate practically, if you pass it in the
S words in which itnow stands ? The off,
4 GERS commanding your army, the soldier:
who are serving under your banner, anc
e who are placed upon your frontiers 10 de-
fend your women and children from the
tomahawk Of fhe savage, will be denied tht
y elective franchise, while the thousands
n and tens of thousands who are pouring
upon our shores from every part Of Gods
habitaDle globe will be entitled TO that sa
: cred privilege. Why, sir, if Santa Anni
should be expelled from Mexico to-mor
e row, as he may be, and should take vi
h his residence in one of these Territories
II he may vote the day after he gets ther
if this bill passes; and Winfield Scott
d whose name is emblazoned on every pag
S of his country's history, and whose i'm
press is on every battlefield from the 81
o Lawrence to the city Of Mexico, if h'
y was there stationed at the order of tn
President, would not be allowed the sam
l. privilege. | ask honorable Senators If
d is not so, that by the proposed legislatio
we are about to say TO the General-lr
chief of the American army, you sha
er not vote in a Territory conquered b
n YOUR arms; and 10 the deserter from III
:; enemy's camp. you may vote Shall W
OF do this Shall we say 10 the venerabI
soldier who has served his country fc
ee forty years, who has fought more battle
and fought them better, than any lIvln
OF man. shall we say TO Winfield Scot
who, whatever may be his faults as pol
ne ,ician. deserves his country's gIaiitud
Y y ,ym, shah moi vote in Kansas or Nebra
u ,J,lLeu shall we say 10 the outcas