Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-01
RICHMOND WHIG.
GARRETT DAVIS ON
TIVE AMER NUS~

GARRETT DAVIS ON
NATIVE AMERICANIsM.
tim. that should bseon, little NOR. An.rie
nse.d Of feeding the Paupers and asorers Of Ens,n
b. oa.s'"I"dssc Jaei.on p''e'' P'n'' We 'A,
from hope re my and 'one means In future Of shielding
aI .na be s%a s s .s,d .s OF
AGAINST the n.idou, vds foreign U eonjsre 70,
Sssr. me- fsilo. Jealousy free people oush
Republican T.aaon '''s'0' Toes OF
be- 90 Is Greeian horse the R.pablIe-ve
There .ative necessity for r.rorni,~ N. n
aon La-s Of the Ua,d st.,,s-DIniei He1.scS ''
10 tho Kentucky State Convention, on December 18th
lsie the body proceeded the consideration of the fol-
lowing resolution offered by Nr Davis and ma dc the spe
cisl order for that day:
Resolved, That foreigners of tho 6o,Iov;, a.-:.,;
and classes only, shall be entitled TO vote for anv c;r NJ
hcer or snail DO eligible to any civil office or nI.ca NJ
trust or proht under the Common " ealth of K.npckx
roose no, AZ zoe time o the adoption Of this amended
Sonsutuiion shall be nstutazcd citizens of the United
States Those uho At the time Of the adopton of ,b;.
amended Constitution, shall have declared their
oecome ei'izens d the United States 10 conformity TO
.ne laws hereoi, aud who shall have become citizens
those Who, twentyoue years previously thereto
nave declared their purpose, according To tho
provisions o the laws Of the United States to become
izers thereof aud who then shall be citizens of d. III
ted States. 1. Minors, Who shall have rn;yr.,od -
their parents, or parent to the United States
years alter their nsmes aud particular
Ipef person. snail have been entered on the recurds
o some court of record OF the State of or
other part oi the United S,atss such fpr.yneis b,vn
aon every case like qualifications OF residence and oe
all other points that required of native born citizens
ana properly authenticated COPY Of the record hen 10;
all cases required for the verica,on of the facts
Mr. Davis said Mr.. President The resolution on tb;.
submitted TO the convention at an eary dsv
I've sessGn mas been so long suspended have lost
gooo ueGree us animation. The truth is. that now
ieei awkward this subject and bur for nv
To"ai to debate it, SO distinctly made about that time
should not at this a;e day obtrudo myself upon the time
and patience OF this body. But omtnp m dscns, a. y
subject, should not be less Native American Dr., :,
we're 10 attempt the most and elaborate ex.m;
nation OF It, However, will proceed aud before rs-
sumo my sea' viii cndesvor to revive the lite and inter
est OF my proposition. ~
Dir. PRESIDENT 10 asking the attention OF the eonxeop
anu country to this subject part of nv purpose
10 vi" any noioety, or and popular favor general or
Vof 10 endearor to make the mean. of reaching
Office or distinction whatever Were nossessed 81 ,,i
aud strength, i. possible might have connected sub
vsutng hopes with IT, but feel 40 ine
a. my years are TO be so few, to me TO
ses Of things more personal and sober aud 10
tnro" lar from HE such exciting aspirations
since my hrst examination OF the matters involved in
TINS momen.ous question, have been Native American
aoo during eight years Of service in Congress was
pledged and every stood ready TO vote for .ny
Of the tme which is required 20 entire the
foreigner TO the right Of suilrAge The reason vby lid
no. mo'e upou the subject myself was thorough con
vcton during the whole PERIOD that ir Cougres. would
do no good to the cause, immediate or ptospecve h,
bring il forward. -
But, was firmly resolved, Il the time should ever
come, and all 'uid he thrown upon theatre where tb.
effort would seem practical and the ansnc.. IN ,r
favorable would ask the attention. not ouy OF the p.o
pie o Kentucky, but all my countrymen 10 what deeu
10 be the greatest question OF the dsr believe that
aud that theatre are now here know that the number
OF foreigners IN kentucky is small compared with other
States out they are yet numerous and increasing
particularly on the line OF the ono and Mississippi rive
aud there is wisdom in the old proverb .sn ounce M
preveStive is better than a pound of cure
we adopt such provision in the constitution its in
hoence viii not only psrvsie whole State govern
ment sho pohey VIII have small but direct influence
upon Congress- in the election of our representatives in
that body; and will operate With great moral poser
upon other States especially when 90 into coprsn
non Tor Tue alteration OF their constitutions. Has not
TINS State fe and Is not this body acting under the
power OF similar eIsmpess Who Eve years ago in zen
lucky was there To advocate the principle of Ine uds
OF courts being elected by popular vote aud if no
had yet adopted this system who believes we woud h..
now Incorporating h in our constitution? Would il not
be reasonable TO conclude that the ample OF
deciding and incorporating entail pryison in
ner consutu ion that her government belongs 70 and
should be administered by her native born sous and not
bs foreigners, would have powerful and s,ut,rv
influence upon our sister State:
presume, Mr.. President, there can be no doubt upon
the point Of our competency aud right to act upon This
subject and also OF our duty upon it, il by so doing
We can effect any essential good for The country Con-
gress mas the power aud has passed naturalization laws
ana mas been assumed that would infringe the rights
TO the provisions Of those laws the State 10
any other or additional stctons their exercise of IN.
right OF suffrage in the State Governments IL appears
to me that this position wholly falaciuus and
The States have the right to coner upoa foreigners the
elective franchise aud uake them eligible to all Inc office
ther governments before Naturalization and they have
the undoubted power 10 exclude them, although they
have become cizeus Of the United States because
citizenship coners upon them only the rights of that 90
vernment, conceded by the federal constitution and not
s'pge one under any State government. Th. power Of
me states 10 Withhold hom naturalzsd citizens of the
United States the right TO vote has often exercs.
and IL now in practical operation in many OF them-ir-
directly in declaring the payment Of taxes being house
Keeper owning freehold, &c qualifications. But in many
States and in Kentucky the higher power is exercised
ofe1cludDg the naturaised citizens from the more inn
portant right Of eligibility to certain offices for long terms.
man must have been citizen OF the United States
and nhabitsnt Of this State Also "at least six year
TO be eligible TO the Office o Governor Lieutenant Go
vernon or Senator Toe States sovereign In forming
aud administering their governments. They NAV
deny to nauralised foreiguars wholly the right Of
suffrage, and the privilege Of holding oice or they NAV
confer both class OF rights fully or with such restrictions
as TO TIN and other circumstances, as they may will
They have often circumscbed aud denied these rights
TO their own native born citizens, and il would DC pre-.
posterous to assume they had not the power over
persons born in foreign countries merely because they
had been admitted TO czenshp uuder the governm mt Of
the United States in debate is question OF cxpedeucy
and policy only, aud not Of power, and SUCH freely
admit, IL should not be exercised without grave aud
sufficient reason, Of which the people and the
ofih States, alone, have the right to determine
The proposition which have submitted deprivcs no
man OF any right which belongs to him. he il perfect or
inchose for il conccdes TO all foreigners who now have
the right Of suffrage who have taken the first step to-
wards naturalization who may hereafter DO brought
as minors to the United States that rghL-Iave others
any just claim to il! Europe has 2sOO00 900 OF popus
ton. As relates TO Tho government aud people Of the
United states, sll now have tho right to come TO our
country, and millions upon millions OF them will come
IL all the male adult population Of Europe have vested
aud perfect right reaching shores. be admitted
ser naturalization under the laws Of Congress- to share
all the political Sovereignty. rights and Offices Of all the
states esch Of all the icemng millions across the At
inc now resident not only in Europe but In Asia and
Aus,rais and all the isles Of the sc, IL not 10 Africa
have also the right /, b trne, imperfect and coudi,
tonsl because any and all may come. In the universe
vas ever before heard Of go expansive and ran6cd
right, spreading many countless millions OF
the living only. but OF their multitudnous po,ery for
all time, OF all clmes and countries races and oolors
languages religions. and heshenisms unless, indeed
the negro shs DO excluded The thing s absurdity IT,
self No foreigner has any right to.sny portion Of the
political sovereignty Of country in which he may choose
to make his residence except far may be given to
bin by the people and government Of that country aud
then only to the extent and upon the conditions which
they prescribe. Congress might rghtuly repeal all
laws tho Of forsi nj