Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27

ment IS right, why should not vote for it, be sent
to the House of Representatives, and II becomes cues
ton between the Houses it thing insist
such an amendment to the loss of the BILL and another
thing to give to the House of Representatives what ac-
cordng their rules they have yet had op-
porunity of saying whether they for against it,
do not make this amendment qua agree with
my friend from Georgia that there is principle in this
bill more important than is involved in the amendment
II the Senate vote down the amendment shall vote for
the bill II the House disagree to the amendment for
one viii never consent to lose the bill upon any such dis
agreement But think it is rather too much to ask
to vote against amendment which believe to be right
which believe to be important which think contains
the recognition of what is valuable upon hypothe
SIS that the House is opposed to upon which
the House has never voted.
Mr. President can understand very well the position
of number of my friends in the House of Representa-
tives. cast censure upon them none at all. As
have said, If had been there should have voted with
them and surrendered my particular views in regard
this amendment to the condition of things which made it
necessary to enable the majority of the House decide
upon the pending questions In this body thank Heaven
we are under such necessity We here bring for
ward question: discuss it, give ample time for its dis
CUSTOM and when it has been discussed have the
Judgment of the majority without waiting and nights
to adjourn over and oil imaginable technicaltes which
the rules of order be made to supply. Therefore,
see reason why should not consider this amendment
and why we should not dispose of 1T.
Now, sir what is the amendment? Is it unjust or I'M
fair to body 1t to allow the citizens of the United
States in these Territories to elect the Legislative body
and then to determine upon the domestic institutions Of
the territories. For one am perfectly willing to leave
it to the judgment Of the citizens of the United States
who may be in the Territories whether the institution of
slavery is to be introduced into them not. But am
not willing to leave to those who not citizens of the
United States, to who poured fresh from the
workshops from the ignorance, from the filth from the
debasemen which mark the lowest orders in the differ
ent countries of Europe; just landed upon SOIL gnor
ant OF our nsutons ignorant many of them of every
thing except the performance of mechanical opera
ton in particular trade or except perhaps that one
knows how to hoe and another to delye; men who
neither read nor write; men whose associations have
brought them into contact by which the understand
ing has been developed; men who have sympathies
with country who just landed, finding
here refuge from oppression, if you please or from
punishment, if you please from starvation if you
please, determine the poiticalcondon of Territory
which is hereafter to become State of this Union
Why my friend from Indiana would SEEM according to
his imply that the longer these persons are
here the less reliable they are. He says take them
fresh, the moment they come here and let them become
propretor Of land Well sir, they are to wait until
they propretors of land pray you what becomes
of the principle Of unlimited suffrage But il is said you
must give them the land Well how does that qualify
them know what the institutions Of the Territory
should be? may give them desire that those nsu
tons should be right but to desire and to know how
accomplish thing two very different qualities. 1t
true the honorable Senator says that many
to settle IN this country who Of character
Of intelligence, who at would be able
and discharge respectfully the functions Of citi-
but recolec that is not the character of
class altogether the character the
rally Wherefore, think the wisdom of our orefathers
and right They required that foreigners should
undergo probation, should live among us should sig
Nifty their intention TO become citizens; time should
eapse afterwards the eye Of the community should be
upon them and evidence should be given finally their
upright department. their God moral character their
hibon of an attachment the institutions Of the
try, before they were clothed with the character Of
citizens.
The Senator from Indiana says that citizenship and
suffrage are not the same thing Undoubtedly but ct
zenshp is the status which is presupposed to exist in
every man before he is capable of receiving the right of
suffrage. That the notion of our forefahers. 1t is
o discovery of modern times, that may be pot
cal member Of community SO far to exercise the
powers Of the baotbox to vote for sators to elect
all the officers of the community and yet that he should
not have citizenship in the country which he thus aids
in governing When the Constitution of the Omitted States
framed and it said therein that the electors Of
the members Of the House of Representatives should be
those who, under the State constitutions, entitled
vote for the most branch of the State Legs-
laure, the idea Of unnauralized foreigners voting had
entered the minds of people, of State in the Union
know it is past reach but, according to my Judgment
every provision in the constitution of any State in this
Union which hereafter may authorize unnatu-
rallied foreigner vote is in conflict with the spirit and
principle of the Constitution Of the United States IL
know had in the constitution Of my State adopt
ed in 0 provision which conferred all the rights of
citizenship, the power OF holding real estate and the
right Of voting, upon foreigners who there SETTLE
and who had resided twelve months and taken the oath
of allegiance But have always considered that from
adopted comforting the power of naturalization upon this
Government o aco that provision Of the State Const
tuition annuled. ,
Mr.. President although / concede that this is not
paramount matter with me, though | admit there is
high principle in this bill which will carry without
this amendment if cannot obtain the amendment, yet
see no reason why believing the amendment be right
should not vote for it now, voted for it when was
proposed before and when then deemed it to be right
If it had been the that decided ard undoubted
preston Of the opinion of the House OF Representatives
had been obtained upon this amendment and found be
adverse to it, should vote against it but such opn
ion having been expressed opportunity having been
afforded for its expression evidence being furnished
but that majority Of that House is Cor it, wish to put
the amendment here and give the House opportunity
of saying whether it meets their appreciation not If it
does not shall not be for losing the bill for want of the
Mr.. BUTLER Mr.. President, / think it probable that
my naked upon this subject either way the
other would not be very well unders.ood and the
sion perhaps is that requires to make few re-
marks by way Of explaining the may think pro-
per pursue upon this subject Justice others and to
myself require it.
The Issues which have grown out OF this bill scarcely
leave any gentleman the right consult his independent
Judgment 1 am free to say may, ~ anime say
that If had been in the House Of Representatives,
should have voted with the hundred and thirteen in
favor Of the bill without this provision. will say fur
Their that whether the amendment be adopted not,
shall for this BILL Nay, further, do not know but
there may be such change Of circumstances during
to-day tomorrow may require OF me, rather than
to put this bill in jeopardy by sendn to the other
House, putting it in position rshere will be SUBJ
ected the hazards Of parlameI ary proceedings to
waive the opinion, the very strong opinion, which en-