Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-14
PoLITIC A l..
What Senator Douglas means by
People OF Territories Governing
Themselves.

publlc speeches upon thai ncHhC HthFe' hhd
to all appearances intends to fire his Nebraska
Gun as fast as he can load, until tie wisdom
ofhis winters work is acknowledged by the
couuiry--if he lives N long.
We also may iruihGlly say that we have
written our share in opposition TO the Nebras.
bill but aner the example Of tho scna'oi--
save thar we violate no promise--we hal
continue TO discuss its denominations until ",
hiring them all to light, and the author oflheu
To judgement. How long that will be. j, il
impossible tn say, hut we expect 10 Get through
our work before the sensior gets through will
his.
The more we study the Nebraska bill, lh'
more arc shocked by the enormity Of It's pro
visions. some Of which have thus far en,nel,
escaped public animadversiou ; and the NOR,
clearly do We realize the motives OF lis pro
ectors i. pushing it through with such pre-
ripilalion. as to prevent its receiving th,
consideration which such a measure deserved
and which would have certainly led to its de-
feat.
We desire to call our readers attention
particularly io-da, To the clause defining ih,
terms Of citizenship and the qualification NJ
voters. where will be found some provisions
I for which We undertake To saw, no precedent
can he found in American legislation, moi
even in the Alien and Sedilion laws Of Prrsi'
dent Adams.
II is generally supposed that the Clayton
amendment, limiting tho rirh, Of suffrage il
the case Of aliens to those who had resided u
the territory four year,, was rejected, and
that omigranls from abroad, who will conItl'
rurc the bulk oflhc population Tor the frst
few years, will At once b. clothed with all the
privileges of citizenship 10 the new territory
We quote the 23d clause Of the Nebraska
/ bill, (it is the 9th in the Kansas BILLY Il
show the euoneousne,s OF This impression
and to direct attention to another qualification
aua,ched to the right Of suffrage of American
emigranis, ofWhich few, se venture TO say
Of the thousands now making preparations Il
.etile in the new territory have any idea.
"Src. 81. And Le Il further srdriod, Tha
every free white male nhabi isnt above the
age oftweniy-one years, who shall be an ac
tual resident of said iurritory, aud shall pos
/ sr.s ,by gvsiiu,s,''''' ''e's'.-N-. prescribed
shall he entitled 10 rois al ME hrH or"'y..
and shall be eligible TO any Office within th'
SAID territory but the qualifications OF voter
and ofholdng office at all subsequent elections
,hall be suchsa, shall be prescribed by The
legislative Assembly PrDrid,9, That the
right Of suffrage and Of holding office shall be
exercised orig Nv oitiIons effh' UHiisd Hdio'
aud those rho shall hare docidrci o. oath than
intention 10 J,oouns such, and shall hare taken
m oath 10 support he constitution Of M
limited Suics and NE provisions Of hs aci
And prorid,d, further, That no officer soldier
seaman or marine, or any other person IN The
army or navy Of the United States, OF attached
10 troops in the service oi the United States,
shall be allowed to vote or hold office In sal'l
territory By reason Of being on service there
in."
by this provision, every ono may vote al
the first election, bot aher the first election
the legislature Prescribes the qualification OF
voters, with a pro,iso, tha, prevents them
from doing 1t, and limits them to the qualIh.
cations prescribed by Congress.
These qualifications are atis'H'4iP, natural
or acquired, and an oath TO support the con-
,,i,u,lon and the N,Jrd,iu BiR.
The declaration OF intention referred TO, Is
that mentioned in the naturalization acis, and
the oath to support the constitution is that IA.
ken at the end Of a five years residence amer
4 declaration Of intention. None but citizens
those Who aye born In the country, or, by
five years naturalization have become Siti-
ycns-swear to the constitution. Thj Judges
who will be appointed will unques,lonably
so hold. and exclude all other, from the polls.
b., th. mos, insulting provision in this
section. and the most in,olerabe provision in
the whole hill, i. that which makes il and
the constitution. of equal oa"e'iy' "l''h
compels every man who presc"'' himself a.
the polls to vote, or as a candidates ior office,
10 su ear that ho will support the Nebraska
bill 4: and which requires him to devote HIM
self to he propagation Of slavery before he is
allowed TO exercise the inalienable right or a
freeman.
Thi. is the frs, ,ihe an American citizen
has ever been required to take an oath to sup
port an act Of Congress; it is the first time
the extension Of slavery has been raised to
the level Of ,tu:ional duty.
The operation Of this qualification will he
to exclude from the polls and from Office in
the territories nearly every man who goes
there from the free states. II will disiran-
chi,e nearly every member Of every emlgran'
association that has We, been formed, aud
place the entire political power 'f the terri
tory In The hands Of Shareholders or slave
~ propagandisis; for no others will or can
take .he oath required by tho terms Of this
act.
II will also exclude from The polls aud
from office for FIVE years, every foreigner who
may reach the territory afler the first election
day.
As the grea, bulk Of the future settlers OF
Nebraska will be foreigners and emlgran's