The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-06-30
The Nebraska Bill Cheat.

It appears that the Nebraska plotters by
cunningly worded section Of the Bill have
provided that foreigners cannot vote after ht
first election in Nebraska.
The Clayton amendment was rejected be-
cause it oStracised foreigners. That amend.
ment was savagely pounced upon by some
OF the northern presses, which favored the
bill, because it was Of Wing origin; bu,
what will they say now the odious feature
has been retained by the democratic majority
in both Houses. .....
The New York Evening Post, democrat.
ic print, exposes the cheat as follows, and il
will DO seen Tho, it has attracted attention IN
Congress. .....
at is generally supposed that The Clay.
ton amendment, limiting The right Of suffrage
in The ease of aliens to those who had resi-.
ded IN the territory four years was rejected.
and that emigrants from abroad who will
constitute the bulk Of The population for the
first few Yeas. will at once be clothed with
all the privileges Of citizenship in the new
territory. Wequote the Odd clause Of the
Nebraska bill, (it is the 5th in the Kansas
bill,) to show the erroneousness Of this i'm
preston and the rights Of suffrage Of Ameri
can emigrants. Of which few, We venture to
say. of the thousands now making prepare
lions to settle in tho new territory have any
idea:
"SEc %. And be II further enacted, that
every free white male inhabitant above the
age of twenty ono years, who shall be an act.
nal resident IF said territory and shall pos.
sess the qualifications hereinafter prescribed,
shall be entitled TO poie at the first election
and shall be eligible to any Office within the
said territory; but the qualification OF voters,
and of holding Office. at all subsequent cleo.
lions, shall DO prescribed by the Legislative
Assembly
Prorided. That the rights ofsuflrage and
of holding ofEce shall be exercised only by
ciiiztns Of The United States. and those rho
shall hare declared on oath their infenfion TO
become such, and shall haze taken an OATH to
sunport The Constitution Of the United States
and The provisions Of this act: And prorided,
further, That no officer, soldier, seaman or
marines or any other person in the army or
navy Of the United States, or attached to
troops In the service of the United States.
sboli be allowed to vote or hold Office in said
territory by reason Of being on service there
in" ...
BY this provision every ono may vote
at the first election, but after the irst cleo.
ton, the legislature proscribes the qualifcA-
lions oryoters, with proriso that prevents
them from doing it. and limits TO the quail.
prescribed BY Congress-
"These qualifications are citizenship, nat.
ural or acquired. and an oath to support the
and the Nebraska Bill. u.
1.-THE declaration OF intention referred 10,
Is that mentioned in the naturalization act,
and tho oath TO support the Constitution y
tha, taken at the end Of five years resi-
ience after declaration ofintcntion. None
but citizsns-those who are born IN tue
or, by a Eve years natura'i1auon'
have become citilens--swear TO the Consu.
ut;on. The Judges who will DO appointed
viii unoues tionably 80 hold, and exclude oil
others from the polls. :. lri. a..,
" But the most insulting provision in this
lection. and the most iniolerable provision
n The whole bill, IL that which makes II and
he Constitution Of equal sanctity, which
.ompels every man who presents himself at
he polls 10 vote, or as candidate Tor Office,
o swear that he will support the Nebraska
ill; and which requires him % devote him.