The daily union., 1854-12-28
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO ADOPTED CITIZENS
NOT A MATTER FOR CONGRESSIONAL, BUT STATE

"a
ACTION.
The idea which the leaders of the order hold
those who not willing to approve their bgoted
against the liberty of conscience in its relations
religion and yet who anxious to the naturaza
ton laws modified and reduced, is that the only way to
secure this result is to nationaizs the kaownogs and to
control majority Congress Many sensible men, who
Indignantly repudate the clandesne meetings and relent-
less prescriptions of an oathbound ore allow themselves
to be sd by this specious appeal But when the citizens
examine the case with ordinary care, they will
find that the right of suffrage is controlled by the States
in their sovereign capacity ndependept of Congress- and
that in effect the naturalization laws of which so many
have deemed it necessary to complain to the adopt
ed citizen certain civil advantages but the States control
the right of suffrage and decide upon what and
stricons shall be exercised In the naturalization laws
passed by Congress pursuance of the constitution there
is not word that implies any control of the right to
vote The rights secrea to the adopted citizens under
these laws have been and never be complained
Of because they rights in which oil interested
tive and foreign born These rights arc, among others
protection of person and property against all foreign
ers the right to inheritance the right to and be
sued, &c. What native American know-nothing cen
complain that these immuntes' extended to an
adopted citizenf 10 is true there certain disabilities
enumerated and the very fact that these enume-
rated and defined in the constitution and the laws OF
Congress- and that the important right of suffrage is not
defined in either shows that the latter intended be
left to the States and that the of five years before
foreigner could become /" citizen intended be
condition certain cip and political mmunitics These
disabilities are that but napralborn citizen,
citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption
of this constitution shall be eligible the office of Presi
dent
And also:
mo person shall be representative lin Congress) who
shall have attained the owenty five years. and been
years citizen Of the United States and who shall not
elected be inhaban of the State in which he shall
be chosen"
And again
No person shall be a who shall have attained
the age thirty years, and been nine years citizen of the
United States and who shall not when elected be nhab
tant of that State for which he shall be chosen
twill be seen how carefully the subject of suffrage is
avoided in the constitution matter for congressional
action To make this clearer ask attention to the
ond section of the first article Of the constitution in which
the subject is directly and in terms referred to the States
"The House of Representatives of the United States
shall be composed of members chosen every second year by
the people of the several States, and the electors IN eaoh
State shall hcvs the requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch Of the State legislature"
In other words the citizen who vote for members OF
the popular branch of the State legislature also vote
for members of Congress Need ask the question Can
the citizen who for member of Congress be restrict
ed from voting for President of the United States?
Stress has been laid upon the second section of the fourth
article of the constitution implying general rule for
voting, denial Of the State control over snfage
The citizens of each State shall be entitled all priv
egcs and immunities of citizens in the several States"
But this aludes undoubtedly to the civil rights set forth
in the naturalization and other laws This is proved by
the uniform action of the States in yielding the
laws of Congress on the subject of these civil rights
and in their taking the control of the rights of suf-
fragc into their own hands. 1t is true that in some
of the States the naturalization FIVE years residence
is established necessary to vote to an adopted
citizen and in far the act of Congress may have sug-
gested the action of the Satcs but in States much
less term provided and in States difference