The true Democrat., 1854-09-20
Is Fred. Douglas Eligible to the
 Presidency?

As this distinguished gentleman of color has become one of the leading spirits of N orthern ern party, and as there are many of his etho- plan and abolition friends who would no doubt be glad to see his name run up as candidate for the highest office at the gift of the people, we propose to inquire into his eligibility to that of flee according to the strictest Kraow Notlainq standard. Though it $ probable no apartments of the White House save the servants' hall will ever be embellished by the residence of so dark complected an individual; yet judged with re- ference to his Native American qualifications, FREDERICK has at least as good right and ti- tie to be voted for as had OLD HICKORY whose parents were foreigners, and himself barely born within the limits ol this country
 In the first place, he is citizen of the State in which he resides, and the Constitution (Ar- ticle Iv.-Section ? prescribes that "The citi- zens of each State shall be entitled to all priv- leges and immunlties of citizens in the several States" Now he would be eligible to run for President in the State where he lives, because the laws there recognize him as a citizen. He could likewise be voted forin any Southern State, by virtue of the clause in the Constitution just quoted.
 In the second place, Fred, and may be his father, and also his grandfather before him, un- less they had been kidnapped by some of the New England people, who had the negro car rying trade" up to the year 1908, were born with in the limits of the United States. It may not be that he was born e citizen of the United States" but his natural birth occurred in the Union. His political birth is to be dated from the day he took passage on the U. G. railroad in Virginia for his present place of destination, and that also occurred in this country. Thus he comes up to the highest Native or Knoao Nothanq standard of eligibility.
 Furthermore if there be anything in the idea that there is peculiar sort of political virtue impressed upon Us by our own residence, toge- ther with that of our ancestors on this continent we presume the newly discovered truth will hold good in reference to the black race equally with the white. If fitness for holding office is qua lity that IS only produced by the growth of se- veral generations the Doug glasses have long since acquired it, as their progentors probably made an exodus from the coast of Guinea at a time when the ancestors of some of those who are now among the leading members of our Know Nothing councils were faithful subjects of Great Britain or some other European country. Ere derrick, therefore, in contract with those who were born abroad, or whose parents emigrated hither, is fully capable of standing this new test of qualifications for office which is intended to be applied to all our various candidates hereaf- ter.
 From these, and other Mative qualifications that might be mentioned, we infer his claims will have some weight with the Free Soil and abolition parties, in casting about in 1856 for 8 suitable person to place at the head of the exe- cutive department of the naturalization