The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20

Ink HumEoIEAU BILL
This Bill. as our readers have observed, is
u,der discussion in the Senate, where it en-
,,ur.srs the most determined opposition. Az
!, ,assed the House, its sixth section confined
=, benefits so far as aliens might be concern
"a 10 those resident in the country at the time
If its becoming law; excluding all arriving
.n,r that date, until they should become citi-
cans @Now, resident of any one of the
c.ates or Territories" was its language. Mr..
Wade an Independent Democratic member of
the House. sought to erase this restriction, but
Mr. Dawson, one of the so-called Democrats
from Pennsylvania, who had charge OF the
Bill. would not consent to It,
In the Senate, Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, when the
PHI was first called up, moved to strike out
those restrictive words, but when the consider
o6op of the measure was resumed few days
since. he withdrew his motion, perhaps under
the impression that il would prove unavailing
Mr.. Chase, Of Ohio renewed the motion very
properly
The restriction is illiberal 1T was FAIR
that those who opposed, as well as those who
sustained it. should be put upon the record
Yesterday, oath inst the question being taken
on the amendment, the vote stood:
YEAs-Messrs. Bayard, Brod head, Chase
Douglas, Fessenden, Foot, Gillette, Norris,
Seward, Shields, Sumner, Wade, and Weller
70.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Atchison,
Badger. Bell, Benjamin, Bright, Brown, Butler,
C,ss Clay Dawson, Dixon, Dodge of Wiscon-
sin Dodge of Iowa. Evans, Fish, Fitzpatrick,
Geycr. Hamlin, Hunter, johnson; Jones of
iowa Jones of Tennessee, Mallory, Mason,
Pearce Petit, Pratt, Rockwell, Sebastian, Sill
dell, Stuart, Toucey, Walker, and Williams
20.
Why the Senators from Michigan, Indiana,
Iowa and Wisconsin, voted to retain this anti
alien clause, we cannot understand. They
rrofess great liberality towards emigrants seek
ing home in this country, but their votes on
til, occasion were against their professions.
Az Tor MIR. Brodhoads vote in the affirmative,
when we recollect how stubbornly he opposed
tie extension of the right of suffrage to foreign
gaers in Kansas and Nebraska, we must re-
gard it as evidence of desire to make the
BID still more obnoxious to Southern members,
and thus multiply the chances of its defeat
Az usual, it will be observed, the Slave State
Senator's we're arrayed against liberal policy
towards foreigners.
We have already had occasion to comment
upon the mean policy of the Bill as it passed
the House. in excluding colored people from
il benefits By an oversight, after it had been
expressly provided that the donations should
he confined to lChite persons, the general word,
eindioidual," without the prefix, "sohite," was
left standing in the sixth section. This, of
course, could not affect the other provisions, as
determined by the adjective, "uhite"-bnt GER
tain Senator's seem to think their great bust
ness is to fight for Slavery and make war upon
negroes Senator Dixon, of Kentucky, moved
yesterday to modify the sixth section, by stri-
king out the word individual" and inserting
the words free white person" A debate en-
sued, of course. Cass and Stuart, of Michigan,
were mfavorable to the amendment, but, as
might be expected, voted for it. Shields, of IL
lnois, voted first against il, and then changed
his vote. The Generals virtue on such occa-
SONS is as prompt TO retreat as advance. OF
course, the amendment was carried; the Slave
holders gained a victory over the colored peo-
PIE and our glorious Union was saved.
Mr.. Dixon, having put the negro down, next
fell upon the alien. He moved to amend the
Eli by the following proviso:
"PrOUidcd, That the benefits of this act shall
not extend to the children, heirs, or devisees of
aliens born out of the United States, who are
tEenty-One years Of age, until they shall have
fled their declarations to become citizens of
the United Statesn
This also led to discussion and, on the ques-
ton being taken, it was decided in the afirma-
tive, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Badger, Bayard Benjamin,
Brown, Butler, Clay, Clayton Dawson, Dixon,
Evans, Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Hunter, Johnson,
Mallory, Mason, Pearce, Pratt, Sebastian,
Thompson CT Kentucky, and Toucey-2l.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Chase, Dodge
Of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Fish, Foot, Gil
ettei James, Jones of Iowa, Jones of Tennessee,
Norris, Petit Seward, Shields, Slidell, Stuart
Wade, Walker, Weller, and Williams-2o.
All the alternatives from the slave States, ex-
cept the name Of the famous MIR. Toucey, who
represents nobody but himself having been
dsOwned by the Legislature of his State. All
the negatives from the free States, except one
from Tennessee and one from Mississippi. We
believe it was the Washington Sentinel which
some time since took the ground that the slave
holders were deadly enemies of Native Ameri
esnism
Not yet satisfied, these gentlemen from the
South proceeded in their anti alien policy.
d, Mr. Brown moved proviso to the effect
mat any foreigner who should fail to become
q citizen of the United States for six years
after entering upon the land, shall forfeit al
his rights under the bill.'
This amendment was agreed to-yeas 81
nays g.
MIR. Benjamin moved to amend the sixth
section, to the effect that any American-born
person of the age of sixteen years and up
wards, who shall cultivate the land, &C..
winch, after debate was decided in the affirm.
a'iye-yeas &c, nays 20.
Mr. Clay moved so 10 amend the bill as tc
require all foreigners awaiting themselves of the
privileges of the bill to become citizens within
SIXTY days after the passage of this act; pend
ing which, the Senate adjourned, by vote Of
yeas, to ls nays"
1t is pretty certain, from present indications
mat the Bill will be dsfested. Dislike of for
reigners, and determination to do nothing
mat shall promote the multiplication of free
S1ates array the Southern Senators against it
and they will secure enough votes from theil
allies to kill the Bill.