Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27

higher exercise of the right Of citizenship than that
voting unless it be the right Of being elected Represen
tave; yet you propose to bestow it upon who may
proceed further than the declaration of his nten
ton to become citizen, though that declaration may
never DC carried out and the party may never become
citizen at all.
There is another section Of this bill which, in effect
peas the Missouri restriction of 1920 and proposes to
substitute for that restriction the authority of the people
OF the Territory to regulate their domestic nsu-
tons Ii is true that the section does expressly pro-
vide that the Territorial Legislature may prohibit slavery
or establish II at their will Some gentlemen doubt
whether it is competent for Congress confer this
upon the Territorial Legislatures whether the Constitu
uon allows such grant Of power So the general deca
ration IS made in this section that the true intent and
meaning Of this act is to leave the people thereof free
form and regulate their domestic institutions in their
way subject only to the Constitution of the United States
ms while It does not in terms invest the Territorial Le-
gisiature with the power to establish prohibit implied
does So provided nothing in the letter spirit Of the
| Constitution inhibits it,
Who therefore, the effect of this provision is doubt
u or doubted one thngs certain that the bill proposes
in this indirect manner to invest the people Of the Ter
rtory SO far as Congress constutionay cam with the
power to decide the question of slavery slavery
and this power is conferred well the alien who has
been long enough IN the Territory to declare his nten
ton to become citizen upon the citizen of the United
States who is so by birth naturalization.
Now, am not willing under any circumstances to be-
stow the elective franchise upon who citizen
Of the United whatever precedents there may be- Sti
less am ! inclined to bestow it upon him when he is
to DC invested with authority to control this question:
which Congress has not settled and SETTLE its
own satisfaction and, therefore, to be rid Of its embar
rassnents has transferred to the Territories themselves
II this question is to be left to the people of the Terri
tories (and inclined to think that it is wise
any thing else which be adopted let it be left
those people Of the Territories who citizens Of the
United States, who understand Government, who,
whether native naturalzed, have been living long
enough in the United States to have obtained fami
larity with institutions, who have acquired an nte
rest in the welfare Of the country, and have identified
themselves with it.
am free to admit that many Of naturalzed citi
zens distinguished for patriotism and intel
gent comprehension Of public affairs but let
confer power this delicate and disturbing question
upon those who have merely declared their intention to
become citizens who may never become citizens who can
not claim suffrage right and who by the theory of
our naturalization laws are not supposed to be competent
to exercise it. #. -. ..s&
For these reasons have offered the amendment i
Mr.. BRODHEAD and Mr.. TOOMBS next addressed
the Senate.
Mr. ATCHISON. Mr. President, voted for the amend
ment TO the Senate bill proposed by the Senator from De-
laWare but must say now that concur with the Sena
tor from Georgia l have not, however, changed my
opinions to the policy of that amendment still en-
tcrtan the opinions which entertained them that
but American citizens, naveborn naturalized should
be entitled the right Of suffrage to hold Office either
in the States Territories Of this country But, sir
there is higher principle than that involved in this
There is constitutional question, in my opinion,
involved either by voting for against this amendment
1t is question of policy; and that question of po
Icy am willing to yield for the sake Of higher prnc-
pie contained in this bill Sir would vote for this bill
although there might be only one, but thousand
obnoxious principles contained in it. would vote for it
because it bots out that nfamousyes, sir think it is
proper term to be usedhat infamous restriction
ed by the Congress of 1920 commonly called the Missouri
compromise, passed when the State which have in
part the honorto represent asked admission into the Union
OF these States and it was made condition an infamous
condition. that slavery should be excluded from ell the
territory acquired from France then called Louisiana
north Of 36o 30 north latitude Yes, sir if this bill
tanned one thousand obnoxious principles with the repeal
OF that Infamous compromise it is called should
vote for it. When this is done shall have achieved
what after thirty years Of struggle has only been
summated at this session. v
AS said before believe that as matter of policy
none but American citizens natveborn natura,ized
should be entitled to vote to hold Office in this
try; but still / am willing to yield this and
Southern man, as representing State more deeply
Interested in the passage of this bill perhaps than
any other State in the Union say that, practically,
it will have effect upon the institutions OF these Ter
riories The foreign population are not the pioneers
they not the first to enter the Territories of the United
States: they not the first encounter the perils,
the tolls, and the dangers Of settling Territory
They follow in the footsteps of the pioneers and nhab
the cities and the villages They are generally not the
agricultural portion of the community The great
of them traders, mechanics paupers and pedlars
Mr.. WALKER and Mr.. PETIT followed in the dis
cussion. .s .t'2@. a..t'.
Mr.. BADGER. Mr. President voted for this amend
ment when it proposed by my friend from Delaware
the bill which passed the Senate. thought the amend
ment right then; think it right and have lis
tened to discover what there is why should
vote against amendment which before voted for, be-
thought it right and which still think to be right
Well sir what reason has been given to US We have been
entertained by dispositions upon the subject of the
stuion l concede that this is constitutional ques-
ton With my views of the subject heretofore expressed
in the Senate that have ample and absolute power
these Territories of have right to model
their Governments think proper give the elective
suffrage to whom think proper and in each, in every
and in all respects to do with the Territory and with the
people who may choose to 60 there think just
sonabe, and proper This Is, therefore constitu-
tional question If there express provision in
the constitution of the United States that but
native born citizen Of the United States should be entitled
to vote in any of the States it would not in the slight
degree affect the question under the consider
ton of the Senate, as far as power is concerned.
Then we have been told that majority Of the House of
is opposed to this amendment ask,
where is the evidence of it Was any vote taken in the
House of Representatives upon this amendment? No,
sir Was opportunity afforded in that House to
take vote upon this amendment? No. sir We all know
perfectly well that the House. having up bill which had
originated in that body having passed through the ordeal
OF the Committee of the Whole, and having that biz
ported to the House, the gentleman who the head
of the Territorial Committee Of the House Immediately
moved substitute for the House bill, the bill which
had passed the Senate, without the amendment adopted
upon the motion of my friend from Delaware, and de-
manded the previous question. We all know that qucs-
ton being demanded, and the demand being seconded
no amendment could be moved to the BILL debate could
be had upon the bill, explanation could be given OF
the position Of members with regard to this particular
question: and nothing left but vote for against
the bill.
The fact that maiority of the members OF the House