Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-06-23
Tho infamous TrcncI,crv.


democratic papers of the country calling
attention to some Of the features Of this
Outrageous document" not generally un-
derstood. Let the free American citizens
read it. Let our foreign population read
it, There are thousands Of the honest,
hardy and industrious Germans Of our land
that intend 10 seek for themselves and fam
lilies home in that beautiful country; but
let them look at the ban that this bill pla.
ces them under. 1t is pretty fully under
stood that Senator Butler Of South Carroll
ma was not the only Locofoco Senator that
would prefer Negroes in Ne6rdskd, to the
emigrdats from the land Of kroW." The
Post says
1t is generally supposed that the Clay
ton amendment, limiting the right Of suff-
rage in the case of aliens to those who had
resided in the territory four years, was re-
jected, and that emigrants from abroad,
who will constitute the bulk of the popula-
ton for the first few years, will at once be
clothed with all the privileges of citizenship
in the new territory. We quote the 22d
clause Of the Nebraska bill (it is the fifth in
the Kansas billy to show the erroneous
ness of this impression, and to direct the
attention 70 another qualification attached
to the rights of suffrage of American emf
grants, of which few, we venture to say, Of
the thousands now making preparation to
settle in the new territory have any idea
"Sec. 90. And be ii further enacted,
That every free white male inhabitant
above the age of twenty-one years, who
shall have been an actual resident of said
territory, and shall possess the qualifications
hereinafter prescribed, shall be entitled to
rote at tie first election, and shall be eligi-
BILE to any office within the said territory /;
but the qualifications Of voters, and Of hol-
ding office, at all subsequent elections, shall
be such as shall be prescribed by the Leg
isIative Assembly: ProUided, That the
right Of suffrage and of holding Office shall
be exercised only 6y citizens Of The United
States, and those wAo shall hare declared
on oath Meir intention TO become such, and
ShoN ha0e taken an oath to support tie
constitution of the United States and tie
provisions Of This act; AndArortded fur
tier, That no officer soldier, seaman, or
marine, or any other person in the army or
navy of the United States, or attached
troops in the service of the United States,
shall be allowed to vote or hold off ce in
said territory by reason of being on service
| therein"
By this provision every one may vote at
the first election, but after the first election
the Legislature prescribes the qualification
of voters, with proUiSo that prevents them
from doing it; and limits them to the quail
fication prescribed By Congress.
The qualifications are citizenship, natural
or acquired, and an oath to support the
Constitution and the Nebraska bill.
The declaration of intention referred to,
is that mentioned in the naturalization acts,
and the oath to support the constitution is
that taken at the end of five years resi-
dence after declaration of Intention
None but citizens-those who are born in
the country, or, by five years. naturaliza-
ton, have become citzens-swear to the
constitution. The Judges who will be ap-
pointed will unquestionably 80 hold, and
exclude all others from the polls
But the most insulting provision in this
section, and the most inlolerable provision
in the whole bill is that which makes it and
the Constitution, of equal sanctity; which
compels every man who presents himself at
the polls to vote, or as candidate for of
flee, to swear that he will support the Ne,
braska bill; and which requires him to de-
vote himself TO the propagation Of slavery
before he is allowed to exercise the inalien
able right Of freeman.
This is the FIRST time an American citizen
has ever been required to take an oath 10
support an act Of Congress; it is the FIRST
time suffrage and Office were ever made
dependant upon such an oath; i. is the frst
time the extension of slavery has been rails
ed 10 the level OF a constitutional duty.
The operation Of this qualification will be
TO exclude from the polls and from Office in
the territories nearly every man who goes
there from the free States. 1t will disfran
chise nearly every member of every emf
grant association that has yet been formed,
and place the entire political power Of the
territory in the hands of Shareholders or
slavery propagandsts; for no others will or
can take the oath required by the terms OF
this act
1t will also exclude from the polls and
from Office for five years. every foreigner
who may reach the territory after the irs,
election day.
As the great bulk Of the future settlers
Of Nebraska will be foreigners and emil
grants from the free states it is obvious
that SO far from governing themselves, the
inhabitants OF the territory will have COM
paratvely nothing to do with making or
administering the laws which they will be
required TO obey. Such is the character Of
the bill which, Senator Douglas informed
the brass band, who he addressed the 9th.
er night at the st. Nicholas, was based up
on the right Of the people 10 govern them.
selves.
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