Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-19

search 40 American ship. Should such an event
ooeur it would be safe bet that nine out OF every
ten Of the know.nothing organs VIII take the soe
Of Spain, and illustrate the sincerity o. '''sa'
American" sympsthies.
.-TaE POWER OF THE STATES TO FIX THE eoAiA-
FIcATION OF THEIR OWN foiEhS
W. will endeayor to be as brief as possible m
.,;~;,, h;s,org of the question raised on the ad-
e,;..;o- If Michigan into the Union. The argu-
go and the decision are conclusive to the
,;sht of each State to fix the qualifications Of its
own voters. The point against this right was
raised by Mr. CALHOUN, and the question was de-
cided against him.
In 1886, Michigan snd Arkansas applied for ad-
mission into the Union. 1t was the year of a
Presidential election. Mr. VAN BUREE was the
candidate Of the democratic party. The oppos-
ton ran HARRISON, and WHITE. The plot was, to
divide the democratic party in the South by run
uing Judge WHITE as 81 better JACKSON man.
than VAN buren,; while the regular wings
supported General HARRISON 10 this way it
was believed that the election could be
thrown into the House of Representatives and
the success Of the opponents of the democratic
party in that body with JoHs QUrSoY ADAMS rem
dered its leaders hopeful offs similar result against
VAN buren, But Michigan and Arkansas were
democratic States. Their votes would count six
against the wing coalition in the electoral colleges
finley were admitted into the Union before the
slection. and, still worse each State would weigh
IS much as the heaviest State in the Union if the
ssectseu were thrown into the House of Represen-
taeyes. Il was necessary, therefore, to defeat the
Seshocratic candidate for President to keep Michi-
gan and Arkansas out Of the Union until after the
election was decided. In the case of Michigan, 8
question of boundary between her and Ohio, OF
difficult adjustment had arisen; and every possible
parliamentary trick was resorted to, to use that
question as cause of delay. Mr.. CALHOUN, then
leader of the wing opposition, raised still another
point, as stated by the Gazette and attacked an ar
Iiicle in the constitution of Michigan which pro-
yided that
EVERY white male citizen above the age of
cwenty-oue years having resided II this State SIX
dmonths next preceding any election, shall vote at
a,uch election: and every white male inhabitant Of
aid a7e who may have resided in this state prior
T 10 the oath day Of June, 1885, shall also have the
fright of voting"
AZ The latter portion of this section was attacked
m,,as y Mr.. CALHOUN. as stated by the Gazete. He
gas at that time ,ohig leader, and bis opinions
hen are not democratic authority. BE wished for
s,,ielay, and by sending back the constitution OF
i yIchigan to the people for amendment be would
ltbtain that delay. We cannot find that any even
~ his wing associates, except PORTER, agreed with
I'm. Mr.. PRESTON, his colleague, expressly dis
nted from his views, apd declared that, although
'as was in favor Of recommtting the BILL (the mo-
h On to which Mr.. CALHOUN spoke) yet he sras
l' posed 10 The principle Of interfering 'oh TIE
NE CIR OF THE NEW STATE TO SETTLE THR QuALIFf
lIrIoS OF ITS VOTERS"
IN: In the course Of the debate, Mr. BUCHANAN
II; oke on the right of each State to fix the quail
re alton of ts own voters His speech is pub
,,hed at length in the Appendix to the Congress
AAnal Globe, page 33l-2, april 1896 1t is a
=, mplete and mastery vindicatlon of the rights Of
States in reply to the arguments Of Mr.. CAL-
IN 1t was unanswered and is unanswerable.
M ne question was decided in favor Of the right Of
&c State to decide the qualification of its voters
Aid Michigan was admitted into the Union with
e 6, clause above quoted in her constitution. The
re on the admission was strict party vote but
SO I'VE have said the right claimed and exercised by
,ne schigan was admitted by at least one of the
'udsest opponents of her Immediate admission.
1.-The case, of Michigan then, cited by the Gazette,
a case directly in point against its own argu-
LAT; and its citatation by that paper will, We
SIIik be pronounced by the legal friends Of the
scsas or blunder quite equal to that mad4 tits de-
alton of principles. The Gazette has not only
1oca
u but has attempted to establish it by reference
= case which, after full discussion, was decided
I INST argument.
M ne of the cases cited by Mr.. BUCHANAN will in
- st our readers, IS showing the action of the ia
h0erts of our own State. Mr.. BUCHANAN said:
-r 1t will be recollecfed that when North Carolina
ID to the United States the territory which now (
s's poses the State of Tennessee, it specially
lated that the inhabitants within the same /
In I'D enjoy all the privileges benefits and ad- |
ages set forth in the ordinance for the gov
= nent of the Northwestern Territory. This pro- |
y IN makes the case of Tennessee one precisely /
ONT with the present. / would ask, then, who |
d at the election for delegates to frame the con-
n ltion of Tennessee Let the proclamation |
~ overl4or Blount, issued in obedience TO an act |
ny re Territorial Legislature answer this question.
ins,lecares that all free males mot free male citi-
8 } twenty-one years Of age and upwards, shall |
ae ltitled to vote. Under this proclamation every
v u male inhabitant of the Territory had right |
~ Ie1te no matter how short time his inhabitsncy
- hare continued. In this respect it differs
m the Territorial law OF Michigan, which re-
> nas previous residence Of three months.
With q full knowledge Of these facts, General
~hington, in his message TO Congress Of the Sh
phi, 1896, on the subject of the admission of
Ar lessee into the Union, declares that among
.t,rivileges, benefits and advantages thus secured
e inhabitants of the Territory south of the river
va, appear TO be the right of forming perms-
an constitution and state Government, and Of
ug1nission as State BY its delegates into the Con-
n's Of the United States, on an equal footing
Al the original States in all respects whatever.
n it should have therein sixty thousand free in
tants; provided the constitution and govern.
q II so to be formed, should be republican and in
normity to the principles contained in the ar
,of the said ordinance.
he State of Tennessee was accordingly admit
~ At this early Gay, when the ordinance was
Ter understood than it can be at present no OBJ
/ e On was made from any quarter, so far as can
per !, that tie delegates to the convention which
~a=i ed the constitution Of that State, were voted
,sn,by inhabiiantswho were not citizens Of the
r-u.o5 G,otao Hartain If ia that such question