New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-08-07
. 0oMMuNIcATEp.
Anti-American Party Idea Of Vested Rights "

4
In the Louisiana Courier, Of Sunday morning, August
9Th there appears editorial headed THE K N. idea
of Vested Rghts,a followed by abstract from the
columns Of the Mobile ADVERTISER staunch supporter of
the American party The abstract ID here inserted that
all may read understandingly:
The American party would not If 1t could, and could
not 1T would interfere with the vested rights the
naturalized citizen y
The writer proceeds to say The most ordinary man
we that the Constitution Of the United
States in its enumeration Of the qualifications offices
created by it, excludes the naturazed citizen only
of them and that is the Presidency the United
States naturalizsd citizen may be Senator, or
Representative in Congress- aJudge Of the Supreme or
Federal Courts member OF the Cabinet (except
Secretary of sate an officer of the Army and Navy,
Minister abroad.'
Thus we the vested right hold the office Of
Secretary of State has been abolished by "act Of
gress Tor there is think. provision in the Constitu
ton touching that point And for the information the
learned writer vail refer him to the last of the
twelfth article Of the amendment of the Constitution
the United States and he will there read these words
SBut person consttutonally ineligible the office of
President shall be eligible to that of Vice President the
United States.''
In point of fact, therefore, presume the writer will
admit his in stating, that the naturazed citizen
excluded from but office created by the Constitution
OF the United States.
But let enquire into the vested rghts Of natural
lied citizens hold all any the Offices elective by the
people, bestowed by the Executive the different de-
partments Of the General or State Government.
What is vested right?n AS understand the term,
Ii such right the possessor enforce or
maintain at law, before any court Of competent ursde
ton right which cannot be abridged aside or
appreciation of the party possessing that right For
ample The naturaized citizen VINO shall have legally
complied with all the requirements of the naturalization
laws and with the local laws residence etc. in the
State where free suffrage guaranteed has right
rosit his vote all questions which may be submitted
the people for their decision The naturazed citizen
also the right hold landed acquire valid
title thereto These vested rights" which act OF
Congress or of state Legislature can abolish or impair
To pass law to deprive him OF that privilege right
would be- retroactive In its effect lex post facto and
therefore unconstitutional Ii the Constitution Of the
United States in the adopted citizen the right to
any office, there would be necessity an cleo
tion--he would only be required to make known his
wishes, and suddenly he would be INFESTED" with Office
and court could deprive him Of his vested ghtsn
vested right absolute and unqualified and controlled
alone by the will of its And any such right
attaches to the naturazsd citizen by virtue of the Con-
sttution of the United States then indeed think the
Constitution should be amended for he has rights
and privileges than the native born American citizen
When the great champion Of popular rights Amer
policy 1.-THE Sage of Ashland land that great
defender OF the constitution who took step back
ward and when that good Old patriot (of the far
Northwes) whose grey hairs about to be brought
down in sorrow to the grave in witnessing the dsmem
that once proud and powerful party, Of which he was
years past the honored standard bearernd that ruin
effected by the union of those monster spirits OF heh
descent, Abolitionism and Freesoiism-and say when
those three master spirits candidates the Pres
deney OF the United States, where their vested
sghts Why did tasy not simply express their Wishes
tell US the people Wiled otherwise and they were
natige BORN American citizens the vested rghts1 did
the laenabe wsng guasning teeth OF the to old
partiesone now dead and the other hanging its
skirtsthat is now continually ringing IN from
the few remaining demagogres of both those parties
Did the Wings in those good old days cry treason
because the Democrats resolved and acted
Mr.. Clay Did the Democrats proclaim that the consti
tuition in danger because the Wings resolved to
defeat General And where the friends Of the
great expounder that they raised voice when handful
Of men in solemn convention assembled representing
large constituency did actual violence to that
instrument which was his peculiar platform? We heard
th And
speak out that may know the reason But you dare
not give the true will do you. Because
three great men native born and had no vested
rights under the Constitution of the United States
But the writer may attempt to himself from the
absurdity Of his proposition by saying that the American
party intends to further than either of the preexisting
parties attempted, by actually taking solemn obi
CATION TO vote for any foreigner for any office or
to bestow office any foreign born czenor they
may go far to pass Congress- SO amend
the Constitution of the United States to suit their
peculiar views on that subject Suppose for moment
the Constitution Is 1t in promising that will never
vote for alien Have that right under the Con.
stitution Who will dare question it then have the
right individually, have not thousand any other
number the same right collectively Has not Congress
the to pass act declaring that the Office Seere
tary of State shall be hied only by American born
citizen And SO, Congress declare also that
any other all Offices shall be filled by but native
born Have not the majority Of the people right and
" vested right" to frame constitution also to
change, modify, amend that constitution when they
think proper to do So The Constitution Of the United
u
disability OF any foreigner holding the office of President
attach also to that Of Vice President Will gentlemen
tell shat those who passed the amendments to the
Constitution dsquaying foreigner to hold the office of
Vice President had not the right to make the provision
extend to every office created under it
There be question that the trainers Of the Con-
sttuton and its amendments when they excluded aliens
from ever being Presidents Vice Presidents the
United States, designed those acts caution and ex
ample for the guidance Of their poserty in selecting our
rulers.
But am not that the American party intends to
interfere with the Constitution of the United States 1t
is sacred instrument and should forever intact
The American party contemplates, far learn
from their declaration of principles to exclude foreigners
from office in the precisely did the two
quondam parties-by means Of the baliotbox. If the
gentlemen will take the trouble to read the 9th article
the platform Of the American party Of louisiana adopted
unanimously on the GLORIOUS 4th of July last he will learn
what is meant by excluding foreigners from Office. And
inasmuch as the writer OF the article to which this Is
hasty reply we'll all others who have written scrb-
bed and spouted against the American party have
deavored to keep view the real issue between the
American party composed exclusively natveborn and
the opponents of that party composed of disappointed
Wing oice-seekers, Democratic office holders, and chiefly
foreigners will here insert the 9Th article Of the Amer
can platform for the benefit Of whom it may
9th, We believe that should be governed by
only legitimate instrument of reform in this countryn
commend 1t to his careful perusal. AID,