Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-12
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WTLMTNGToN. y. C., MONDAY, JAN. 8, 1854.

Br-Why will the Raleigh Star continue 10 repre-
sent the positions of IFS opponents in unfair light 1t
sometime since charged that the dominant MAORI
ty" in the Legislature-to wit, the Democratic par
ty-had voted to give to unnaturalized Foreigners the
right to vote for Senator's we showed that the vote
had no such efect-that it gave nOthlng-lt changed
nothing-it left matters in that respect precisely as
they had been left in the original and also IN the
amended constitution 1t nOw in its issue OF Thurs
dav represent us as advancing this fact by way OF
argument in favor of the existing state OF things
We advanced it neither for nor against such slate OF
things, but simply for the purpose OF showing mat
the action of the Democrats in the Legislature had
been msrepresented by the Star and It's coadJutors'
Pending the discussion of the Free Suffrage Bill,
the object of which, every body knows Is to do
away with distinctions between voters, that all who
are now qualified to vote for members of the House
Of Commons may also vote for members OF the Senate,
Mr. Haug hton introduced an amendment providing
that no Foreigners unless naturaZed citizens OF the
United States should vote for Senators. Now the
beauty of this thing ishat this move would have de-
feated Free Suffrage, which is designed to produce
perfect equality between voters for the House and for
the Senate, since it would have introduced prohlb
ZION IN regard 10 CendtorldI tO+oIo' "hlSA WV Nv
exist in the other case.
Let us be understood about this matter. We are
as much opposed as any to insufficient Natural-
cation Laws or to lax administration of the same
If the circumstances of any State indicate the neces
sity or propriety of changing its constitutional re-
qurements on the of suffrage, in this as IN any
other respect it is matter for the people of such State
to consider and decide upon; but we d. most unqueS
tonably, oppose any movement by which cOnstltu-
tional provision of North Carolina regulating an I'M
portant incident of her own sovereignty, would be
made mere weather cock to be blown about by eV-
cry change of opinion expressed in temporary acts OF
Congress- And such would be the effect of incorpo
rating Mr.. Haughton's amendment into our constitu
ton Now, for instance, the naturalization laws OF
Congress require residence of five years to enttle
foreigner to the right of citizenship, and, OF COURSE
five years would according to Mr. Haughtons amend
ment be the constitutional term in North Carolina
Next year it might be changed by Congress to IA
years. and this mere change in the act Of Congress
WoHld change our constitution
If, as is contended by the Know Nothing party, all
State Constitutions regulating suffrage in this re-
spect are null and void and the general laws of Con-
gres override the internal policy of the States, then
Mr.. Haughtons amendment ridiculous surplusage
If on the other hand the States do really possess that
important incident of sovereignty the regulation Of
their domestic suffrage then the voluntary abandon
ment of that right into the hands of Congress
ional mai ority would he betrayal of the rights of
the State impossible TO be pardoned.