Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-27

In the same paper from which the foregoing ex-
tracts taken, Mr. Madison Is equally ciea s1a
explicit upon another important SUBJECT "nich has
recently been introduced into the political u.s.
sions Of the country, and as fully susiairs the az
mocracy in this as in that case; and at the same
t;rae administers q severe rebuks to that spirit 7
prescription and intolerance which has been sent
throughout the length ard breadth Of this land
of freedom and equality, TO promote the selfish |
views and aspiration of disappointed and in some
instances vicious men, as well as to harrass and |
annoy the people of fifteen States of the Union by
rendering the tenure, by which they hold certain
species of property less secure and finally to de-
prive them of thatproperty or render it vaueless
in their possession. He says:
'The qualifications of the elected, being less
carefully and properly defined by the State Con-
stitutions, and being at the same time more sus-
cepGble CT uniformity, have been very properly
considered and regulated by the convention. a
representative Of the United States must be OF the
age OF twenty-five years; must have been seven
years citizeE Of the United States; must, at the
time of his election, be inhabitant of the State
he TO represent and, during the time OF his ser
vice. must be in no Office under the United States.
Under thess reasonable Limitations, the door of this
ry description, phetter NATIVE OR ADoPTvE, achether
young old and citout regard TO poverty aoeatta
or TO ANY PARTICULAR PROFESSION OF RELIGIOUS
FAITH
Such were the sentiments and principles of our
fathers-of the fathers of this confederacy of States
of those who bore the heat and burden Of the day
as well as the tolls and hardships of years in the I'M
equal struggle Tor the rights of man-of those who
knew well the value of liberty, because they had
paid its cost and knew well how to guard'and pro-
tect it-as embodied by them and incorporated into
the Constitution of the United States. And the at
tempt is now being made to nuliiy and render in
operative and void these wise, just and liberal pro-
visions of the Constitution, not in the mode and
manner pointed out in that instrument for lis
amendment, but by ruthlessly tearing them from
the contex by sacrigious hands and trampling
them under the unhallowed feet of the Infatuated
fantca isms of the day, composing tie allied armies
| of the North with few Southern aiders and COM
forters, in hostile array against the democratic par
ty, the constitution and the best interests of the
country, if not against the internal peace and in
tegrity of the Union itself Led on and command
ed by the fanatica, the disappointed and ambitious
demagogues, through the potent power of grand
and subordinate councils of secret oath bound
| organization the members of which are solemnly
sworn upon the Holy BIBLE AND CRoss, to conform
| to the will Of their master commanders by voting
for the designated candidates of the organization,
though it may conflict with their personal prefer
ences. All to crafty the ino-dnate desire of
"That fallen Angel, whose earth Is ambition"
Another power is now eebly claimed for the fed
eral government which in principle and by the
constitution of the United States belongs unques-
tionably to the class Of powers reserved to the
States-it is State right which cannot be exer
cised by Congress, except by usurpation, nor per-
mitted By the States except at the expense of their
dignity, honor and sovereignty. Tbs power is
claimed under that clause OF the constitution which
| provides;
"The migration or importation OF such persons
as any of the States existing shall think prop
er 10 admit, shall not be prohibited by the Con-
gress prior to the year eighteen hundred and eight
| but tax or duty may be imposed on such impor-
tation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person"
Could language have made the provision clearer +?
Yet under this clause the power is claimed for Con-
| gress, to prohibit the immigration of free white
|
words migration or importation, used in the
clause under consideration, as synonymous terms
to convey the same idea, and DO beyond doubt
mean one and the same thing-and was intended
only 10 vest in Congress after the year 1905 power
to prohibit the emigration importation, in other
words the introduction of African slaves in any
manner. 1t was doubtless so understood by those
| -, r,a,,aj tla coneiitufion 90 wall ss nv thoea
| who adopted it. 1t has been so understood and
acted upon by Congress since the organization
of the government Congress long since exercised
the power and the only power delegated in this
clause, by the passage Of laws abolshng the Afri
can slave trade and declaring such trade and traffic
| to be piracy-apd the penalty death.
This view is fully sustained by James Madison,
who says in the forty second number of the Ftder-
alist:
attempts have been made to pervert this clause
into an objection against the constitution, by rep
resenting it on one side criminal federation Of
an illicit practice: and on the other, as calculated
10 prevent voluntary and beneficial emigrations
| from Europe to America i mention these niscon-
! structioas lot with view to give them an answer,
for they deserve none: but specimens of the
ner and spirit, in which some have thought fit to
conduct tler opposition to the proposed govern
ment.
The extracts above, taken from tie fsdena'ist by
| Mr.. Madison, cover both points in the following
resolution adopted by the recent Democratic Con-
ventiou at Nashville, on the 9th March last:
"Resolved, That Congress has the power under
the Constitution to establish an uniform rule Of
naturalization, but it has no posCer or authority un
der that instrument to prescribe the qualification of
rioters or TO restrain the immigration Of foreigners
that these powers reserved to the States, and
can alone be exercised by them; and the doctrine
which assumes this authority for the federal gov
eminent is of dangerous tendency and in direct vio
lation Of the sovereignt; of the States"
Truth itself could not be more triumphantly sus-
tanned, than is the democratic resolution ty James
Madison and the uniform practice Of the federal
government In fact the democratic resolution is
but the embodiment Of the principles of the Con-
stituton. upon these two points, understood and
expounded by Mr.. Madison and sustained by the
democratic party, and will be rallied around and
supported by all true and consistent democrats of
the States rights school. L.
WHERE KNoW-N0THINGISM COMES FROM
We have shown that, in New Hampshire, the
know-nothings drew less than 1000 votes from the