The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-09-29

i poitioi vi VIC piODc tHdt SuNc Hill DUtI N
he honest, is he capable, is he faithful to the
constitution. Is he Of proper age has he been
naturalizcd, and has he thesegal qualifications
these are all that common sense or o wise
prudence can require. But, says COL Pond,
we don't prescribe any one, any more than the
democrats and wings prescribed each other, at
every election. We are very sure there is u
wide difference between voting against an indi-
vidnal, and entering into solemn compact, un.
der oath for all time, to prescribe him from
holding Office The democrats and wings did
not deny to each other the right to be elected
to any Office. They did not dream they wers
attempting,to deprive each other of their po-
litical rights. It was exercising for the time
being, the elective franchise to advance, what
each considered best for the country. One
might be in power to day, the other to-mor-
1. row. They voted against each other on ac-
count OF their political opinions, which were
subject to be changed, as the minority Of to-
day, as is sometimes seen, becomes the majori-
ty of tomorrow 1t has often been the case.
IL will be so again. But how is it with the
Know Nothing's prescription Of foreigners, or
naturalized citizens, and catholics from hold
ing office Ii is founded on their place Of birth
or their religious faith. The one is an obiec-
ton or disability that can never be changed,
or overcome. No matter how virtuous his con-
duct, how exalted his intellect, or how eminent
ly fit for the station he may be, still tho fact
of his being born in another country, disquali-
fies him forever. The other is repugnant to tho
constitution, and the principles Of civil and re-
ligious freedom, the very corner stone Of our
political edice. The highest duty we owe to
ourselves, and our creator, is to worship him,
according to the dictates Of our own conscien-
ccs, guided by reason and revelation.
Col. Pond and his native American" brcth.
rem in their over-wrought zeal to prevent for
oigncrs from coming to this country, and becom-
ing citizens rs they have heretofore done, seem
to have lost sight Of the great American doc
trine first promulgated in our immortal decla-
ration Of Independence, that of the right Of
every man to choose his own government, or
in other words the right to cxpatriatc himself
from one government, and become the citizen
of another, by swearing obedience to its con-
stitution and laws. The doctrine of Kings and
despots, "once subject always q subject
finds no favor among the sons Of freedom Our
iorofathers openly defcd it, in the declaration
of independence, and the opposite doctrine hns
been carried into successful operation by our
government for more than seventy years by
the admission Of thousands yearly, Of all ma
tions, as citizens, and the shield Of American
protection is thrown around them wherever
! they go. Yes, even IN alien who has declared
his intention Of becoming q citizen according
to our laws is from that moment under the
protection Of the United States, against out
rage, from other nations, either in his person
or property, and the American people, with
heart and hand, will proudly uphold the gov
ernment in vindicating his right to the last ex-
tremity.
Col. Pond, and his American party ought to
know that becoming naturalized citizen con-
fers no right Of suffrage, II simply adopts the
person into the American family, and puts him
under the protection of the American flag
Is it possible he would be willing to withhold
that boon for twenty-onc years, from those who
have left their native land, and from choice
have sought home and protection with US
In the language of the iustrious Jefferson,
Shall we refuse the unhappy fngtivcs from
distress, that hospitality, which the savages of
the wilderness extended to our fathers arriving
in this land? Shall oppressed humanity find
no asylum on this globe? TO the state gov
crnments belong the right Of prescribing tho
qualifications Of voters. The general govern
mcnt has no control over the subject. Amen
ding, changing, or repeating the naturalization
laws altogether, would not effect the object the
Know Nothings aim at. They would still come
to this country and would no doubt be allowed
to vote as in some Of the states, they now do,
without being naturalizcd. Emigration of for
eigners TO this country has hitherto been the
greatest source Of our national prosperity and
greatness, twill be so for ages to come
Col. Pond spoke of the Kansas Nebraska
act, and condemned it because il allowed aliens
to vote in the preliminary steps to be taken In
forming government, and because It was got
ten up by Mr.. Douglls to make him President
Docs not Col. Pond know that the permitting
foreigners not naturalzed to vote in the territories
is political necessity. Congress does not fix the
qualification Of voters and ought not, because the
Constitution confers no such power upon that body
This belongs to the people of each State to arrange
for itself when ii forms constitution and applies
for admission into the Union. Never in the terrific
rial governments, established by Congress have they
restricted, the right to vote to citizens only. "Ev-
cry white male over the age of twenty one" was
the uniform language used. How would Col. Ponds
objection apply to California 1t would have reject
ed more than one-half ofall the Inhabitants Would
the people Of that distant territory have submitted