Thibodaux minerva., 1856-03-01
NUMBER FOUR.

New ORLEANS, Feb. 19th 1856.
EDS. MISEavA-Gentlenaen Business travel
etc. have interrupted my serial reply to my friend
uNaturaIized Citizen" etc. But shall conclude,
as soon as get leisure, and this, l hope, shall
soon enjoy.
On my return home yesterday, 1 found, in my
Minerva, some we'll written an courteous remarks,
from my aforesaid friend in opposition to my views.
Out of regard for gentleman whom admire
whose opinions respect-and who, am satisfied,
will Weld to convictons-I make the following in
cidental reply; but I would prefer to finish the
course have marked out, before elaboratelv de-
Tending my positions, hunting up authorities to
sustain them. will take the liberty to state, be-
fore proceeding that do not essay to advocate par
ty principles but truth:
Now ask my friend to notice, that man, IN
any State, has the right to uote unless 1t is girea
BY the people of the State in the constitution there
Of; and that eyery State constitutions has provi-
sion on the subject
Let him consider, also, that foreigner may be
aataraiized and ve in the United States for ever,
and unless he resides in the State during the pres
cribed time, and has the qualifications which the
State constitution requires, he cdn nerer gote
Is it not certain then, that the State has the ex-
elusive control Of suffrage Or the right to vote ?
The constitution of Louisiana of 1915, provided
that every free white male-21 years 0il-Evho
had been two years citizen of the United States,
and had resided two years in the State, and in
tba oarsah si,opd hav tia If yot;np Tho
constitution Of 1852 narrowed the matter Of time
to merely one years residence in the State and six
months in the parish. In the other States the
qualifications vary much in time, as well as other
particulars. fSee the several State constitutions J
1t is obvious that the States are not and cannot be
limited or controlled in fixing the conditions of vo-
ting No one pretends to deny that State could
fx the time at 8, 5, 10, Is, 80 or $50 years; or
indeed, prohibit suffrage by foreigners, Tor by ma
tives Of other States altogether. 1t is therefore
evident,
1st. That naturalization does not give the right
to vote.
I'd. That it imports no obligation on the States to
admit the unnaturaiized person to suffrage.
Sd. That two acts Of sovereignty are done in
giving foreigner eiyl and political rights, one by
the Federal Government and the other by the pso-
pie of each State in forming their State constitu-
tons. .........r -..s
4th. That my friend is still wrong in saying that
'4aliens,n when admitted to ctizenship merely {or
naturalized) possesses all the rights, political
wen as cicik which may be enjoyed by native born
citizens"
5th That said friend is mistaken in thinking my
assumed definition Of the term naturalization" is
g the foundation on which the whole structure" Of
my argument is built Let it be noted here, that
in my second letter, {also in this there is no de-
fnition of naturalization, but that the argument is
perfectly independent Of one.
Note also, that my definition was quoted from
Webster's Dictionary, moreover I will remark that
it is sustained by all my law dictionaries.
can only notice at present two or three more
remarks in my friends letter.
1st TO sustain his position that naturalization
wakes foreigner politically equal with the natire
he quotes the clause of the Federal Constitution
that !" the citizens of each State shall be entitled
to all the privileges and immunities Of the citizens
in the several States"
Now, this clause has nothing to do with the sub
ject. Mere citizens, in the sense of the naturaI-
xasien laws. only have ciuI rights and privileges,
and not political power IF this .sers not 50, and
" the above clause controlled the matter no State
would have the right to bessew, withhold, or fix
the terms OF suffrage, As all have done; but, the
cffazen upon going into any State would ipso facto
have the right to vote. The fact is, no LAWYER con-
siders the clause to affect the question. Moreover
i should be nesed that the word "rght,n is left
out-thas only " priuileges" and :. imnunitiesr Of
acstisens are guarantied-and that is very ma
terial because the object of the people IN forming
the constitution, being to make the nation kosso-
ysseoss, and citizenship Ter subiecsship) anifoym
this clause is to prevent any one cisizen or class
from enjoying pririieges and assumptions which
others OF the same nation cannot obtain; 50 that
citizen come hr-e from, Ns;,e 10 e., h.va -.