Daily American organ., 1856-03-19


THE PEOPLES CANDIDATES,
NOMINATED BY ACCLAMATIoN
Right of Suffrage legislation of Congress.
Our readers are already aware that bill is
pending in the House Of Representatives, ma
terially changing the law regulating the right
Of suffrage in Washington city. Some few days
ago our late associate, who is familiar with the
existing laws on this subject, and who had ex-
amined the provisions of the pending bill, dis
cussed this subject, evidently under the belief
that the new bill would be sustained in Con-
gress by the combined votes of the Republi-
cans and the friends of the administration
In this belief, he considered the bin but an
entering-wedge to the ultimate abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia. That such
would be the tendency of the change now pro-
posed is certain-but that such is the design
Of its trainers, we cannot believe, nor do we
suppose our associate intended to express this
opinion.
Having conversed with two members of the
Committee on the District who are regarded
as Republicans in their political associations,
we have reason to believe, that no partisan
purpose influenced the Committee in framing
the bill. That the movement outside of Con-
gress to get up the BILL was purely partisan in
its objects, admits of no sort of doubt, and for
this reason especially, should the utmost care
and caution be exercised by members of Con-
gress, in the revision or change of the existing
laws. Laws should be adapted to the wants
Of communities over which they are to operate
They should be so framed as to protect and
guard the rights and interests of such commu-
mites. The District of Columbia is peculiarly
situated in reference to the question Of suffrage,
and is more liable than any other portion of
the American Union, to be yictimized by
transient population.
There is no other people in the Union SO
completely under the power and influence of a
tyrannical Executive as Washington city Un-
less the constitutional guardians of this Dis
trict, by wise and prudent legislation IN the
halls of Congress, interpose obstacles to the
exercise of absolute power by the Executive
over the citizens of the District of Columbia
we may be made the slaves Of as rank des.
potism as ever disgraced any portion of Asia
The present laws of the District guard, to
some extent the rights and interests of our
people, and enable us with great exertion, and
at no little hazard, to resist the will of parti-
san President in the management of our own
affairs. Pass the bin which has been reported
by the committee, and the control of the affairs
of this city will be in the hands of the Presi-
dent .a
1t should be borne in mind that very nearly,
if not quite one-third of the present voters of
this city, are employees of the General Gov
ernment. The system adopted by this admin
istration to control the election of all the city
officers, enables the wire-workers of the ad-
ministration, by means of significant mods, or
open threats of loss of place, to cast that en-
tire vote for the administration candidates. In
truth, no man is permitted to hold any position
under the government eoen that of laborer
upon the Capitol extension, Patent Office,
Treasury building, or in any other govern
mental employment, who does not vote an
open ticket for the administration candidates
And not only SO, but the patronage of the De-
partments, in all its forms, is withdrawn at
| once from that man, be he merchant, mechan-
ic, or anything else, who votes against that
| ticket.
This is the power which now is and always
| can be welded by the administration.
Amongst the employees of the government,
upon the public buildings and otherwise, are
hundreds of foreigners, large numbers of whom
are annually, in succession, obtaining their
naturalization papers in this city. They are
men who are mostly without families resident
here, Gf they have families at all, } and they
| generally remain here not more than one or
two, or at most three or four years, when they
migrate elsewhere, and their places are sup
piled by a new importation from the Northern
cities These men have no permanent interest
whatever in the city-they do not propose to
| have any-and yet, even under the existing
law, if they have resided here one year qfte,
haoing become citizens, they are allowed tc
vote, upon paying school tax Of one dollar
This school tax is usually contributed, Gas
was admitted by Alderman Bayly, during the
discussion in the Board of Aldermen on the
contested election,) by the fuglemen of the ad
ministration, and they then vote under orders,
and each vote of such man offsets the vote
Of one of the property holders of the city.
Now it is some safeguard, though very small
one, against the introduction of this class Of
government employees to the polls, that they
must be residents of the city one year after
they haze become citizens Of the United States.
The proposed bill destroys even this safeguard,
and permits foreigner who resides here only
L. L,.f q 4 =.