Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-02-26
CONGRESSIONAL

ing the cities of Washington and George
town five hundred thousand acres o
land for the support of Public Schools
The Senate hen proceeded to a con
sideration of the House Bill authorizin!
the people of Minnesota to form Il Con
stitution and State Government, prep
aratory to admission into the Union
Mr.. Biggs moved an amendment tina
none but citizens of the United States bt
entitled to vote with reference to the
formation of a Constitution and State
Government. He did not know but
what the offering of such a proposition
might subject him to suspicion Of being
tainted with Know Nothingism, but
whether this was one Of the principles OF
the American party or not. he was deci-
dedly in favor of combining the privilege
of voting to citizens ofthe United States,
native or naturalizel, in the formation
of all organic laws.
Mr.. Brodhead alluded to the action of
the Senate on the Nebraska bill. They
adopted an amendment similar to this
which the House struck out. When
the bill came back to the Senate, he
again moved to insert that provision i'll
the bill, being the only Northern mem
Der who sanctioned that amendment
from the beginning to the end-thc 9th
ers who voted for it at first having yield
ed their convictions, in order to allow
the bill to pass. hence he was in favor
of the present proposition, because he
believed the right of suffrage was cock
tensivc with the right Of citizenship
He did not feel at liberty in defining
the rights of voters to go further than
the Constitution Of his own State has
gone. and that has confined the right of
suffrage to citizens Of the United
States.
Dir. Brown expressed his hearty con
in the views expressed by the
Senator from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Douglas replied to Mr.. Bi@gs' re-
marks, maintaining that the amendment
improper, and showing that the
amendment was improper, and showing,
in several ins4ances, that persons had
been constituted citizens Of some Of the
who were not citizens Of the Uni
ted States.
Mr.. Seward considered the question
involved as settled. If Congress can
permit aIl the people of California and
Texas to come into the Union as organ
lied States, it can say a class Of persons
the United States who are not
citizens shall exercise the right OF suf-
on this. which is 4 similar occa-
sion. He was in favor Of admitting
20 vote precisely for the reason
hat those new States are to be chiefly
BIZ the aliens ana forei .ners, Or
a large by them, and he believed the
lass OF erHicrants who come to this
country are, as a general fact, as intcili-
rent and capable Of exercising the func-
ions of self-gOycrnment as u ed
lcatcd citizens.
Mir. Bell, Of Tennessee, favored the
amendments. and advocated such m0di-
OF the existing naturalization
avs as would provide additional s%esuri
les against the gross abuses which have
'ecn pcactice9 under them.
Mr. Douglas appealed to the Senate
iOt TO enter into long discussions, else
hey might lose important Territorial
ills.
Mr. Mason, Bi@-s and CrittcnGen
dyocated, and Touccy and Wilson oP-
,oscd it.
Mr.. Clay entered his protest against
Ir. Stewards doctrine, that the right oi
uffragc was coordinate with the obli@a-
on to submit to AMI support any def
ite government that would allow in
ants, womcn and colored persons to
oto; and this should teach the impor-
lnce Of having some limit attached to
&C right of forming organic laws. He
as the first in the Senate to denouuce
Nothingism. but would vote for
MS amendment. He confessed that he
rrcd in voting for the Nebraska bill,
ftcr Clayton's amendment was stricken
ut.
Mr.. Butler said he too, voted for Clay
ms amendment, but yielded from the
of the case to save the bill.
Mr.. Biggs amendment was adopted
Z against -.
The following gentlemen voted aye:
Bayard, Bell Of Tennessee, Ben {
min, Biggs, Brodhead, Brown, Butler, {
lay, Crittenden, Evans, Fish, Fitzpat-
ok, Foot, Geyer, Green, Houston, Hun I
Iverson, Read, Rusk, Slidell, Thomp- !
of New Jersey, Thompson of Ken i
Icky. i
Nays-Allen, BlEIcr, Bright. Cass, t
ollamcr, Dodge, Douglas, Durkee, Fes- S
nden, Fitch, Foster, Hale, Jones OF
Nourse, Pugh, Seward, Stuart, 5
combs, Toueey, T%rumbull, Wade; Wei t
r, Wilson, Wright. c
Billpassed.
Also one establishing a Judicial Dis
let in the Gadsen purchase, creating i
e Office of Surveyor General, granting t
nations to actual settlers, &c.
Bill authorizing the people of Oregon c
establish a State Government being
Mr.. Green offered an amendment ex- 6
nding similar authority to the people $
Kansas, penling woich the Senate ad- c
.rned.
UOUSE.-The House took up and c
ssed the Postofice Appropriation Bill, /:
d then proceeded to a consideration a
the resolution that Judge Watrous, of h
sxas, be ~impeached of high crimes and C
isdcmeanors. q
Mr.. Caskie advocated apostponement a
the subject until the first Monday in fl
ecembcr, showing that it was utterly '
possible to obtain proper action \
ION it during the present Con :,
ess.