Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-03-20


sas% We can not resist the temptation
to lay before our readers the remarks eli
senator Brown, of Mississippi. spen the
proposition to confer upon aliens the
right Of suffrage, in Minnesota. Coming,
as these remarks do, from a'leading demo-
crat--one who even violently opposed the
American party--they indicate the exis-
tencc of genuine American feeling where
its existence was least suspected; and the
example here set, will be followed by nun
bers, who have stihed their better feelings
and honest convictions, at the bidding Of
party. And when the fact becomes gene
rally known, that the measure SO earnestly
opposed by Senator Brown, is a formal
coalition between democracy and Black
Repubficanism on the foreign, catholic
question, we are greatly deceived, if thous-
ands of the deluded victims Of sham de-
mocracy do not take tie alarm, and shelter
themselves from its communicating in
fluence under the broad shield of true
patriotism When foreign influence can
sway the U. s. Senate, at will when that,
once, august body can stoop to violate
that clause of the Constitution which re-
quires the naturalization laws shall be
uniform; when it can descend from its high
position to bid for foreign votes to uphold
an unhallowed combination of political
harpies, it is time for every honest man,
of every creed, to rally to his country S
standard. The questionable sole question
now before the people, is whether Ameri-
cans shall govern their own country, or
give it over to foreigners, to be degraded
through all the stages from rotten mobo-
cracy to grinding despotism. The Senate
has formally adopted the latter alternative,
and the new President has declared for the
broadcast privileges to the resident in
habitant," and now it only remains to be
seen whether the native sons of America
will ratify the ruinous decree thus pro-
mulgated;
Mr.. Brown said: think the right to
vote is very essential privilege of citi-
zen, and / am not willing to weigh my
ballot at the box against any man of less
dignity than citizen. care not who he
is, how exalted or how humble soever he
may be, if he be citizen, he has an equal
right with myself; but l haze no idea o,
going and putting my ballot in tie Boo, ana
; kiU 1t, aoho is the mere instrument Of som,
political hickster, ,oithout kno,otng ,chat h,
Is doing 1t was for the purpose of giving
, to foreigners the opportunity required by
the law of being here long enough to Team
something of oar language aud laps, that
, insisted in this territory on full execu
ton of the Naturalization Laws-for that
and nothing else.
have no expectation of reversing thu
judgement which the Senate has already
rendered. 1 consider, by carrying tn,
vote to reconsider this bill, the edict has
7 gone forth that Foreigners in this Territory
, are to be allowed to vote in forming tn,
State government. / take it for granted
that we are to reconsider this vote, anC
finally to come back to the passage of tn,
!, bill and pass it, allowing all foreigners il
e the Territory to vote in the formation o
the constitution. But, before that is done
l desire, and mean, to enter my solemn
> protest against the whole proceeding from
= one end to the other
t Sir, this is not the first time that hav
II. 4 Al
sas- Nebraska bill was under consideration
here, the first vote in the Senate denied +
? foreigners the right of suffrage in thos
4 Territories. The bill went to the Hous
c of Representatives, and they disagree
with us. 1t was sent back here, and W
were told that there was some great over
ruling necessity-that under the necessit
of the case we must give in, or the bill
would be lost. For one, refused to yielG
was one who to the bitter end stood GU
> against that proposition; and if, durip
y the four winters have served in the Senate
there is any one vote of which feel es
ecially anG particularly proud, II is tina
n one.
The question has been here in othe
forms. Two days ago we were called up
a on to vote upon the same proposition j
y reference to Minnesota. The Senate, ez
crcising its uninfuenced and unbiase
s judgement, determined that no one shout
l. vote in the formation of State constitu
n ton for Minnesota who was not an Amer
If can citizen BY a calm and deliberat
/; vote, after discussion, that was the dc
termination of the American Senate.
a was as the determination of the Senate, j
IL my judgment, will always be, when unir
(. fuenced by pressures from other quarter
10 But two days have passed away, and "
have witnessed here this morning the r,