Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-27

SATURDAY. JUNE 81. 1857.
Alien Su6rage,

1
feelings and prejudices of the people. The con-
stitution of Tennessee, wisely provides that
none but citizens of the United States, shall
vote in her elections. Withsthis the democ-
racy profess to be satisfied; but when 1t is
sought to apply the same rule in the terrific
ries, they object, saying that foreigners uunat-
uralzed, should be permitted to vote and hold
dominion. The States which are forming out
of the territories, are 10 come';uto the Union,
with equal powers as the old States possess.
Their institutions are to be formed under the
dictations of the alien, and through this means,
he is to enter at once, In one or FIVE or thirty
days, upon the work oflegslating for and gov
erning this country. 1t is not merely protec-
ton of life, liberty and property which is thus
thrown around the raw alien, but it is placing
in bis hands to a certain extent the reins of
government; and we are bound to submit. He
is placed on an equality with the native, and
the only contingency to his absolute control is
only the ques ton of voting strength. This is
the doctrine assumed by Gen. HARRIS, in its
broadest extent, and in which be expects to be
upheld and supported by the people. 1t is de-
Tended by the press as really sound principle,
aud when it opposed and justly characterized
as infamous and iniquitous, it is said that these
are "clap-trap phrases
But our object this morning, is not to make
an elaborate argument of our own upon this
subject. This question came up in the United
States Senate, at its last session. The ques-
ton was raised by democrat, and discussed
by democrats whose orthodoxy aud devotion
to party has not and cannot be questioned.
But standing, as they were, in the highest
legislative department of the government, and
acting more in the capacity of Statesmen than
partizans, they gave up the bias of petty party
fealty, and met the question with the manii-
ness and patriotism of enlightened and con-
scientous Statesmen. The bill providing for the
call of a convention to form State constitu-
ton for Minnesota, preparatory to her admis-
sion as one of the States of the Union, had
passed the House of Representatives, and had
come up before the Senate. 1t allowed alien
suffrage, in other words it permitted aliens,
the subjects of other and foreign governments,
to vote for members of that convention. Mr..
BIGGs, democrat, of North Carolina, proposed
the following amendment to the bill:
g Provided, That only citizens of the United
States shall entitl d to vote at the election pro-
vided for by this act. T"
Upon this amendment lengthy debate
sprang up, which was generally participated
10. We now give some extracts from that de-
bate, presenting only parts and entirely from
the democratic side of the house. The black
republicans, to man, opposed the amend
ment, the Americans being in favor of it. Here
is part of what was said:
Mr.. Biggs of North Carolina said
desire simply to express my confidence in the
general principle invOv in the amendment, which
is that in the formation of the organic OF anv State
of this Union, persons ought TO De permitted to
participate unless they are nltlUe or ndtUrd'i cit
izens of the United States. | express COZ fl fence
ia this pruciplr, although in the estimation Ofsome
who have not considered the sui Ct may lay
myself liable to the charge of being tainted with
Know Nothngism" 1 do not 30 understand the
principle of the Know Nothing party in this cour-
try; hut whether that be their principle or not,
decidedly ia fiU0r # cOnf'i"g the qtdLifcdtio
of Uoters the formation Of all Orgaic LaUs TO cit
izens Of tic United Sites
Again, said Mr.. Bggs-
hold that the right of suffrage is one Of the
most important rights of the American citizen, and
that il ought to be confined in this country to those
who are citizens of the United States. ] think
that we ought not to trife with this import mt
American ri ght, and that to say the least, in the
ormati Of all organic laws for the regulation OF
| ha Ii Of he in q
so far ss the United States concerned, the right
Of suffrage ought to b. confned to citizrns Of the
United States -Ses Congressional Globe, 1861,
pages sos, So.
Mr. Brodhead, of Pennsylvania, said
Congress has established a uniform rule of natu-
ralizatiou; it is now upon the statute book. Are
we to depart from it, and we prepared to sey
that the right TO vote pertains to any other person
than citizen of the United StateH Does not the
right to vote pertain to citizenship! That was the
early construction of the constitution, and the early
! practice of the government in making territories.
|
| am in favor Of the amendment proposed by the
! honorable Senator from North Clrolna. l pro-
poe to cou6ne the right to vote to citizens Of the
United States under that clause OF the constitution
which says that we have the right to pass uniform
rule Of naturally alton. Having adopted uniform
rule, should adhere 10 Il, ~ VIZ WISH TO ADHERE
TO THE CONSTITUTION Congressional Globe, 1856
Z, page 500.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, said
man who votes 10 reference to the organize
ton of State-who settles the institutions of an
infant State just coming into the UuioD, affects not
ouly the rights OF that State but the rights of all
| the oth,r States; he adds new member TO the con
iederacy-he aids in bringing two more votes on
this floor. II he does not thiuk well enough fthe
country to have shown his allegiance To its consti-
tuition and TO It's laws, what business has be, and
| upon what principle ought he 10 be allowed,
TO take active participation in moul ling
the institutions OF a new member OF the Confeier-
acyf II he desire to vote, let him make himself
citizen, in the prescribed by the Ia passed
in obedience TO your constitution. II bis heart is
10 fatherland-if he is much devoted % the land
OF his birth that he will take the oath of aegi-
ance, aud will not take the preparatory steps TO
make himself a citizen of the country, | maintain
that he ought 10 hare nothing 10 do nth this gorsrn
nlsht tie making Of us lars tis shaping Of tie
Institutions Of i.fdnt States.
| did not rise, sir TO discuss this question at
length, but 70 say to my fiend from lnois that
stand as ] did on the Kansas bIil and never
shall NY be given for any Dill which authori-
unnaturaZed foreigners 20 vote under an act OF
Congress. / stand prepared 10 vote for the adms.
sion OF neS States into the Union but will stand
here ill doOmsdsy 20 record my vote against their
admission If this provision is to be retained iH the
bill
Nobody will suspect me Of having any sort OF
symptt with the modern know nothing party
despiss their doctrines much anybody does !;
but Ike justice ! want TO see full aud impartial
Justice melted out 10 our own people; and when the
| foreigner has qualified himself according TO the
laws Of the country, TO vote, woui b. the last TO
interfere with HIN IN the exercise Of that right But
70 take up people Who do Dot speak our language,
who DO not even seek to speak il, and confer on
them general privil &c to vote in elections 10 the
territOgies, and IN the formation Of New States 10
nay Judgment, Is trIhing With the Institutions Of
the country that Oogbt not TO be tolerated; espe