The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-13
POPULAR RIGHTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

POPULAR RIGHTS IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
Massachusetts has produced able statesmen, pro-
found juriss and scholars and men of great business
activity and energy Her people have converted her
sterile soil into productive fields and her merchants
have carried the stars and stripes to every quarter of
the globe. Her sons have contributed much to the
settlement of the far West. These facts contrast
strangely and unaturay with her singular disregard
of popular rights and resistance Of those impulses
and influences which broadly spreading the bless
ings of our institutions and of popular liberty Her
effort has been to circumscrbe the area of liberty
and liberal institutions to the smallest compass, and
restrain popular influences within the control of those
who support her peculiar political dogmas. select
few seek to control the desnies of the State and
ray her against the popular movements of the age.
Her cause is now guided by class Of third-rate
men, who seeking to array her against her sister
States and their institutions for the purpose of
ating within her borders all absorbing prejudices
which shall perpetuate their power. The triumphant
election of Mr.. Buchanan and the growing approba-
ton by the people of the principles upon which hewas
elected alarmed the leaders of black repubcanism;
hence their ready professions of sympathy with the
American party, who really hold them in contempt
and despise their principles and motives of action
Assuming that none but persons born abroad are
incapable of reading and writing, they rushed into
constitutional provision prohibiting all who could
not do from voting, hoping thereby to attach the
American party to their political car. They have
engrafted this provision into their constitution, and
henceforth those whose parents were unable, for
any cause, had not taught them to read and write,
xyba pafiy a1n ptn6 eli IN ba ay
Guided from enjoying the elective franchise. To
make of excluding adopted citizens who may
be well and highly educated in their native Ian
guage the resriconiss require the electors to read
the constitution, which, Of course, is in English.
1t is hoped that they can continue their control in
the State little longer by this iberality to those
who cannot read the English language and write.
That this is local expedient is easily demonstrated
In New York, where the black republicans now have
the control of the legislative power, instead of at
tempting constitutional amendment to cut off the
large adopted vote, which would be fatal to
their continuance in power, they have moved in
favor of allowing all negroes to vote, whether they
can read or write or have the capacity to take de-
cent care of themselves. In this State they de-
SPARED bringing the American party into their
ranks ana hence they seek 10 MI their lines
with negroes, whether educated or not.
While Massachusetts, excludes all Germans, Irish,
French Italian, and Spanish, and others who cannot
read English although highly educated and polished
in manners the New York black republicans take to
their embrace the African, who cannot read write,
however low, degraded, and loathsome. In both
States the waning fortunes of this mushroom party
have admonished its leaders that low stratagems must
be resorted to, their rule is at end. Respeca-
BILE people of all parties turn from the New York
movement with deep disgust, while the lberalmind-
ed in every State strongly condemn the narrow and
illiberal principles adopted in Massachusetts, We
hazard nothing in predicting that the people of the
latter State will condemn and expunge from
their constitution this attempt to cramp freemen
in the exercise of the elective franchise
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