Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-18


few days ago We spread before our readers
report of the speech recently delivered By the Hon.
joins BELL, at Nashville, Tennessee, in which.
among other tones discussed by the distinguished
/ speaker on that occasion, the question of alien
suff ace was briefly considered In another part of
to-day's Intelfgencer the reader viii fad an m
| published speech Of Mr. CALHoUS, delivered in the
S'nate OF the United States on the ID of A priI
1885, in which the subject is treated at length
With cOgency and condensation of argument which
mark eli that proceeded from the logical mind of
/ the great South Carolina statesman. This speech,
it appears, rot at the time Of is delivery in
cluded in the Congressional Debates. but being
retained for revision by Mr. CALH On. FIRST became
accessi' lie to the public in his Works. edited by
! Mr.. CRALLE The speech, therefore, may be con-
sidered, in ts present shape only the more authen-
| tic and authoritative exposition of Mr. CAL
| Nouns views upon the question whether State
Territory or Congress itself has the power to make
an alien citizen to the extent of endowing him
| with the right of suffrage. Mr.. CALHOUN denies
the existence of such power on the part of any
Of these autboFiti, g and enters into elaborate
argument for the purpose of showing the AROMA
| lies which would result from the admission Of such
a principle. "To suppose, be remarks, that
! state can make alien citizen of the State
" or, TO present the question more specially,
" confer on him the right Of votiPg-would involve
:" the absurdiry of giving him direct and imme-
date control over the action of the General Gov
! " eminent, from which he has right TO claim
| protection, ana to which ne mas no right 10 pre-
Z" sent a petition" That Ia, Mr. CALHOUN considers
the right of suffrage as not only incident, but
test of citizenship; and if il is not competent for
State to confer this right upon the alien still less
| he argues, can Territory endow him with a fran
! chise which is characteristic of the citizen, since
Territory possess ''no power except such as is
conferred nv Congress-" and Congress has
! thority over the subject under the Constitution,
| except to pass uniform laws of naturalization"
We think it will BE- denied by that the be.
stowal of the right of suffrage upon aliens whether
| by authority Of State, Territory, Congress. is
exercise of power not contemplated by the trainers
OF the Constitution, and one which cannot be re-
conced with the genius and spirit of that insiru-
| ment. II NAV be remarked however. that the Con-
| stiiution nowhere undertakes to fine in express
aud uniform terms the qualifications of voters in
| the several States; but in the only clause which
alludes to this subj nct-that relating to the elec-
| ton of members of the House of Representatives
it provides that ''the electors in each State shall
have the qualifications requisite for electors of the
| most numerous branch OF the State Legislator :"
TINS leaving each State to deter ine those quelf-
cations according to its own discretion. But as at
the time of the formation of the Constitution, the
right of suffrage deemed an incident OF citizen
ship only, and as the Constitution, in express terms
/ reserves to Congress the power of establishing
"an uniform rule of naturalization" and thereby
removing the disabilities of alieHage with regard
eligibility to certain offices, it is clear that the
spirit il the letter of that instrument is viola
ed by extending the elective franchise to other than
citz ne of the United States, either natural born
or adopted. And il it would seem improper for
State assume the exercise of such a power, still
anomalous is the action of Congress in its le-
! gslatcn for the Territories of the country, when,
in contraVenion of the prerOgatives reserved to It
by the CousttI ton with respect the removal Of
alienage, il proceeds to invest unnaturaliZed aliens
with one OF the most distinctive features of cit-
zen of the United States, by comforting upon them
| in s1ch Territories the right OF suffrage. When
the trainers of the Constitution provided for the
actment of a uniform rule of naturalization through
the United States they eVijently supposed that
| Congress, as well as the respective States, would
abstain from endowing unnaturalzed aliens with
this right of citizenship, though it must be admit
ted that the Constitution, in express terms, APP
plies restrictions whatever to alien suffrage, and
contains, we believe, other provisions with re
spec, foreigners than that which relates their
naturalization, and those which define the periods
within which naturalized citizens shall be eligible
TO certain ofices.-Nat hlteLtigeneer, 1lh dug.