The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-14

l
monty called the back-repubcan party-but which call
simply the republican partwho does not for this
proposition The senator from New Hampshire Mr.. HALE
forward to-day and does The favor 10 say that he
voted for the proposition The 9th day simply that he
might have the opportunity do what be has donemoye
reconsideration that be- solatpg himself from bis par
hat he the senator from New Hampshire, voted with
this side OF question: having h minds eyeat the
moment 10 move this reconsideration Now sir the whole
body of that part up In solid phaanx and
the decision which rendered two days ago. know
not whether here the influence Of foreign
black republicanism; but know this that
under of influence which change
judgment very suddenly. Sir there has been influence
10 cause to change my Judgment From the hour that
csme into the House OF Representatives and from there
here have steadily and consistently without variation
shadow Of change stood up against this whole proceeding
and with the blessing Of God to stand up against il
to the end The foreigner who has rights Of citizenship
under the laws made in obedience the constitution has
full and unqualified consent TO record his vote being
equal TO any man in the republic but to him that comes
In as mere adventurer never having qualified himself ac
cordg to the laws OF the country to become citizen
wosld not award ii this bill any other tie right to
Against that proceeding ho, az heretofore and
as mean at all times hereafter to do enter my most solemn
protest y
Mr.. T0OMBS. After the extraordinary exhibition and
think very unnecessary eloquence OF number OF my
friends from my section Of the country, if the Senate will
allow me few moments, will cay few words to
plain the reasons which controlled in giving the orig
nal vote which gentlemen say against the constitution of
the United States and the principles of American liberty
and everything else Il at any body can think OF.
The general practice has already been shown by the
from Ohio aud it will take any
than half an hour to refer TO some Of the speeches made
here three years ago. tracing the history of the
question from before the time the constitution was made
cuminencbg With the ordinance Of 1787 which was affirm
ed by that constitution subsequently, up 70 ts time. Its
general history has been from 1887 to now that persons
other than citizens of the United States have been allowed
to vote in the Territories and to vote for members of
convention 10 foim their State constitution That has
been the general rule of the government and we lived
and prospered TO this extent the from Mississippi
must pardon me for not being alarmed by his imaginary
tha anf hapw
ed WELL 1t violates no part Of the constitution of the coun
try al a
am free to confess, Mr.. President that in fixing the
right OF suffrage, would conne it myself within the
limits of my own State where had be governed by
it, to citizens Of the United States I believe that to
be the safer rue and citizen Of Minnesota stch should
be my vote But it Is mistake suppose that they have
done any thing else than exercise clear, ndispuabe
CONSTITUTIONAL legal right affirmed from the beginning OF
the government until nowindeed before the government
existed for the ordinance passed before the govern
ment existed 1t remarkable fact that the ordinance
only did not require voters to be citizens but did not
require them to off aega to anybody 1t did moi
REQUIRE that they should promise to become citizens
simply required that they should have stake in the
country. m..a ..a.
Now according the laws of the United States in Min
nesoa Territory, residence of two years in the United
States OF six months in the Territory and declaration of
determination % become citizen entte foreigner to
pre-empt land have given people other than citizens
of the Uuted States this right 10 Minnesota the soil
OF the country TO get preempOn claims precisely on The
same foundation as everybody else When we made the
DOT say universal f gentlemen will attend to the an
guage il will probably the trouble oexpanadon
rule from the foundation of the government which was 10
allow the Terrtors in their organic ac,s to fix the right
OF suffrage for Themselves allowing all the white inhab
vote in the first instance When you organized
this Territory you did the thing You sad that all
white persons who were citizens OF the United States
such had declared their intention TO become citizens
should vote tie FIRST election and then that the terrific
mained Territory. They did fix IT. miiing it to six
months residence 10 the Territory, and declaration o.
intention to become citizen OF the United States and
swearing off allegiance to all other poteptaes power
They bave gone and governed themselves until now
when you propose to admit them into the family OF States
The bill, it from the House of Representatives.
allowed those very persons who made legal voters
under your authority and in conformity with the usage
and better usage from the beginning of the government
to elect delegates TO convention TO frame constitution
That all there is of it. 1t makes Innovation Ii is
question whether you will take It away from them
will not disrancbise the five ten thousand men who
have gone there under the invitation of the public law of
this and-who have voted in the government of them
selves and their affairs, whom you have given the
rights of reehoder and who deeply imhued in your
society will not strip them of this right which you have
given them by your laws for ak years. 1t
just it is violation oprincpe and violation OF prac-
tice to do so.
But it is said they are making an organic law. They
make constitution which you have right to look into
except in respect They must make republican form
of goyernment you inspect it to sec if it be republic
can Why, then, do you complain of the workmen !
They are to get together and make republican form OF
government You have right to look into it TO wheth
it is republican II it is republican form of
government there foreign influence there is monar
chy if there is anything against the principles OF liberty
contained in republican governments 1t Is in the power
of the House OF Representatives and the Senate to IT,
This having been the wish Of people of one hundred
and eighty thousand inhabitants you propose to prevent
them from voting at this elections when, by the laws OF
the Territory they do and may the day after ad
mission fix the right of suffrage to suit themselves No
body denies the right of every State in the Union TO de-
clare who shall be voters They may declare that only
white peoplethey may declare that only black people
they may declare that nobody but menthey may declare
that nobody but women shall vote. They may fix it to
suit themselves No question better settled by the
trainers of the constitution than that
These ideas-modern ideas. They have been
put before the country and thank God have been
demned by the eemen of this great country poinedy dis
tncty, this very question. On the Nebraska bill, TO
which gentlemen have referred the Senate did reverse its
vote this pontreversed it wisely, reversed 1t for
sound 1t is true that some agreeing in the gem
era principle yielded 10 supposed necessity As to the
Nebraska BILL throughout the South in the late presiden-
tal election the two features called alien suffrage and squat
ter sovereignty the two points of objection to IT. be-
they afraid to attack it anywhere else but
these objections made every stamp from this to
the Rio Grande by the opponents OF the gentleman who
has been elected President of the United Sate and from
here the Rio Grande the objections also condemned
universally. Therefore l have with astonishment
that the representatives this floor Of those fourteen
States which have recently affirmed the principles of that
BILL with alien suffrage and ALL should give small sup
port to this feature of the bill This point every
where urged against 1t the very point Of attack
and defended this provision of the Nebraska bill the
ground that it just that it according to the
practice of forefahers in conorm with the highest
interests of the republic which is my judgment and
it was approved by the people.
We called upon to say that il shall not exist
heethat shall deprive these people of the privilege of
nterfo tat