The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-07

saws that although The bill as Il now stands all right
although aliens ought not to be permitted to vote 10 the
Territories although Congress should not give It's en-
doement TO such principle but should adhere TO its uni
form naturalization laws yet the organic law authorized
the territorial legislature to FIX the qualifications voters
and they have fixed them and he says these amendments
deprive them of the right If the senator had not gone
away should have hopes of his vote yeti for can show
him. any other who examines the subject that although
Ex-senator from Illinois speaks of unjust takes away
right Is there any law in existence authorizing aliens
in that Territory vote for delegates form State
s,ituton None This is a right they have never had
heretofore 1t right they cannot have without the con-
sent OF the Congress Of the United States IL Congress has
the right TO say what kind Of law they shall have il has
the right 10 say who shall be qualified voters at the cleo
ton that the given by the senator from Missouri
does not exist at ALL 1t is taking from them right
but the argument that you have given certain rights to
individuals and you must therefore give them every right
There is sort of philosophy in that argument We
give every the moment be comes to this country, GER
tain rights and portion of the rights OF citizenship
and yet not the highest right Of ctzenshp-that OF
voting Although they have the right under the act OF
Congress and Of the territorial legislature to vote for mem
bers to the territorial legislature ard other cces they
had the right to vote for delegates to form Safe
constitutions and it stands though they had never
exercised any right whatever the plain clear naked
question of propety and constitutional right The reason
OF the senator from Missouri for changing ms vote VIII not
him in this and hope he will reflect on it and
carry out what be himself has so well said here was the
right and correct policy.
But sir the senator from Illinois insists that the posi-
ton taken by the senator from Tennessee is wrong and
that IRE States have the right and Congress has the right
without regard to the uniform rule OF naturalization to
authorize Aliens TO vote My mind las to the came
conclusion with the senator from Tennessee The States
surrendered to the federal the power 10 fix
uniform rule of naturalization Congress has exercised
that power has required aliens when they to this
country remain here for five years before they shall be
permitted be naturazed and become citizens OF the Uni
ted States If that 10 wrong change ~ reduce y make
year think it should be at least sixteen years
and this country will see, in less than ten years from to-
day that should be but to the question Of power
does this infringe any the rghs Of the S,aes So tie
States have voluntarily surrendered 1t.
1t is said the States have the right of authorizing
to vote, aud have exercised it and the senator from Hi
nos relies that conclusive That was fully answered
by the from Tennessee admit the States have
the right within the limits of the constitution, TO fix any
qualification either OF age SEX property for the voters
within their limits but the time contend that
the States have right having conferred that power upon
the Congress of the United States say that the citizen
of Great Britain any other country under the SUM- shall
be eligible vote citizens for State officers and there
fore allowed to for electors of President and Vice
President of the United States.
The from Illinois is mistaken TO the Of
the increase of at the North He the North has
larger territory suited to free labor than slave Ifhe will
look the he will find that the is TO be found
10 The fact that large portion OF foreigners settle in the
nonsaveholding States. From 1910 to 1850 the South
would have gained five members in the House of Repre-
senaves in lieu Of the loss of seven but for foreign i'm
migration.
tits not as the senator from Illinois has said new SUBJ
jest 1t discussed and laborously discussed by the
authors the constitution. Suppose his position be
rect that the States have the right to authorize aliens TO
been in the country only day. Take the State of New
York for illustration That ate, according to this doc
trine has the right to authorize aliens who have been in
the country day five days to vote in the electon
and the party that could send sufficient amount of money
to Europe gather la the paupers and criminals of the
Old World control the presidential election, and this
Congress would not exclude them. When itroduced
bill to amend the naturalization lava with provision
excluding foreign criminals aud paupers and appesle
the Senate If they differed with everything else,
strike out the other features and pass that It was
spurned and treated with contempt Congress is not CO.
ing to exclude foreign paupers aud criminals Give the
States the right to allow foreigners with residence of
day control your presidential election and what will be
the consequence? II the States have restriction this
subject they say that all the Inhabitants includ ng
those who allegiance to foreign governments may vote
in State elections and thereby re qualified to vote for
President and Vice President 1t is probable such
thing would do not is impossible In these
times thing is possbe but introduce that to show
to what extent the doctrine conended for will lead
it is restriction Of the rights of the States to require
them to conform to citizenship in fixing the qualifications Of
voters. The States have power say that indvid
ual owing allegiance to foreign government shall vote
for the formation of State constitution vote in any
election whatever II Is an act Of the highest sovereignty
known to freeen, and only be exercised by citizen
in my humble judgment think the case turns that
question together with the further idea that have fixed
this qualification.
There is one idea 10 which wish to call the attention OF
the Senate particularly OF senator's the other side of the
house il was stated by the senator from Illinois that If
the amendment adopted it equivalent to defeat
Of the bill differ with that senator If am correctly
informed the way it happened pass the House OF Repre-
senatves in the shape in which it presented here
because it passed without notice The moment they no.
ticed it in the Oregon bill which up Immediately a
forwards the other house changed that provision
have changed the provision of this bill and If send il
back, presume they will adopt the amendment without
hesitancy Ask the senator from Illinois now snd have
doubt be would tell you he would rather the bill should
be defeated than go back limiting the elective franchise to
citizens of the United States.
1t is said to be hard the who went there under
the laws which authorized them in other elections
to exclude them from voting in this election. We told
that they virtuous remarkably yiruous intelligent
and good have not ntimsted to the contrary has
senator this floor. Our government is unlike any
other government under the and know that if
talk with intelligent and patriotic and honest foreign
who come here find that there but few of them
who capable properly of approaching institutions
here Eve years and must legislae for classes
not for Individuals If it does operate little hard on
who have gone there they certainly enjoy rights in
being permitted in five to vote than they ever en-
joyed in The country from which they Ii they had
lived there to be old the Norwegian rats none of
them would have been entitled vote ALL They never
voted before coming to this country so that is no hard
ship at oil TO them
Whether Minnesota be slave State free State, il is
matter with which have nothing TO do. would never
inquire whether Siae free saveholdng State
likely to be the other agree with the senator
from Illinois 10 the full extent to the rights of the
Pile; but when SPEAK CT the people of Territory, mean
citizens of the United States being inhabitants Of the Ter
riiory. That is the difference between him and me-
II Is my purpose protract this debate regret
that il mp We had vote at tho last session which
supposed settled the principle of the government for the
future We had vote at this session it, md by
ority OF three agreed TO that principle II senators intend
change their voesand they give no better reason
than from Missouri gave respectfully submit
al