Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-30
Alien snnrare-Right. of cirrzon.hlp.

is vested in the people. 1t is exercised by
agents, appointed by them for limited
terms. 1t is perhaps, one of the wisest
provisions Of our organic laws, both Fede-
raj and State, that those who are appoint
ed to make our laws, and shape the politi-
cal institutions and policy of the govern
ment, shall frequently render an account
of their stewardship to the people, that
they may Judge of how the affairs of their
government are managed. At stated Pc
RODS they return to the people, and are re.
turned from among the people; and they
must reflect the will and wishes of the peo-
pie. This term, in the most numerous
branch of the Federal Legislature, and in
that Of nearly, if not all, the States of
the Union, is limited to two years. When
they meet they are expected and required
to reflect in their acts, the sentiments and
desires of those who place them in Office.
If they fail in this, they are removed, and
ought to be removed. Whenever they
disregard the wishes of their constituents,
they become the rulers and the people sub
jectS. The practical operation Of this car
dinal principle makes the people the sove-
reign power in State, and distinguishes
republican from any and every other form
Of government. To render government
of this sort successful and permanent, its
people should not only have direct per-
sonal interest in affairs of State, but should
be well informed as to the wants and ne
cessities of the State. The voter thus be-
comes responsible to history and to his fell
lOw-men for the management of the State.
He does not act for himself alone, but
also for his neighbor, and for the commu-
nifty in which he lives; he becomes the de-
pository of a trust, in the faithful execu-
ton of which the welfare of the whole
people depends. And this is the case with
every voter in the land. MnOrities must
submit to majoritieS, and the latter must
govern for the benefit of the former, as
well as their own, else a species of tyran-
ny is erected in the State, and one part of
the people become servile dependents upon
the other; unequaIS. The right to vote,
therefore, is the right to govern; it is
right higher than mere liberty; because it
can control and modify, change and revo-
lutionize a government; it can regulate
and Sanctify liberty, or it can eXtinguiSh it
and erect in its place empires and crown
emperors. History is not wanting in ex-
ampleS of this sort. 1t is this political
omnipotence that pre-eminently distinguish
es the citizen from the subject. No one
but citizen can rightfully exercise it.
When the citizen divides this sacred
sovereign power with one who is not a citi-
zen, he places himself, to the extent Of
such division, in the power Of one who, as
to him, is an alien. Birth and citizenship
are inseparable, the one follows the other;
it may be renounced. "Once a citizen, al
rags a citizen" has no place in a sound
political philosophy. But until it is re-
nOunced in some open and unmiStakable form,
it continues. 1t may possibly be renowned,
and not resumed, and then a man may oc-
cupy position on the high seas of politics
akin to that Of pirate. He is an outlaw,
and though he may do no act to incur pun
ishment, he can claim no protection from
any government. But he may declare al
legance to another government, in what
ever form may be required. When he does
this, he becomes an integral part of that
other government; he is a citizen; in re-
public like this, a voter, ruler. But un-
til he does this, by full and perfect COM
pliance with all the requisites, he is not
citizen, and car have no rghtful claim TO
be a voter or ruler If we as Americans,
or any other free people, confer this right
short of this compliance, whatever may be
the form and requirements, we surrender a
part of our birthright, we divide our power
and sovereignty, and submit ourselves, SO
far, to the government aud control Of
Others, alien to us and our country. The
rights of citizenship are cheapened, and we
are Inundated and degraded in our own
and the eyes of other nations. The scope
of this argument does not lead us to discuss,
what ought to be required to make citizens
of other countries citizens Of this; it is, that
the requirements we have already estab-
lished must be complied with before these
rights shall be exercised
Unfortunately for the harmony and, per-
haps also, for the stability Of this Repub-
lie, its people have drawn geographical
line, up and down to, and according to
which, they have chosen TO form a set Of
political opinions, Numerically opposed to
each other 1t has been the source OF much
vexation, trouble and hostility. This is too
well known to require explanation or com
ment. Without interfering directly with
the institutions Of one section by the other,
continual contest has been kept up for
twenty years, which should prevail in the
territories, as they grew up into States. IL
has finally been determined, that the peo-
pie of the territories shall settle the ques
ton for themselves. 1t now becomes i'm
portant, alike 20 both sections, that the sen-