Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-23
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proposed Constitutional Amendment in regard
TO the Qualification Of Voters. which passed its
FIRST stage the year befate, on account Of the
lonsensss and defective manner in which it was
drawn, and thus effsctuaiy straneled it, before it
was acted upon By the Legislature, the second
time. But the fourteen years amendment, which
passed last year, is equally defective and loosely
drawn Gov. Gardner, TO be consistent, should
have taken the same responsibility he did in the
former case, and have knocked it in the head, as
he did that But instead, he speaks Of it as fol-
lows:
"Fhis purpose cannot be deemed intoleraut or
oppressive, for il is not proposed to interfere tn
any acay 1csth any rights sohatevey, aireddy Gc-
CURED aud at pr sent existing Every now
entitled to exercise the elective franchise, to
Aid office. is to be or should be, protected in
thuse rights"
The severest commentary this gem from
his Exceltney, is the fact Of an omission, (un-
dOubtedly accidentally in the proviso, to which
we have already alluded. which. while giving all
present naturaliz citizens the right to vote, de
Ps'ves them hereafter Ofttheir present right to
hold office, unless they have already resided
fourteen years within the jurisdiction OF the
United States If this is not 'iniolerant" or
oppressive" according to the Governors own
definition Of those terms, we know not what
would be.
Granting that there evils resulting from the
present basis Of the right Of suffrage in allowing
foreigners to vote Immediately upon their natural
ization, there is a much more rational and exped-
lent mode of remedying the evil than going to
the length Of prescribing them from the pryi-
lege of voting till fourteen years after they have
arrived in the country. much more rational
and effective mode would be- to reduce the re.
striction to one years residence in the Common
tcealh, after they have received their final natu
EAlizatioD papers, In accordance with the PROPOSE
tion introduced into the House BY Mi. Hopkins
Of Northampton, short time since. By
dating the period Of residence requisite to
qualification for suffrage from the time Unnatural
izat!ou, rather than from the indefinite time If
arrival : scithin the Jurisdiction of the United
States" all chance for the fraud which would be
consequent upon the fJurteeu years plan now be.
fore the Legislature, would be avoided, and the
evils now existing and justly complained Of. of
the buying and selling of votes upon the eve of
every election, would be put stop to.
The minority Of the Joint Committee Of the
Legislature, to which referre so much Of the
Governors Message refers to the right of suf-
trage and the qualification Of voters, in their re
port recently made, dissenting from the majority |
report iaToring the fourteen years PROPOSE ion,
asly expose it's injustice and mpolicy as to the
end IN view, and conclude BY recommending as /
substitute, an amendment in these words -
No person beresfter naturallzed in this Com.
mon~ealth, Ia conformity with the laws OF tue
United States, shall have the right to vote or to
bold othce, until two years Subsequent to his l. gal
naturalization aforesaid"
This minority report is drawn up by Mr.. Hop
kins, ION behalf of seven members OF the commit
tee,) and although its conclusion above shows a
slight receding irom his first proposition, which
seems 90 US just the thing called for TO remedy
existino evils, yet suppose those preerriDg his
Atst proposition will be willing to 60 in for this.
provided there be no other mode of killing the
foolish and proscriptive fourteen years PROPOSE
ton, which should be slaughtered at all hazards.
The cABrNET.-The Washington Union, dis
claiming any authority for the announcement.
mentions the following as the probable Cabinet of
Mr.. Buchanan -
Lewis Cass, Secretary of State
Howell Cobb, Secretary ( the Treasury.
John B. Floyd, Secretary Of War.
A. v Brown, Secret ry Of the Navy.
jacob Thompson, Secretary If the Interior
Clancy Jones, Postmaster General.
Isaac fOueey, Attorney General.
Such Cabinet is not very hopeful one for
the peace aud prosperity Of the country. falling
ia our sstimat on, decidedly below the present
one, in point ofqoaifeotions for their respective
0shces There are no men in the list that can
m axe good the places Of Marcy aud Guthrie
C@ss was vastly oyer-rated. even in his prime
He has never exhibited the far-Ieaching compre
b nsve grasp of mind that marks the true states
man, and, AZ the present time, be is little better
tlan diIapidsted granny. with favorite hobbies
AID narrow prejudices, among which is bitter
hatred Of England, the nation, with which, above
all others, il is our interest to preserve amicabe
Telations. In that hatred there is too much cause
IS believe that Buchanan, himself participates,
and the uDIon Of the the two in the government
i ominous Of anything but good 10 the peace
happiness, and general prosperity, Of the coun-
try. II the New England representative in the
Cabinet. there is a manifest deterioration Tou-
cey cannot compare with Caleb Cushing for abil.
sis, while. in abject servility to the slave power
be Is more than his compeer. We do not think
Mr. Baehanan's selection is one that does credit
70 himself, or that promises much of good to the
country.
g. the NEw TARIFF.--on Friday last the House
Of Representatives passed an original tarif bill,
asabmittsd By Mr.. campbsIl Of Ohio. 4 hing
the same with few slight alterations. as The
last one reported from the Committee Of ways
s~na Mnanes The xoaa eeeod -. .an a.