The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
ADMISSION OF MISNEsoTA.
Dsbsts in lis Sa.ale, T4s.day, February "a, is

Debate ia As Senate Tuesday, february "a, 1851.
Mr. GREEN. Mr.. President this discussion looks Il
me great dsal like tempest in teapot have seer
for myself occasion this very extraordinary speech
OF the snaior voted 10 restrict the right of suffrage II
this 10 the citizens Of the United States Btepd
change that vote; and because inrend do think
my duty To make brief statement The Senate. Dc
IL not because believe body citizens ought par
ticipae IN The government for that is my seed judg
msntnot becaute choose 10 pandsr any flse sent
ment that may spring up in Ire country but for the sole
that the Congrsss Of the United States have
fore led the qualifications Of the Of the Territory
Minnesota; since have examined that point IL would now
look little unfair, when they have exrised that right
fur years 70 spring upon them new question, change
their qualification and exclude large portion Of the pop
| uation from the right To vote.
This is The whole ground upon which sha change
my sba reconsider the passage of the bill
and stall also vote TO reconsider the amendment by
which those who may have sdea decsraiory statement
Of inentisD TO become efxrns of The United sars
excluded from he right Of voting leave il ;hr Law oi
Congress has fixed II the Territory, and the antbor
tics or the Territory fixed IL If Others conteui
with il, SO srn l.
Bat sir iye nstify rnyse against all the assaults Of
the honorable from Illinois II Congress dare touch
the subject Of the qual Of voters they
ere their Judgment How dare he say that the foreign
who has eiga and has taken the preparatory seI
shall be permitted 10 vote dare him state wbs
ground he says that IL be says that then say that Con
gress the right control the qualifications OF
in Minnesota and be- with all bis ingenuity,
not exirieaie himself rom this difficulty
Mr. DOUGLAS. do not think shall have any trouble
eXtricattng myself what friend deems dlf
Guilty. argued this question with reference Terri
tory ard then back and answered the objections
which had been urged by the senator from Tennessee aud
Others against lbe right of Congress to authorize any State
TO allow unnaiurazed foreigner to They claimed
that II had not tie right TO do ii in State had
in Territory. went To show that each Stae has ths
po do IL please and that Congress regu
late voting all in STATE; and heuce the inference o.
gcatemtn that Congress could not allow this sP ces Of
sarsge in Territory uufounded- That was the poin
Mr. GREEN. There is not single senator in this body
Mr. President who contends that Congrss has the iign
10 regulate the elective franchise in SLate--not
Mr. DOUGLAS. TIE senator from Tennessee, and 9th
e contend that Congress by its izaton laws does
The ghtof voting IN States TO those who have beer
naturalizsd.
Mr. BELL, Of Tennessee viii the honorable senator
from Missouri allow noment2
Mr. GREEN. Certainly.
Mr. BELL, Of Tennessee. The honorable senator from
Illinois in the general which he uses and through
his whole argument this subject mseoncived or,
be conceive properly incorporated his remarks on
that point with Others in his speech TO have it under
stood that the senator from Tennessee had contended ba
Congress could fix the qualifications of voters in th'
States.
/ Mr.. DOUGLAS ! wish to understand the senator
Mr.. BELL of Tennessee. am the floor. IL the hon
orable epaor supposes that contended for such power
he Is mistaken coniended for such thing The sen
aior from Connecticut Mr ToUCEr,] the other dsy il
some marks he made that subject assumed that
had done do gay that those senators meant tc
avail themseres Of the argument had made preex
for attempting impress upon the Senate and the coun
4
such thing presume they were fcrgetfnl Rad no
propcriy conceived the argument which used. Sir,
conended for instant that Congress had the gh
70 FIX the qualification OF voters in The States oonnedrt
that power 20 the States under the constitution Nha
] said that no State had right in fixing th
quahchton OF its own voters to allow an alien not nat
! uraliE-d 10 vote.
The honorable senator from Illinois is not 10 suppos
that be bas answered this position triumphany when ht
has stated that both North Carolina and Tennessee at
time admitted negroes TO vote That does not conflict viii
my Argument at ALL Ii is my argument. j
does not touch the position took. Free negroes in Ten
nessee aad North Carolina at the time they were entitled
70 vote were free citizens They have right of inherit
Ia those States they regarded citizens by law
with qualifications against full rights of citizenship
prescribed By The constitution but they allowed th
political rights OF citizens OF the State and Of the United
States and why should they NOT be2 They feemen
they born upon hs soil and they educated be
fore they manumtted tie extent that inteli
gent tlzve might be supposed acquire knowledge
our Institutions They not only inhabtants but CHI
zens OF State. They do not vote in Tennessee
bat do deny the right Of the States make their
ciizes and qualify them electors We have right
der the constitution do IL thsnk y friend fcm Mis-
souri, for enabling 10 make this statement
j Mr. GREEN. ! have understood the position of th
senator from Tenpessee perfecy while dissent from il
hare Giso urdstccd the position Of TIE senator from
lnois and have understood from the positions tha
The did the other II the from Iii
nois d,sres IL with the consent Of the Senate wl
yield 20 far as 70 permit him to make an explanatory state
ment
Mr. DOUGLAS. do not know that any explanator,
statement necessary be made did wish put hi
qu siion the from Tennessee did be agu
here that the States had no power authorize
vofe who bad become citizen Of the United State
under The naturalization lavs2
Mr.. BELL Of Tennessee. said thai Of foreigner a
sisn-noi q naiivs-porn FRYE inhahisnt Iconended no
that Congress bad Alright FIX the qualifications Of vo,e
bat that u upconsiitut nal for State 10 admit
the right o suffrage In federal elections aliens
Trey pat ihir foot SOIL ater Congress hA
sxercis M power 70 prescribe uniform rule Of nai1ra
iEAti1n thr n4hout the United States
u Mr. DOUGLAS The senator then takes The ground TIA
State hes poser 20 sliow unpaiuraEed foseigss
70 vote Within iis own limits9
ii Mr. BELL, OF renBeEsec Undoubtedly.
4 Mr. DUrGLAS n Congress, then win say that foi
agntr shah b. czsn afer years residence the Stat
may allow that 70 vote bat IL Congres rays ms
shs not te ctEsE fos ave years. the State cAunoi allo
u NJ BELL Of rennsssse N that be the uniform rule
say zee cay tbss cOngrsss hss poser 70 prescribe "a
Mr. DOUGLAS. Ce.gress, according 10 bis view, ca
deprive The STATE of tbe POSER Of aowiag any mugrst
70 vote uul ser be has rsded tscEty-one yenrs In u
4 oounuy, n tApy riessr
Mr. bE4 q fsansss.s nj TOE honsrsb,s ssnaior meas
the poser, his stas psThags has ezfrrsed
gsssou fbeir phYsca power 70 state org&nizs
ton they rsast hBt say Il 10 IN violstcn of u
o0pstit1tOu 81 The Unitsd sf4tes 70 aloe gnnssur.
iHd Sosegaer 70 saia tba q yhgnis az vel :
spirit bst taink sasiasnty shown, q ne kEisr
M DoUGLGs Because -sOls,ss Or n.sur.IiraaO
laNsG
M BElI. sTsnsusss Beossssli A IA violation q u
constitzlion
NJ DOUGLAS yin uos psrsiss In this dIssussior
fhink haFe Shown clssrly that TIE scrNior inssw u
the sci 81 conEress that limits s rxhts sf ne States
Mr. SELL q rsnneas-s That is ks all the rssi o. you
4 ar1umepf.