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

L
DO not know whether be alluded to what said the O he
day In regard to the uniformity of legislation but If
are 10 base uniformity in legislation say that ough
put nis amendment thus BILL ought to
the decision We have heretofore made by the action OF thu
present Congress in regard to the Kansas bill
bur ar much has been said by the senator from Illinois
about he equality of the States In all that be said ebou
State equality and State rights concur but this Is
question IN regard 10 the equality of the States II Is beg
sing the question when gentlemen say that that principle
involved in the present Discussion. 1t is not
Wht are we called upon TO do2 Have any power d.
ms Where do we get the power under the
from what clause of the constitution From The CLAUSE
that Congress may admit States into the Union TbeI
have we any power except to admt2 do not Suppose
will be denied that have the power to pass this bill
There 70 no doubt about that in passing this bill do w
exercise our own Judgment to the qualification of
or the Judgment OF the people of the Territory That
the point Then for gentlemen to tell me that becaus,
there certain Individuals in the Territory now permit
ted to vote for the territorial legislature will therefore
permit them to vote in regard to the formation of STATE
constitution, seems to me to be totally Inconsistent
poaitoni 1t 10 position that is not tenable at all
We have the power to prescribe the qualifications fol
voters under that clause OF the Constitution which
thorizes US to admit rev States When we go TO pre-
scribe qualifications ask IL it Is not our solemn duty
TO prescribe those qualifications that we believe ough
70 control in the election for the purpose of forming
State constitution If So where the force Of the
pie of the Territory aud the ellen residents the Territory
70 vote for territorial legislature should therefore
admit these aliens 10 form the organic law of the Terri
| tory.
An important question may arise In this very conven
ton TO form State constitution in Minnesota II the pre-
ponderang Influence in that convention is permit for
egners to vote In their State election and consequently
Ior mt mbers OF Congress and for President OF the United
States, they may form constitution that msy admit
man TO vote who has just this country and who
has not resided here than Eve days But the quail
hcaons OF voters for representatives the convention
restricted to citizens of the United States the presumption
that you will have body Of men composed of that kind
OF material who will restrict the voting In the State cleo
tions TO citizens of the United States
Tbs senator from Ohio has ventured say that this ID
entirely new question just started and that all the for
legislation the subject he nds according his
construction OF il, authorized aliens to vote. moi
gong to discuss minuey and in DETAIL the various act
OF Congress on this subject but disagree toto cello with
the senator from Ohio. insist upon IL that by fail
construction pf one act that has been passed by the
Congress of the United States authorizing the people of
Territory to form State constitution preparatory to their
admission into the Union there authority for any per-
sons to vote except citizens Of the United States The
cases to which he refers of Wisconsin and Iowa. strong
e In their language than Others but those to which be
audes preceding the cases of Iowa and Wisconsin, say
according to fair and legal construction Of those acts
confined the fight of voting to citizens Of the United States
regret very much Mr.. President that it has become
very necessary for to say any thing in regard this
matter | could not say less than have done moved
this amendment with decided conviction my mind o
the Importance of the principle invo.vedof It's being
urey sound so far the Interests of the country
cerned to say nothing of the mooted questions regard
STATE rights and the lights Of form their
constitutions and prescribe the qualifications of voters
having nothing al ali to do with question: because
seems 10 me entirely beside the present question here
have thought it necessary proper 10 introduce this
amendment, because hold that high public du'y de
mands that whenever persons by the voice of the Con
gress of the United States shall be permitted 10 parc
id moulding the institutions under which they live
tney must be either native natu uazed citizens IL this
principle be departed from and III from the influence OF
foreign vote in this country to control cectonsto chan
the political aspect OF St.eto send the United Stale
Senate abolition senator's democratic SENATOR'S know
nothing stnators the Senate was to be controlled AND
the action OF Congress be controlled by influence
this kind thought time that the people of the
try should know III aud twas lime for us TO wake up
| understand rights.
Sir consider this subject far above all your political
calculations as TO the predomnance OF parties consde
this question far above all your calculations of the chances
OF whether this that the other party Is int
power insist upun IL that when any here
tans the opinion this principle is sound and ought
obtain it is not sufficient excuse in my Judgment 10
that because the territorial legislature gave other rights
TO other persons in the Territory therefore will give The
rights in the formation of The organic law State
have TO very nearly the result the honor
able senator from South Carolina 1t indicated by til,
vote taKen in regard TO the reconsideration of the BILL that
oregone conclusion that this Minnesota bill is
pass without the amendments which moved Saturday
and which, by decisive vote then adopted AL
though some who voted for the reconsideration will
against the amendments hcindcations very
to my mind that the bill is pass without these
mens Much has been said here about injustice. If so
will You do gross injustice to the State of Oregon by de-
pryng portion OF her citizens of this elective franchise
We shall sea that when the Oregon bill comes up. wish
to let you know in tmeI wish to notify the Senate in
time that by voting down these amendments you are
bound Ii you have any consistency of conduct and any
uniformity in legislation, amend the Oregon BILL and
strike out that provision in regard to citizens of the United
States voting Are you prepared for that
Fears are cnter'aned is sad that II these amendments
be voted out and the bill passed without amendments
the House of Representatives in it, aud
therefore Minnesota will be postponed for twelve months
longer That is argument used this floor induce
us to etrace steps this important principle
vote down these enments and vote for the bill in the
shape in which to from the House of Represent
aves Recolccf sir that amendments have already been
put in the Oregon bill If the operates in
gard to that will yen do Oregon the injustice OF sending
that bill back to the House of Representatives and per-
NIT it to pass Ii that sufficient in the mind
OF any senator here why should vote against this
men 1t is very unsatisfactory according my
cepton. Why not strike out your amendment to the
gon BILL and pass that just in the shape in which 1t
from the House of Representatives In doing this recoec
that you guilty of the gross inconsistency of requiring
one qualification for voters in of those States and
another 10 another Will you do t7 Are you prepared
for 2 IL majority OF the Senate prepared for it.
am mott and say here, sir, that with my convictions Of
the importance of the principle involved in this bill
would not for the admission of any State although
decidedly n favor of the admission Of Minnesota into
the Union, with such provision in the bill. have no
is northern State and non-slavtholdng State for am
prepared TO vote for it although it be non-aveholdng
State Gentlemen may suppose there is feeling of
that kind disavow it entirely am prepared to vote
for IT. although IL may be non-saveholding State and
although thereby 1t entirely destroys all equilibrium be-
tween the North and the South. | am governed by no
such consideration that; yet do here that il
this amendment be voted down, cannot win not with
my convictions OF duty vote for the bill
The PRESIDING OFFICER mr. WELLER in the chair J
The question the motion 10 reconsider the vote on the
amendment.
Mr. PRATT called for the yeas and nays and they were
ordered
Mr.. BROWN. have no expectation of reversing the