Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-18
from the Frederick md. Union
ALIEN SUFFRAGE.
READ-PAUsE-AED REFLECT.


We especially commend to the careful persual of
our readers the following extracts from~ the Ken
lucky Statessnan and advise all friends to pre-
serve the extracts for future reference =
Since the decision of the Supreme Court sustain
ing the constitutonality of the main features and
leading principles of the Kansas.Nebraska Bill, the
know nothings have commenced violent denuncia-
ton Of what they call the alien suffrage feature OF
the Minnesota land bill. To relieve the anxious
fears and dispel the visions OF this hydra headed
monster from the minds of our know nothing friends,
publish below extracts from the various Terrific
rial bills far they relate to the right of suffrage
from which it will be that the provisions OF the
several acts in this respect substantially the
same.
OREGON TERRITORY.
every white male inhabitant shove the age of
twenty-one years who shall have been resident of
said Territory at the time of the passage of this act
and shall possess the qualifications hereinafter
prescribed shall be entitled to vote at the first
election and shall be eligible to any Office within
the said Territory but the qualifications of voters
and of holding Office at all subsequent elections shall
be such as shall be prescribed by the Legislative
Assembly: Prorided, That the right of suffrage
and of holding Office shall be exercised only by ct.
zens of the United States above the age of twenty
years, and those above that age who shall have
declared on oath, their intention to become such,
and shall have taken oath to support the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and the provisions of
this act"
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
"Every white male inhabitant above the age of
twenty-one years. who shall have been resident of
said Territory at the time of the passage of this act
and shall possess the qualifications hereinafter pre-
scrbed shall be entitled to vote at the first election,
and shall be eligible to any Office within the said
Territory; but the qualifications of voters and of
holding Office at all subsequent elections shall be
such shall be prescribed by the Legislative As
sembly: Prouided, That the right of suffrage, and
ofhoding Office shall be exercised only by citizens of
the United States above the age of twenty years,
and those above that age who shall have declared on
oath their intention to become such and shall have
taken oath to support the Constitution of the
United States and the provisions of this act"
MINNESOTA TERRITORY.
EVERY free white male inhabitant above the age
of twenty-one years. who shall have been a resident
of said Territory at the time Of the passage of this
act shall be entitled to vote at the first election and
shall be eligible to any office within the said Terri
tory but the qualifications of voters and of holding
office at all subsequent elections shall be such as
shall be prescribed by the Legislative Assembly
Prorided, That the right of suffrage and Of holding
office shall be exercised only by the citizens of the
United States and those who shall have declared,
oath, their intention to become such, and shall
have taken oath to support the Constitution Of
the United States and the provisions of this act"
NEW MExIco.
every free white male nhabitant above the age
Of twenty one years, who shall have been resident
of said Territory at the time of the passage of this
act shall be entitled to vote at the first election, and
shall be eligible to any office within the said Terri
tory but the qualifications of voters and of holding
Office at all subsequent elections shall be such as
shall be prescribed by the Legislative Assembly
Prorded That the right of suffrage and of holding
office shall be exercised only by citizens of the Uni
ted Sta:es including those recognized as citizens by
the treaty with the Republic of Mexico, concluded
February 2, l54S."
TERI
Every free white male inhabitant above the age
of twentyone years, who shall have been resident
of said Territory at the time of the passage Of this
act shall be entitled to vote at the first election and
shall be eligible to any Office within said Territory
but the qualifications Of voters and of holding office
at all subsequent elections shall be such as shall be
prescribed by the Legislative Assembly: Proride2,
That the right of suffrage and of holding Office shall
be exercised only by citizens of the United States,
including those recognized by the treaty with the
Republic of Mexico, concluded February 2, lS4S."
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS TERRITORIES.
every white male inhabtant above the age of
twenty-one years, who shall be actual resident of
said Territory, and shall possess the qualifications
hereinafter prescribed shall be entitled to vote at
the first election, and shall be eligible to any Office
within the said Territory bnt the qualifications of
voters and Of holding office at all subsequent cleo
tons shall be such shall be prescribed by the
Legislative Assembly: Prorided That the right of
suffrage and of holding Office shall be exersised only
by the citizens of the United States and those who
shall have declared oath their intention to be-
come such and shall have taken an oath to support
the Constitution of the Uued States and the prov.
sions of this act
The Oregon Bill was signed by Gen. Taylor and
the Washington Bill by Mr.. Fillmore, both Pres-
dents elected by the wing party. 1t will be seen
that the alien feature of the Minnesota Bill is
to every Territorial act passed since the organ
cation of government in Oregon. If objectionable it
is not more than the acts of past whig admins
trations and whatever attaches TO such pro-
visions is alike attributable to the whole policy of
the government for years past.
But the truth is this much abused alien feature of
these bills far from being grant of undue priv-
leges to the foreigner, is really conservative and
restrictive provision. The States have the right to
grant suffrage to aliens and free negroes, whereas
these very Minnesota and Kansas Bills prohibit the
expressly provided that the political rights of c-
zenship shall not be conferred upon any persons
ccpt citizens of the u States or those who shall
have declared their intention to become SUCH There
is such restriction upon the States. A: the first
election the qualifications of voters are fixed. But
as soon as a primary government is organized the
right of suffrage is restricted-and the Legislature
of the Territories denied the privilege of extending
it either to aliens or free negroes. The primary
elections are supposed to be held at early period
in the settlement of the Territories, when the
friction of the right of suffrage is comparatively
important. So soon, however, as the government is
organized, the power of determining the qualifca-
tons of voters transferred to the Legislature and
that power under restrictions which do not operate
upon the States. If rightly understood then, this
alien feature is restrictive and conservative clause
which ought to receive the support rather than the
condemnation of native Americans.
The Ball at Brownlow's last evening was quite an
exciting affair." Being little late we could only get
an occasional peep the shoulders of the numer-
GUS spectators The ballroom was brilliantly illu-