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

stated the substance of portion Of my views then Col
There is no question here what is the power of tn
States In reference TO regulating the rights of persons
vote within their limits The right of suffrage Is
rey ntrasted by the constitution Of the United States
the respective States within their limits No doubt
that But the question may arise hereaer-not befor
Congress; we have nothing do with II but 1t may per
haps udica arise whether under the frame of the fed
era constitution, State authorize any but citizen
the United States to That is question which Con-
gress ought not to touch which have jurisdiction
over, aud no connection with. ,taa
i The question here is whether In republican govern
ment protesting to be founded the principle of segov
ernmen which, OF course must the selgovernment
OF those who constitute the community in which 1t exists
the right OF suffrage not necessarily incident to citizen
ship and citizenship alone question Of policy, moi
of right The Congress Of the United States called up
taken In Territory (which certainly is within juris
dienon shat the qualifications OF the Ough,
in such BILL to authorize any other than citizens oil
\ the United States to vote
will mention but single absurdity that is involved in
the proposition which authorizes any but citizen to vote
and defy any gentleman here to it. Certainly
the duty OF the citizen ought in all to correspond
with the right and exist where the right exists. Under
your naturalization laws Congress- having the exclusive
power choose to prescribe the time and mode of natura
zation but declaration ofinenton does make party
citizen. Until foreigner becomes citizen of the Uni
ted States he allegiance to the country to which his
allegiance was due previous to his becoming citizen OF
this country The fact of his coming here does not destroy
that allegiance We cunended for such doctrine
No nation under heaven has contended for such doctrine
When be becomes citizen here hold then that the
change Of allegiance is complete and that he being citi
zen Of the United States we bound to protect him But
duty Of the citizen corresponds with the rights of the
citizen; and the right to make citizsn of the United
States vested in the Congress of the United States alone
Under the laws of nations in all countries it is the right
OF any government If an alien enemy s resident within
its boundary to him from place to another to
place him in personal confinement con6scate his prop
erty If they fit to do That is the right of every
government
The proposition involved in this bill s that you by
general law TO authorize persons declaration of inten
to become citizens which does make them citizens
10 vote at election which is the highest political prvi
lege that can be conferred individual You to
authorize them TO vote when at the very time of voting
they may stand in the relation of alien enemies you
You recognising the principle that the may be
alien enemy at the time when under this BILL he exercises
that right and yet you give HIM partial right of govern
men as well as your own citizens in this Territory in
framing the organic law.
am unwilling, by any vote of mine under any cireum.
stances to sanction what consider violation Of princi-
ple am able to perceive how this provision can be
designated with propriey odious law oious prn-
cple as is alleged by the honorable senator from Illinois
Nor confess am aDle to understand how the honorable
from Missouri after hs able argument against the
right of Congress to do this should tell that he will
IN favor OF because eight ago Congress committed
mistake when no question raised in authorizing per-
TO vote whom they ought not have authorized to
vote see no declaration Of right in that. We not
interfering with the right of State We merely
scr6ng here who the to select the
tatves who to form the organic law of that State in
they determine to apply for admission into the federal
Union, having the proper population for that purpose
What makes this provision odiOus2 Is the principle odi-
GUS that in republic you choose to copne the right of
voting to citizens OF your country, whether native born
slsedf Is not the law of more than half the States
OF this Unon2 Is it not founded the soundes princi
pie of selfpreservation in repubc2 Would it not be
government of Others and of themselves II any
ny were to authorize those who do not the duties of
citizens TO exercise these rights and privileges of citizens
Tnen what is there odiou In your prescribing restriction
Of thus kind over the right Of yoting2 nothing to
justify the appellatiop. .sIs
1 ma me- thpre 10 dane in nortic cula
case that any such exgency will occur There may be
s1ch danger in this but in reference great political
principles as well as in reference to the great principles Of
MORALS there be violation in the with
out ultimate injury TO the character of the individual
in the other without detrment the interests
of the country You violating great political princi-
pie when you authorize by your legislation to vote
on mere declaration of intention to become citizen,
which does not make him bound by allegiance this gov
ernment destroy his allegiance to the country from
which he came war to take place with that coun-
try, anecedeny to his exercise of this right he would
stand in the position Of alien enemy and in that posi-
ton you could send him out Of the country you could
conhscae his property and yet to person situated
you propose to ntrust the right of sovereignty 1t is
right OF partial sovereignty in the Territories Of the United
States for the purpose of forming its organic law.
Sir hold the principle too important to be passed
1t may be that there other in which, with
out struggle such bills have been passed but far
my recollection goes in the only in which they have
ever up the Senate Of the United States there has
always been majority against the adoption OF this mod
policy In the former regulations OF the government
was Always aunereu reference
to the Kansas BILL when the question first up in the
Senate in 1854 majority voted to restrict the right of
suffrage to citizens alone 1t 5 true when went to the
House of Representatives, an amendment adopted
there and when IT came back again. from anxiety TO
pass the bill which, ii supposed, would aay all agi-
aton and give peace and harmony to the country vast
numbers of democratic senator's contrary to their opn
ions then announced abandoned their position in ref
to what they considered minor principle but
which did not and they voted in favor ofadopng the
House BILL At the very last session of Congress- when the
question In regard to authorizing Kansas to form
citizens Of the United States alone should vote by very
large majority of the members then present
AS regards the honorable senator from Missouri and
his why his vote should be changed in reference
this measure confess they to not to be entitled
to the weight that the rest of his argument Is the
soundness of the principle for which contend Because
eight years ago you passed improvdent law you
now when yon called upon pass another law still
to continue in that species OF improvidencc though he ad
ms il is against right and against the duty Of Congress
cannot understand that In reference Kansas then,
shall be bound hereafter in regard her. though the
spec and restored the qualification of voters where it
ought in the first instance have stoodto citizens of the
United States aone-to allow persons who not cit
izens to VOTE ls not that the arguments
have hostility to foreigners do not desire to pre-
vent immigration to this country; but for my life
how in what mode this is prevent immigration
do not think the foreigner has right to ask it. He
If the State into which he goes chooses permit him
that question for her be has the right OF hospitality
he has the right of carrying business All these things
are irrespective Of citizenship but the right Of voting
political power which is and ought to be incident c
zenship alone and If be comes here with view 10 per-
manent residence that restriction is certainly not
natural or improper one be denomnated odous
to that he shall reside here for period of time which