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

eigner who comes here shall exercise the right of c
zenship or become citizen he shall remain reasonable
length OF time In order TO acquire knowledge of your
Institutions of their workings and TO give evidence to
you that he has intention of residence and
has the permanent welfare Of the country at heart Five
years h sufficient for that purpose but the principle in
voved in this question of be true your nat
uralizatop laws are all wrong Why do not gentlemen
propose repeal the laws and give
man the rights OF citizenship at the lapse of year.
at the lapse of one month"; you please after be into
the country2 You might just well do it do this.
You giving him the first and best right that grows
of citizenship when you give him the right of the
soveregns of the country to form the institutions of the
country and we have deep interest in the old States
as you can have in the Territories We have
interest," If we hope to this Union prolonged that the
institutions which may be adopted in these different Terri
tories shall be of homogeneous character with those Of the
States from which the mass of the people come.
Sir have gone further than intended. The idea is
that II had strength enough to proceed with my
marks should like 70 develop still further Iconsder the
principle Of immense Importance and should be exceed
ing panied to find that the Senate of the United States
adopt so erroneous principle that OF rejecting the
amendment offered by the senator from North Carolina
Mr. BUTLER. agree with my friend from Delaware in
all his views and il the Senate shall to the concu
to reconsider this vote with view of admitting Mime
sofa into the Union by process and by species of su
frage heretofore unknown in my opinion unrecognsed in
more than eighttenths Of the States Of this Unon it will
De precedent Of momentous import do not exactly
agree with my friend from Kentucky, but think he has
gone very far to present in few words the idea which
entertain on this subject He has personded these
States as Benjamin who in the morning. raved at wolf
aud In the evening divided the spos 1t is the with
all powerful communities and it is power debating to us
now, and not right
| have never contended sir nor shall contend now
State shall exclude by its legislation the right of
any one to vote whom it may think proper to adopt in the
bosom of its community. But long stand here and
have power will delegate the right any but such
as think safe portion of the community to admit State
into this Union Territory has flag but the flag of
the conederacy-the stars and strpes-but every State
has its own flag and it is the mark of its sovereignty
will never commit flag to the hands of any community
that have the power to make without saying to them
shall come in by the process heretofore observed and
Dy that process recognised by the laws and constitution of
thecountryR s.E :.
Suppose that in this community of which we are now
speaking Minnesota, there were not any persons but for
eigners who had simply made declaration that they
would become citizens, and after we admitted them they
should Tomorrow take part in with Great Britain
war with France or with Germany, IT would not be
treason in them they would have right to take such
part and you could not punish them and you dare not
the sword of the federal government any other por
tion of your power to put them down. do say that
such would be the think Minnesota ought to have
been perfectly satisfied with what have said to them
we invite you into the Union allow you to come into
the Union provided you other States have done
and provided you come by the invitation of those who
constitute the largest portion of this confederacy.
Sir are the Atlantic States, the old States Of lis
Union to be merely hive to send out simply to
suck the honey of their mether they like Leahs
children to receive all the bounes bestowed upon them
and turn round and expose their mother their father to
the swarmG without gratitude regard2 think they
ought to be content
know sir that this confederacy is to run its course
believe 1t will tread the path and the hazards of all
publcs and believe cannot restrain It, and in my
opinion ii Is not worth while to attempt to restrain it.
Let 1t run fa State attempts to go out of this Unon
you willing the sword put 1t down; and yet
you are perfectly willing to admit into the Union that
may become your adversary tomorrow; and the very
mother that bore you is to be punished because she under
takes to confne you within the sphere Of the constitution
When award flag to Common wealth, shall award
that flag to Commonwealth under such auspices will
enable me to give confidence to those who will it in the
name of the common conederacy the constitution.
am not one of those who "know-nothing but say here
that the two great pillars of the altar of the constitution
are free thought and free conscience agree to them
would not invade them. / would not pull of them
down but think you venurng very far, gentlemen,
in making up the record of history. i
have doubt that this vote will be reconsdered, and
that is oregone conclusion. This may be, and think
1t will be- a Commonwealth quite good as some of the
old ones in which fanacsm is burning to the very bitter
ashes OF disappointment sorry to say it tor be-
leve if utter one sentiment more than another
is that the time will when the old Atlantic States
the old thirteenwl find that they have committed the
miserable issues to separate hem believe sir that the
time will come when those who contending
with almost an nternecine spirit one against the Other
will find that they have committed suicide
But sir that is looking into the future and when the
curtain Of the future is thrown before me- have right
to look beyond it; cannot look beyond it. You
ting for this measure not because your States recognise
as principle but because you think it gives you power
That the truth of it, and it does give you power
vote for it on the ground that cannot resist it. differ
with my friend from Kentucky have right to resist
the admission Of State. l have always had my
doubts whether the admission OF States into this
federacy would perpeuate the Union element to
dissolve it. have had very great doubts this subject
know that all the States nothing but conduits
othe children of the old States and children go there
If they take the part of Benjamin. and the wolf in
the morning. and divide the spon the evening" they must
take their share but in taking their share let it be under
stood that they shall not do IL against the preceps of their
parents sha not consent to the reconsideration OF this
matter, though have hope that shall prevail.
Mr.. PUGH lido not intend to prolong the discussion J;
but wish to correct the senator from South Carolina and
nfh in xuho a
mistake of fact He alleges, ii understand him, that this
is the first instance in which the act authorizing Terri
tory to form constitution and State government has adj
mitted alien suffrage Sir can find but two examples to
the contrary In the whole history of all the States that
have been admitted and those two Iowa and Wiscon
sim So far have been able to examine the statutes
every other State without exception, came in with it.
Mr.. BUTLER Did Alabama come in in that way
MIR. PUGH. Yes sir, with alien suffrage and will
show 1t TO the senator The ordinance Of 1877 expressly
allowed it. 1t required property qualification both for
citizens and aliens After requiring that citizens should
have resided certain period Of time it went on to say
that other persons having certain residence and certain
members OF the territorial legislature That the
dnance of 1887 Under it, the law authorizing Ohio to be
admitted provided that the qualification of suffrage for the
election of members of the should be the same
for members of the territorial legislature So in Iud
ana in Illinois The ordinance Of 1787 except the
anti-slavery clause extended Tennessee and
Tennessee came in with it.
Mr.. BELL, of Tennessee win the honorable senator
allow TO ask hm whether in 1881 there any ques
ton about aliens Were not all inhabitants then regard
ed citizens
MIR. PUGH. do not know whether there was any ques
ton but it was allowed.
Mr. BELL, of Tennessee The question was not made,