Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-20
Regulation of Right of Suffrage In
the Territories.

House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,, May 10, 1858.
Mr.. ZOLIICoFFER, from the Committee on Ter
ritories, made the following Report.
The Committee on the Territories have had
under consideration the bill to regulate and
make uniform the right of suffrage in the Ter
ritories of the United States, and they are OF
opinion that none but citizens of the United
States-that is, those who owe allegiance to the
government-should be permitted to exercise
any rights of political sovereignty within
such Territories. Some of the considerations
which influence them to this opinion they beg
leave now TO state, as follows:
In expounding the letter of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, the Supreme Court
has decided that a. the words people of The
United States and citizens are synonymous
terms, and mean the same thing. They both
describe the political body who, according TO
our republican institutions form the sovereignty,
and who hold ue po'oer and conduct The govern
me,a through their representatives" In the
preamble to the Constitution it is declared,
that the people of the United States" for
the benefit of Themselves and their poSterity have
ordained and established this Constitution.
The court has also declared that the territory
of the United States has been Z" acquired by
the general government as the representative
and trustee Of The people Of lie United States and
ii (the territory must therefore be held in
that character for their common and equal benefit -
1t therefore appears a settled interpreta-
ton of the Constitution, that the citizens OF
the United States, having ordained and estab-
lished the government and acquired the terri
tory for their common and equal benefit. -
are the real political sovereignty, entitled 10 hold
The pOtrer and conduct the gorerRmentn
Congress is empowered to frame organic
laws for the Territories; in doing so, it is
bound, by the highest considerations of duty,
10 take care that no other people than the 80 peo-
pie or citizens" Of e United Stdtes-that is 1.-The
political body who form he sopeeignty" AID
otcn use territory-shalf acquire the power to
control or conduct the governments estab-
lished flor the benefit of the citizens) over the
Territories of the United States.
Congress is empowered To establish a uni
form rule of naturalization" that is, a uni
form rule or process by which foreigners are
TO be clothed cilh the rights Of citizenship. Should
they adopt any other than "A uniform rule, it
would clearly be in violation of the Constitu-
ton of the United States. II, for example, in
certain localities, il should confer upon aliens
political rights of citizenship, and in others
strictly with old from them all such rights,
it is clear that such rule of action would not
only be not uniform. but contrary to the plain
spirit Of the Constitution. This is the precise
state of things now existing in the Territories.
In some of them aliens are permitted TO vote
and TO hold political Office; while in others
they are wholly debarred from exercising
such prerogatives of citizenship. This irreg-
ularity can only be remedied by general law
of Congress, applicable To all the Territories
Such law would be just, wise and conform
able to the Constitution; and the committee
are Of opinion that one should be promptly
enacted prohibiting any but citizens Of the
United States (natuFaliZed and native born)
from voting or holding Office In the Terrific
ries.
In popular government such as ours.
where the voters at the Sallot-box actually
control and give directions 10 the govern
ment the rights of voting aud of holding OF
flee are of the highest political magnitude,
determining, as they may, forever. the desti
ny If the government ITSELF Ii our fathers
Indeed, established this government for the
benefit of esfiz>ss ef tie IjsifaR Stats; il The
Territories have been acquired for the COM
mon and equal benefit OF such citizens, aud
they, the citizens, are, by the Constitution,
acknowledged 10 be the s'snreTsiga posrer'' ga
taief 10 :" eondsof fAssorenrea,R by what right
full authority can Congress presume 20 extend
these potential rights Of citizenship to unnat-
uralized aliens whe osrs oailegi1nes 20 the gov
eminent, who cannot be required 10 take up
arms in lis dsfs.es, and who could not be pun
shed Tor treason. should they ARA and ssags asar
agass.si Il ia sssae II ,rsuy
Does any one question that the rights of
suffrage and OF holding Office are peculiarly
and especially political rights pertaining 20
citizenship, They are so here, In the very
nature Of our government. and have ever
been 40 held even In governments not purely
elective, az oars Is Aristotle defined cifi-
zen TO be one who participates Ia the jadsaaf
and iegssiafsrs pososrs IN a Stafs In the Roman
political system. In England. and in the Uni
ted States, al the eitizens have mo-, at all
tines. been permitted 80 10 participate in the
political powers Of the State-sous eitixsss