Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-29
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.

THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
The suhjo:ned interesting Report on the regula-
ton Of the right of suffrage in the Territories was
made by Mr. ZoLLIcoFyER, from the House Com
mittee on Territories, on the 10th instant
Report.
The Committee on the Territories have had un-
der consideration the bill to regulate and make
uniform the right Of suffrage in the Territories Of
the United States, and they are of opinion that
none but citizens of the United S,ates-that Is,
those who owe allegiance to the Government
should be permitted to exercise any rights of po-
litical sovereignty within such Territories. Some
of the considerations which influence them to this
opinion they beg leave new to state as follows:
In expounding the letter Of the Constitution Of
the United States, the Supreme Court has decided
that 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
firm the soyert ignty, and who hold the posoer and
conduct the government through their representa-
tives." In the preamble to the Constitution it is
declared that the "peope Of the United States"
for the benefit of Themselves and their postsrity,
have ordained and established this Constitution.
The court has also declared that the territory Of
the United States has been "acquired by the Gen.
eral Government as the representatives and trustee
of the people Of the United States, and It (the
territory must therefore be held In that character
for their common and equal benefit" II therefore
appears as settled Interpretation Of the Consti
tuition that the citizens of the United States hav-
ing ordained and established the Government and
acquired the territory for "ther common and
equal benefit" the real political sovereignty,
entifledto "hold the power and condu the Gov
ernment."
Congress is empowered to frame organic laws
for the Territorities; in Doing So it is bound, by
the highest considerations of duty, to take care
that other people than the people or citizens"
of the United States--that is, "the political body
who form the sovereignty' and own the territory
shall acquire the power to control or conduct
the governments established (for the benefit OF
the citizens) over the Territories Of the United
States
Congress is empowered to establish ga uniform
rule of naturalization" that is, uniform rule Of
process by which foreigners to be clothed Nth
the rights of citizenship Should they adopt any
other than uniform rule, it would clearly be in
violation Of the Constitution of the United States
If, for example, in certain localities, it should con-
fer upon oiens political rights of citizenship, and
in others strictly withhold 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 irregularity can only be
reno died by general law of Congress, applicable
to all the Territories. Such law would be just,
wise, and comfortable TO the Constitution; and
the committee are of opinion that one should be
promptly enacted prohibiting any but citizens of
the United States (naturalized and native born)
from holding Office in the Territories.
In popular Government such as ours, where
the voters at the ballotbox actually control and
give direction 10 the Government, the rights of
voting and of holding Office are of the highest
political magnitude, determining, as they may,
forever, the destiny Of the Government ITSELF II
our fathers, indeed, established this Government
for the benefit of citizens of the United States
IL the Territories have been acquired for the com
mon and equal benefit of such citizens, and they,
the citizens, are, by the Constitution, acknowl.
edged to be the /" s,Dereign po,Oerr entitled 10
" conduct the Government" by what rightful au.
thority can Congress presume to extend these po-
tential rights Of citizenship 10 unnaturalized aliens
who ore allegiance TO the Government, who
cannot be required TO take up arms In its defence,
and who could not be punished for treason, should
they arm and cage pdr against IL IN time of parf
Does any enc question that the rights of suf.
frage and Of holding Office are peculiarly and es.
pecally political rights pertaining to citizenship
They are so here, in the very nature OF our Gov.
ernment and have ever been 20 held even in
Governments not purely elective, as ours is.
Aristotle defined citizen 70 be one who partici.
pstes in the Judicial and legislative pover, in
State. In the Roman political system, in England,
and In the United States, all the citizens have not
at all times, been permitted so to participate In
the political powers Of the State-some citizens
being temporarily deprived Of the right Of suffrage
and Of eligibility 10 certain Offices on account Of
not possessing freehold; but in no civilized
country Of the world, other than in the United
States, has any description Of persons other than
citizens svr been aiiO~ed the rights Of suffrage
and of holding office. In this Government, moro
especially than in any other, the rights belong &
to political sovereignty ought to be restricted TO
those who owe TO the Government allegiance