Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-17
HON. ANTHONY KENNEDY,
OF MARYLAND;
AGAINST
THE ADMISSION OF MINNESOTA.


THE ADMISSION OF MINNESOTA.
Mr.. KENNEDY Mr.. President, before the
final vote is taken, desire to say few words
in explanation Of the vote l shall give do
not rise for the purpose of discussing at length
any OF the provisions either of the bill or of the
constitution submitted to MS. I intend to vote
against the admission OF Minnesota upon tho
simple and broad ground that in my humble
Judgment its constitution contains provisions.
directly at variance with the Constitution of
the United States. am opposed to it because
itinvolyes principle, in my humble Judgment,
directly in conflict, not only with the Constitu,
ton of the United States, but with the rights
of the Southern States. It claims the consti-
tutional power to confer the right of suffrage
upon class of inhabitants not recognized by
the Constitution of the United States. 1t in
wolves principle which comes directly in con-
flict with the principles Of party that have.
the honor to represent on this floor, whose great
leading doctrine is directly in conflict with this
principle; and should be unjust to myself
and recreant to the duty that is devolved upon
me, if did not yindicate the principle of that
party, to slight extent, at least, in giving the
reason why vote against this bill. : | am not
now referring particularly to the bill for the
admission of Minnesota at all because really
that bill is matter Of very little importanec TO
! me; but intend to vote against the admission
of the State with this constitution which she
has sent here. Its seventh article, in regard
to the elective franchise, declares
J "SEc. !. Every male person of the age Of
'twenty-one years or upwards, belonging to
either of the following classes, who shall have
resided in the United States one year and in
the State for four months next preceding an
election, shall be entitled TO vote at such elec-
ton, In the election district Of which he shall
at the time have been for ten days resident,
for all offices that now are, or hereafter may be
elective by the people: :,
list White citizens of the United States
I'D. White persons Of foreign birth, who
shall have declared their intehtion to become
citizens conformably to the laws Of the United
States upon the subject Of naturalization ,...t
3D.. Persons Of mixed white and Indian
blood, who have adopted the customs and hab-
its Of civilization.
4th Persons Of Indian blood residing in
this State, who have adopted the language,
customs, and habits Of civilization, after an ex-
animation before any district court Of theState,
in such manner as may be provided by law,
and shall have been pronounced by said court
capable Of enjoying The rights Of citizenship
within the State
"Sec. Z. Every person who, by the proyis-
ions Of this article, shall be entitled TO vote at
any election, shall be eligible to any Office
which now is, or hereafter shall be, elective by
the people in the district wherein he shall have
resided thirty days previous TO such election,
except as otherwise provided in this constitu-
ton, or in the constitution and laws Of the
united States"
| Now, sir, the ground take, and the ground
! taken by the party that have the honor to
represent, is that alien suffrage and squatter
sovereignty must be reppdiated Having as
serted these principles before the people OF my
own State, and being prepared TO vindicate
them here, ! cannot give my sanction TO the
admission Of State with constitution con-
taining so clear aa infraction Of the provisions
Of the Constitution Of the United States, as
that article contains for IL you admit the right
Of aliens, not naturalized, to take part 10 your
elections-men who really cannot claim the
| protection or the Government; who have no
! right to come here and petition for aredress Of
| grievances until the mantle Of citizenship has
been put upon therh, in accordance with the
laws Of Congress and the Constitution of the
United States-you permit that class Of indi-
viduals in this country to control directly the
action Of Congress, and, perhaps, the destiny
Of this nation Sir, | know that | am taking
very broad ground in making this declaration
II know that am assuming much in this
bedy when undertake to say that people who
are not citizens Of the United States have no
right to vote by the suffrage which may be
conferred upon them. by the action Of a State
government; but it has been contended on this
Aoor and ably and strongly by some Of the
giant intellects Of former days, that the princi-
| pie on which ] act in this matter is correct
one. We are now, in some degree, rcaping the
fruits Of the loose and cheap right Of suffrage
which has been conferred upon the people Of
this country. There has been Of late power
aggrcgating itself in one section Of the country
upon the adverse proposition 10 that which /
have stated here, which, II not checked, If not
controlled, win before long sweep from us that
right and that equality which we Of the South
ern States hold in this Union.
Upon former occasion, | said that was
opposed to squatter sovereignty, because it
disturbed the principal equilibrium that had
existed between the States, on strict construc-
ton and enforcement Of the guarantees Of the
Constitution Of the United States, I opposed
II because Il opened the door 70 an unequal
contest with persons who came here and claim