The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-19

constitution but that o that cannot
righfully Judge.
come TO the main question in this debate-the
alien suffrage clause il is called in this constitution
have said that it was new question II il grave
and important one but it is coeval with the government
MI Speaker, if there any subject which was
riously watched and guarded in the formation of the
constitution Of the United States above all others IL
that the federal government should not touch the
right of suffrage in the States The question of who
should vote in the several States left for each State
to settle for itself And, far concerned say
for myself that there IL nothing in the doctrine Of State
rights that would defend and stand by longer and fight
for harder than that which denies the right of the fed
era government by its encroachment to interfere with
the right Of suffrage In my State The ballot box that
is what each State must guard and protect for itself that
is what the people of the several States delegated
to this government and Of II expressly I'M
der the constitution reserved to the people OF the States
Upon the subject OF alien suffrage, about which have
heard much lately wish In this connexon to give
brief history STATE to this House that the principle
recognised by the ordinance Of 1881 which be-
fore the government was formed M ~ tis
/ 1t recognised by the act of 18th August, 1889,
after the government formed Of the first
acts signed by Washingtoan act making provisions for
| carrying out that ordinance.
1t recognised in the territory south in the cesson
| by North Carolina, on the I'd April, l790 a
1t WAS again recognised in the bill creating govern
ment for the Territory Of Tennessee the 26th May
| 1870.
1t recognised in the act of settling the limits of the
State Of Georgia. and creating the Mississippi Territory
on the 7th April 1913. itt
1t recognised in supplemental act to the last on
| the 10th May 1900. M
1t recognised In the division of Indiana Territory,
ON the Sd February, 1902
1t recognised in act for Illinois Territory the
| goth May, 1872
1t recognised in the act organizing the Michigan
territorial government The date of this do not recol
| lect. M @
But cannot take up my time by referring to other in
stances in their order know that in cases voting
in the Territories restricted to citizens This the
in the Territories of Missouri Iowa. Wisconsin,
Utah, and New Mexico; while alien suffrage again
recognised in express terms in the Territories Of Oregon
Minnesota, Washington, Kansas, and Nebraska
Of the Presidents of the United States who in some
form other gave the principle their sanction either in
the Territories States may be mentioned Washington
the elder Adams, Jefferson Madison jackson, Polk Fill
more, and Pierce. Hstss
Reference sir has been made In this debate to speech
made by Mr. Calhoun this subject in the Senate In
1885, the act providing for the admission of Michi-
gan, upon which comments have been made by several
gentlemen. The views of that distinguished statesman
have been presented authority their side. have
simply this to say about that speech cannot find it in
the Globe cannot find it in the debates of the day.
| Mr. RICAUD. I think it il In his published speeches
/ Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia have seen it in his
published works, but cannot find it in the published
reports of Congress 1t stated to have been made in
1886, the bill authorizing Michigan form consti-
tuition Michigan admitted with alien suffrage in
her constitution, the Sd March, 1887 and Mr. Cal
houn does not appear to have made any objection her
admission on that ground. find speeches made by him
he offered substitutes for the bill admitting Michigan
without objection TO the alien suffrage clause in her
stituton- STILL IL stated that this speech of his
made the year beOre the occasion referred and
do not wish to be understood AZ questioning it, That
was on Congress conferng the right He did not raise
any objection to the admission of the State far M
can fnd because of alien suffrage being allowed in her
constitution E8a tSt d
Again the 2Gth of July, ls48, the Clayton com
Piouso spi oi Wy o,sahiAison " oo,ahn sefritofai
p'useu lug eenate' Inc h'th secuon o' the
act proVldes- aasa A. a4e al
That every FREQ white male inhaban above the Of twenty
@ y IT, VINO s nave M @ oeh eaens m q saa Territory ut the
election and shall bo eligible to any once in ad territory bu, M
qualification Of voters and II holding office subsequent
Mons NO., nam po a T ~ M snn h DC pne oy ane egaSs assem-
be exercised on by cxens 81 te unit sae ana these ,s s
haze dlaret oath tsr ntnton
ken an oalt @ support M constitution @ the United Sa' and the pro
' " m ~ VA hlH
on the engrossment OF TINS Dill, the vote was
Mcssrs. Achison, Ahcrton Benton Berrn, Borand
srece Bright Butler Calhoun Clayton Davis Of Mississippi ncken
arviand ,nsnn a. I",,,ana Isin,a ~ s ~ l 1 1
Mangum Mason Phelps Rsk Sebastian spruance Sturgeon rrney
westcctt, and Yulee So
NAfs-aessrs. ~ Aleh baager, baldwin BEL bradbury Clark
Ma GREENE Hale Hanln Meicaifc h1e MAJ In
hnm, wakcr-22. n ~
/ Mr. Calhoun was on the committee which rero,ted
this nrovson and he does no annaar ~ hayin lected
! to r. And though he may have made tbat sneecb in
1896 vet Il ia equally certain and rnc that twelve a,
afterwards he voted for the vcry nr;ncIn, b hsi pra
yiosv opposed His vote for the nrincins in 1919 IN
my opinion is sufficient answer to bs sneech aca;nst
Il in 1886 This is therefore, Mr. Speaker mo new ',us
ton