Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-05

KY, has proposed an amendment TO the
Federal Constitution, in these words:
That only the natural born citizens of
the United States of America, or the citi-
zen naturalized according to an act of
Congress of the United States, shall be
deemed qualified elector under this Con-
stitution, to exercise the right to vote for
q member of the House Of Representatives
of the United States of America.
Whilst we fully concur with the author
of the resolution, in the views that suggest
ed it /; and admit the necessity for some
step that may efficiently protect the ballot
box against the abuses practiced upon it,
we doubt the policy of opening the Consti-
tuition for such purpose--believing that
its provisions are amply sufficient for the
end proposed. The evil complained of,
and which mantles, with blush, the
cheek of every true-hearted American,
originates in no defect of the Constitution,
but in the illicit practices of locofocoism,
which is ready to break down every bar
rier that interposes between that party
and its objects.
The Constitution, as it stands, confers
upon Congress the power to adopt uni
form system Of naturalization and this
cession, by the States, Of this power to the
Federal Government takes from them all
authority to make citizens of aliens, as
effectually as the surrender of the right to
regulate commerce divests them of the
power to impose duties upon foreign i'm
ports. 1t has been the received doctrine,
ever since the adoption of the Constitution
and the locofocos have claimed the doc
trine as peculiarly their own-that the
powers not granted to the federal Govern
ment are reserved to the States. This is
not more true than the doctrine, that the
powers ceded to the general Government
can not be exercised by the States--the
latter grows, necessarily, out of the former
and any other Interpretation is absurd.
IF this be SO, what good can the propos-
ed amendment do? Have we not seen a
locofoco Congress violate:the uniformity
Of the system of naturalization by confer
ing the right of suffrage upon aliens, in
the Territories? Have not locofoco States
constantly exercised the power to make
citizens of aliens, in the face of the Con-
stitution which confers that power upon
Congress? Ifcorrupt lawlessness prompts
them to violate the Constitution, as it is,
the same want of integrity and love of
country would prompt them to violate any
amendment that might be adopted. Were
they American citizens, in pride and prin-
ciple, as they are in name, the Constitution
gives them ample power to protect the
dearest right the native, and to uphold
the honor of American citizenship; but
moved by no love of country, no pride of
birth place, no devotion to the inherent
right of people to rule their own native
land, they violate the Constitution, that
party may flourish and defend the heresies
of Rome, because the descendants of the
scarlet whore and the slaves Of the Pope
are locofocos in instinct as well as prac-
tice. Republican liberty and Protestant
freedom of conscience-the grand char
acteristics of this Government, as originally
designed to elevate man far above
the level to which locofocoism sinks him
and to break down the enobling influences
of free institutions, the catholics are court
ed and rewarded, and the Constitution
violated, that foreigners may make laws
for the government of American citizens
tho natives of the land.
Whilst this base and anti American
spirit actuates the locofoco leaders of the
country; and whilst they can rally to their
standard the followers of Rome and the
foreigners, now so numerous, in our midst,
no amendment, looking to a safer policy,
can be adopted or if adopted, like the
present provision, would remain inert un-
der the pressure of policy at war with
every leading princle of free government.
1t isa disgrace to the country chat any
further provisions should be necessary for
the protection of the rights of native A
mericans in their own government but
the treason which creates that necessity
proves tho hopelessnoss of the attempted
remedy, so long as the traitors to Ameri-
can nationality ignore their country for
the sake of party
81 -
EaS" The Americans, of Kentucky, have
nominated the Hon, Geo Il. McRee as
their candidate for the Gerkship Of the
Court Of Appeals. The nomination does