Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-05-27


present the question more specifically, ca,
confer on hum The right Of uOting, would in
volve the absurdity Of giving him direc
and immediate control over the action Of The
General Government, from which he has NJ
right TO claim protection, and TO which ht
has no right TO present Z petition That the
full force 'f the aburdity may be felt, il
must be borne in mind that every depart.
ment Of the General Government is either
directly or indirectly under the control oI
the voters in the several States. The Con.
stitution wisely provides that the voters for
the most numerous branch Of the Legisla-
lures in the several States, shall vote for the
members ofthe House Of Representatives
and, as the members of this body are cho-
sen by the Legislatures of the States, and
the presidential electors either by the Leg
lslatures or voters in the several States, II
follows as have stated, that the action st
the General Government is either directly
or indirectly under the control of the voters
OF the several States. Now, admit that @
State may confer the right of voting on all
aliens, and ii will follow, as matter Of ne
cessary consequence, that we nigh, have
among our constituents persons who have
not the right TO claim the protection of the
Government, or TO presen, petition 10 it.
| would ask my colleague if he would will
ingly bear the relation OF Representative to
those who could not claim his aid, as Sena-
tor, 10 protect them from oppression, or to
present petition, through him, to the SEN
ate, praying for redress Of grievances?-
And yet such might be his condition on the
principle for which he contends.
But still greater difficulty remains
Suppose war should be declared between
the United States and the country to which
the alien belongs-suppose, for instance,
that South Carolina should confer the right
Oi voting on alien subjects of Grea, Britain
residing within her limits, and tha, war
should be declared between the two ceun-
tries: what, in such event, would be the
condition of that portion of our voters?-
They, a. alien enemies, would be liable 10
be seized under the laws Of Congress, and
TO have their goods confiscated and them
selves imprisoned or sen, out Of the cnun-
try. The principle that leads TO such con-
sequences cannot be true; and l venture
nothing in asserting that South Carolina, al
ct least, will never give it her sanction or
consent tc act in it. She never will assent
TO incorporate, as members Of her body-pol-
lite, those who mi ght be placed in so degra-
ded a condition and SO completely under
The control Of The General Government"
Mr.. Calhoun also inquiries into the ob-
iects Of the Constitution in conferring cn
Congress the authority Of passing uniform
laws Of naturalization, and says;
in comforting this power, the framer.
Of the Constitution must have had two OBJ
jects in view: one 10 present competition
between ths States in holding cut induce
nents :or the emigration OF foreigners; and
the other to prevent their improper infu-
ence over the General Government, through
such States as might natinnalize foreigners,
and could confer on them the right of ex-
ercising the elective franchise, before they
could be sufficiently informed Of the nature
Of our institutions, or were interested in
their preservation. Both Of these objects
would be defeated, if the States may confer
sn aliens the right of voting, and the other
privileges belonging to citizens. On that
supposiiiou, it would be almost impossible
10 conceive what good could be obtained,
or evil prevented, by conlerring the power
on Congress. Tie power would be per-
fectly nugatory. a State Nigh, hold cnt
very improf er inducements 10 emigration,
as freely as if The power did not exist, and
might ccnfer on the alien all the political
privileges belonging TO a native-born citi-
zen, moi only 10 the grea; injury Of the goy-
ernment Of the State, but 10 IN improper
control OF the Government over The Union.
To illustrate what have said, suppose ihe
dominant party in New York, finding po-
litical power about to depart from :hem,
should, TO maintain their ascendency, extend
The right Of suffrage to the thousands of 4
liens OF every language, and from every
portion of the world, that annually pour
into her great emporium: how deeply might
The destiny Of the whole Union be affected
BY such measure! 1t nigh; in fact place
he control over the General Government
in the hands Of those who know nothing Of
our institutions, and are Indifferent. as to TIC
Of the country"
Michigan has attempted 10 confer the
light 10 vote on aliens. She has no author
ty 70 csnfer such right under the Cans!itu-
ion. l have concIusively shown that e
State does not possess it, much less Ter
-itory, which possesses no power except
such ss is conferred by Congress- Con-
,ress has conferred 10 such power c..
Michigan, nor, indeed, could confer it, ns
t has no authority, under the Constitution,
,ver the subject, except TO pass uniform
avs Of naturalization. ......... I
Thus spoke the distinguished southern
tatesman. -.r-r -,i I
Suppose, Mr. Chairman, that the foreign 1
,mipratisn to the United States for one !
Year should concentrate in Minnesota: do
We not know that they would havs the
.omp!ets control Of the government Of that
State, with all its machinery and officers?
Are we, the interiors Of the best and no.
lest Government on The earth, with insti- /
uiion. fashioned and approved BY patriots