The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-05-20
n the States respectively for their own con.

ASohVur VIII tnat Esnticmau htu win
Others who have spoken on the subject, that
II were discussing bill 10 authorize tho
organization Of territorial government, /
would limit the right Of suffrage in the Ter.
ritory to citizens Of the United States.
That tar Congress has right TO 90, and
that tar sense OF expdiency and right will
induce tho 10 20
tSut, SIR, we are not now discussing what
Congress might do in determining the elect
i've franchise in Territory for territorial
purposes. We are now discussing the pro-
visions Of the constitution OF Minnesota. Ii
is true, Minnesota is no, yet State; but it
is also true that In our action upon this con.
s'i,ution VT have 20 net upon Il ms il il were
State. II. then, We undertake to say that
the provision tthe constitution recognizing
the right Of uunaturalixed Foreigners to vote
Is yiolaiiye oi tho Constitution ol the Uni.
tod States, w assert tho power OF Congress
to determine in whom the elective franchise
shall rest IN the several States, We can,
with the same propric,y, and with the same
justice and upon the same principle. II that
proposition bc true say 10 the State Of Penn.
sylyana, or To the State Of Virginia. that
no unnatnrallxod person Ia either Of those
States shall be an elcctor. There seems TO
be strange conlounjlng Of the power OF
Congress 10 authorize the naturalization of
foreigners with the right Of the States 90
determine who ARE qualified electors under
their laws and constitutions. While the
right has been reserved 10 Congress 10 pass
general naturalization law, no power has
been reserved to Congress TO declare who
shall be the electors Of State. Aud |
taks 1t TO be truo and updenIable, that any
State Of this Union may authorize women
Ia vote II Il secs proper or that minors may
vote II IT thinks proper, or II may authorize
slaves though the gentleman from Mary
land doubts ito vote. There Is no power
in Congress to revise tho action Of Stats
whore It would affect the right Of representa-.
ton upon this floor
Mr., MAYNARD. would enquire Of the
gentleman from Texas whether he thinks
that, under the Constitution Of the United
States, either an individual State or tho
people Of Territory, in forming u constitu.
ton, would have tho right 10 confer the
right OF suffrage upon and ulicn enemy
Mr.. llkAoAx. | will not undertake TO
answer that question now. II il not peril.
nent 10 the question before us. | may say
this, however that by the law Of nations
"a law which would be recognized In acting
upon any State question cannot do NJ,
unless We are prepared To commit legal trca.
sou. cannot ace why the question was
asked. II can have no relation to the do
mcstic government Of the country.
Mr.. KELLY, Of New York, endeavored to
obtain the floor to submit remarks on the
subject Of emigration and the naturalization
OF foreigners but be was ruled out Of order.
Mr.. ASDEiu-os, American, Of Missouri.
spoke ut length in opposition TO the admission
Of the State, with its constitutional provi-
sons relative TO the right Of suffrage, The
following " the concluding portion Of his
speech
Sir. this IL said 10 be an age Of progress
In the arts and sciences, in mechanics aud
agriculture. il is empbatically 80 but, in
my humble Judgment 80 far as science Of
government Is concerned II IL MI agc u rcck-
less innovation aud wild adventure. Neither
laws nor constitutions can say the ruthless
hand Of demagoguei-m aud political empiri-
cisn. Every barrier erected by the plrcst
patriotism, operating on the highest in,olli.
gcncc. must give way before the JsH spirit Of
party. aud the luordnaic md selfish ambi.
ton Of man. Sir. the question inay well
force iisslf upon every rejecting mind, IL the
nationality u this mighty Republic 10 be
dcatroycIf Are our laws 10 he made and
our constitutions TO be framed by foreigners
Are We no longer able to govern ourselves
10 pilot the mighty ship Of State. AZ nobly
and Ina osticalIy fashioned and safely launched
upon the ocean Of freedom by our illus.
trons ancestors.
Is this country dedicated 10 human liber
ty; rich IN all the varied productions oi
earth possessing every element OF material
nDd political creatures and beauty, magnih.
ccnce and prosperity, that the humnD mind
can conceive OF or the human heart desire,
10 be the receptacle Of the overlooking na-
iions oi the globe, into whose bosom IL Ia he
thrown the redundant population OF the Old
World many 81 whom are transmitted by
their Governments In consequence Of their
crimes and pover,yi And are they TO be
our pSrs IN the executive, judicial and lcgs.
lative administration Of our Government,
M ARE American citizens born beneath the
flag Of my country. With revolutionary
blood courspg my veins, solemnly protest
against il. LIT Others do ~ they may, |
shall not vote for the admission 0f State
into this Union WHOSE constitution tolerates
alien suffrage, ~ long M ! remain q member
Of the American Congress.
Sir, ask not 10 close our doors against
the "dpwntrodden' millions Of Europe--the
honest and industrious let them come this
~ the
Land Of the fee and home Of the brave"
Let them be protected 10 the enjoyment
u life, liberty and property. LIT them be
come iaI.iliar with our Institutions, our form
Of government. the principles upon which It
Is administered. LIT them learn our lam
guage, become aSsimila.ed to u in our man
A e..l,, ~s,l