The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-10

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1ueoAay - sesss Nay 10s 1851
The TIVE Years ADo0A0one % tAo
Il Co0sais1s10@s09 0a6oAch0oeses.
s0soatpe Wilsoa q Massachusetts, - eaid .
eeasrous asd timely ~oed On the ssbject Of The
peepesi6ea sev hsfsss he people Of Maasa-
eAasetas % nAks rsaidsaes Of two pears me-
eSsnry, alsss nstaralimsion, before the adopted
sltissn = psraisssd 70 vote. The Legislature Of
Massachusetts, have already passsd upon the
question, and have refsrred IL 70 the vote Of
the people, ID order that, il ratified BY them,
this resssiction Of tie political rights Of men Of
lorsign birth may bscoos lav. We doubt
whsthss shs ssbjscs has been very thoroughly
discussed before taking this step; elese the rea-
sons presented By Senator Wilson would, We
ass slsess ssrs. have prevented even the con
disisssl sppsoval Of such measure, aad caus.
edit 70 Be dismissed - an absurdity. The Re-
psblican party in Massachusetts, says the
Esvsoing Post, claim 70 found their legislation
On the principle Of our Declaration Of Indepen.
dsAcs whish declares that "all men are born
free and equal" To adopt the measure now re-
1srrsd 70 would Be Aauy to contradict this prin.
eipls, BY creating most odsous and invidous
distinction. "If," says Ne. Wilson, with great
force and perfect TRUTH In his rseecent letters 70
Mr.. Gillette, Of Hartford, s'the Republicans Of
Massachusetts, adopt this proposed amendment,
the Republicans Of other States will be re-
preached and tainted for this action Of their ~.
sociasse They viii bs told, - they have a.
ready been told, that Massachusetts, allows the
gnorant, brutalissd fugitive negro slave to vote
after the residence Of one year, while she re-
qsires Of the Englishman, the scotchman, the
lrishman, the German, and the Frenchman, who
may have resided Eve years within her limits,
further residence Of Two years, after he becomes
. citizen Of the United States, before be can b
allowed the right Of suffrage"
After this simple enuciation Of the inconsis'
tent and absurd position 70 which every Re-
publican who should vote for requiring the ad-
ditioual two years residence Of every naturaliz-
Cd citizen would b brought, further argument
10 superauous. The Republicans cannot support
she measure, without laying themselves open
either 70 the charge Of being wanting in either
honesty or common sense.
What may be the abuses which occur under
the present practice Of naturalizing citizens in
haste at the moment Of An election, and then |
rushing them'to the polls, 70 not now the subject
inquiry. Be these - great - they may, this |
10 not the method BY which they are to be rene
died The question which 10 now brought up
IL, whether the Republicans Of Massachusetts,
shall be false to the great cause Of political equal
y, and TO the generous maxims Of legislation
which they profess The question is whether,
BY glazing proof Of their DISCARD for the very
principles on which the Republican party is
founded, they shall bring that party into
liscredit throughout the other States Of the
Union.
1t 10 for these reasons that we feel deep in
crest in the question now before the people Of
We shall do our best to keep
he record Of our party fair and stainless, and
We should protest emphaticaly against being
irawn into the reproach Of insincerity by the
sonduct Of those who belong to that party in
mother State. We hope, therefore, the Repub-
leans of Massachusetts, will meet the measure
II the polls BY . negative so emphatic that
here will be no danger of its resuscitation till
he controversies of the present day are for
yotten.