The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-12
MASSACHUSETTS.

We regret to say that sharp contest is GO
ing on in Massachusetts, within the ranks of the
Republican party. The question at issue is
presented in the proposed amendment of the
Constitution which prohibits foreign-born citi-
zens from voting for two years after their nat
uralization under the laws Of the United States.
1t is much to be regretted that the State which
has been foremost in extending the guarantees
of Freedom to the fullest extent to the despised
and down-trodden black race, should be behind
even the slaveholding South in hberality to
adopted citizens Of our own race. 1t Is admit
ted that abuses in the exercise of the elective
franchise exist, which should be corrected.
Senator Wilson, in an able letter on this sub
iect, heretofore referred to, says:
"This two years amendment is intended to
correct an admitted evil. During the past few
years, a practice has grown up which must re-
ceive the condemnation of men who wish to
keep our elections free from falsehood, fraud,
and corruption. ] refer to the practices of par
ty committees, by which men are hunted up,
rushed in crowds to the courts, and their natur
alization papers procured and paid for by such
committees, to affect a pending election. The
effect of this pernicous practice is to induce, In
some cases, falsehood and fraud, and to make
many of the men thus naturalized the tools of
the men who pay for their papers. The adyo-
Gates of this two years amendment believe that
its adoption will tend to correct these abuses,
and many good men will vote for its adoption,
who have no PREF udice against men born in
other lands Did the proposed amendment re-
uuire only of the adopted citizen residence
of one year in the State after naturalization, be-
/ q L 4ho rio Of
the same time now required Of native born citi
/ zens in other States, or six months residence
| in the town, the same time now required Of our
/ own native-bo citizens, all the benefits hoped
/ for by the advocates of this amendment would
| be secured, and little if any opposition would
! be made to it from any quarter of the country.
| But the amendment in its present form seems
to have an invidious and offensive distinction
against men who were born in other lands"
The Republicans of Iowa and other Western
States have sent to Massachusetts, formal pro-
tests, in the name of the common cause of Re
publicanism, against the ratification of this
proposition. Apart from the local injustice it
will inhict upon the adopted citizens of Massa-
chusetts, its effect upon the character of the
party throughout the Union, as the CONSERVATION
of universal Freedom, will be injurious. The
Sham Democracy, in spite of their affected re-
gard for foreign-born citizens, pray earnestly
for the adoption of this two years amendment
by the Republicans of Massachusetts. They
are willing to see thousands of their dear friends
disfranchised, in order thereby to infict damage
upon the Republican party. We have heard ii
suggested that the remnant of the servile De
mocracy which still exists in Massachusetts,
will stultify themselves by voting secretly for
the proposed amendment, in order to bring
disgrace upon the Republicans.
Senator Wilson deserves great credit for the
wise and liberal course he is pursuing in refer
ence to this matter; and we are gratifed tc
perceive that other leading Republicans here
tofore connected with the American party, have
pursued similar course. GoysrpQr, r. Iaa5pk
understood to be opposed to the lliberal prop
osition.
Since writing the above, the election has
taken place, and the result would seem to be
the reverse of what we had hoped I