The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-17
Letter from senator Raar1an.
Mr.. PLEAsANr, Iowa, !
Nav g. A. d.. 1870. {

propoundng three several interrogatories v,
I, received to day. Having no opportunity ,
;" conference with them, reply for myself, alon
r not intending to compromise the opinions ,
any one else. You enquire
81. Are you in favor of the naturalizatio
laws as they stand and particular as ainst ever
d extension Of the probation tme:"
;, W DO you regard it a solemn duty Of th
Republican party as the party Of equal rights I
oppose and war upon each and every dscrimins
u ton that may be attempted to be made bt
n tween the native born and adopted citizen as
= the right Of suffrage" 'And
:. Do you distinctly condemn the late sctio
Of the Republicans in the Massachusetts, Leeiela
ture. excluding the adopted citizen ior tw,
years. from the ballot box as unwise. unjust an,
uncslleL ior?"
. fou then inform me that you desire my an
answer for publication, which seems to impl,
the necessity of assigning reasons for the opin
ions may express. This will do as briefly q,
the magnitude Of the subject will permit.
| heartily endorse the declaration of princi
pie made by the good and great men who
founded this republic: "That all men are created
equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator,
with certain inallenable rights; that among
these ate lie, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. That TO secure these rights governments
are instituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent OF the governed"
These and kindred rights are elementary, orr
ginal, and fundamental. They were not created
by laws or constitutions, but are inborn-they
are inseparable from our common humanity: Q
denial of them to any human creature is an act
OF tyranny, whether perpetrated by Republic
or Despotsm, whether under the forms of
law, or by the arbitrary will of an absolute
Monarch; because the possession of these rights
Is essential to the happiness and welfare of
every rational member of society, and their
surrender to the State is not necessary to secure
good government: In relation to these rights
all men are absolutely equal. And it is for the
protection Of these rights and this equality that
political governments are instituted.
But governments cannot be established, SO az
to give security to life, liberty and property,
without the enactment, the Interpretation, and
execution of wise and just laws, regulating the |
conduct of the members of the community to-
ward each other. These laws should emanate |
from the people who are to obey them. But in |
very large communities, including the people
OF a State or OF the Confederation, it is impos-
sioie for the body of the people to meet in mass
convention to enact laws,-to interpret or to
enforce them Their numbers would be too
great for deliberation. The nearest possible
approach TO this, is the selection by the body of
nf in i'm, tod !
their wisest and best men, as their agents. to
II eet in council the agents or representatives of
other districts for this purpose. And in a SIM
liar mode to select other agents to serve as
Judges in courts oil justice, and others as execu.
tive officers.
That these agents or representatives of the
people may be selected with convenience in a
majority OF the States ballot is used, on which
each citizen indicates his preference, with the
understanding that the choice Of a majority
shall be the representative OF all.
his brings me to the consideration of the
practical question, who shall be permitted to ,
vote for law makers, Judges and Governors, and
collateral agents." which involves a reply to $
'our first and second interrogatores. The an :
'wer Is easy-"All the members OF the COM !
nunity who are to be required to obey these :
Use OF this prerogatve." q
Sei-preseryation is no more the right of the n
than the duty OF the civil eommuni- +
y. The safety OF lite, liberty and property, O
equlres stable government, and wise and I
lst laws. These eau be secured only by Sc q
Getting wise aud just law makers: and this can
De Elected only by the exercise OF intelligence il
ihu virtue oy the voters IN making the seec- r
lon. Hence all tie members Of society uho b
he IN ,s-f..z
LIQUID be permitted to cote. Those who are .x- a
;luded by this rule, well as those who are r
moraced by it., are equally interested in its h
observance; Tor all interested in the sta
llity of society. ~
IL would very difficult TO establish a STAN O.
ard OF intelligence, morality aud patriotism by r.
Ihich voters could be measured: but the oil iect NJ
an be partially attained by indirection Acung y
n this principle the trainers OF the State Con. n
tituton hayr provided that all white male citi- q
ems oi the United States, who have resided in NJ
he State six months may vote at ali elections. :,
'mar provisions are found in the constitutions in
II all the States. THIS excludes all, male and i,
emale, under tue age OF twenty one years. II
iany under that age may be both intelligent m
nd virtuous-more SO than others who are fe
der but It would be very difficult 10 legislate n
o as to meet each individual case: and as a | q,
arge majority under that age are supposed to TO
general. m,
IL are excluded. Females of every age are m
xcaded by this provision, from the ballot box r.
they are all excused from holding Office and tn
caring arms, and from all personal taxes. II al
so excludes all persons OF foreign birth who Nh
re but temporary residents in the country or
hey are excluded On the principle that no one n,
au be citizen oil two countries at the same re
me, that they ought not to become members h,
political society here, while they continue a
embers OF political society abroaa: that they vi
'oud not be entrusted with the guardianship m
our institutions while they maintain their 40
legiance to another government that those IN
bo MAINTAIN their allegiance to Napoleon, Vic tn
ria or Alexander, tor example, ought not to hi
entrusted with tie election of our presidents IN
,vernors or congressman, DC. 1t Is not neces- tn
ry Tor their enjoyment OF civil liberty during he
temporary soJourn among US that they should ps
tie, hold Office, make our laws, bear aims, or se
our armies and naves. These are not FRI
lturat rights common to all men by the gilt b,
God, sucn as the right TO lite and proper, v; or
ey are political rights conferred on indvid 10
is by community. The moment foreigners th
nd on our shores they enjoy the protection of ca
lr laws in common with those born in the or
untry. They may enjoy and exercise all the b,
turai ris hts OF free men in free country- ri,
IT they are not vested with political franchises sls
ARE n0t permitted to hold office nor to par ii,
:ipate in the selection OF law makers, Judges en-
ID executive officers until they have in good m
ith dissolved their political connections with th
e country from which they emigrsted, and &C
ntracted allegiance with this. 81
Under our naturalization laws they are re- til
Tired 10 manifest their intention to become ev
Lizens by q solemn oath in a court of record, nc
ID by 4 residence in the country for period pc
five years: and then to prove TO the salts. be
ctlon OF the court, that they have behaved as pr
en- of good moral character, that they are NJ. In
ched to The principles OF the Constitution OF ov
g United States, and well disposed towards si,
e same. (See Statutes at large VOL II, page vi
,3) dc
This seems to accord with the principle which y"
nave mentioned THAT all the members Of the =,
immunity possessing the requisite intelligence ~ :"
ID virtue should be per.Aitied to vote" For w
gners are not legally members Of our political &c
lnlly until they have ceased to be subjects OF "a
her governments, and formally, and IN good ,e' e
n al % th.u,a