Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-06-11
THE TWO YEARS AMENDMENT.

We have been somewhat amused, il not iustruc.I
ted, with the various forms Of special pleading by
which the Republicans Of other States endeavor to
remove from the shoulders of their Massachu.
sets brs,hrern the responsibility which attaches
10 tho adoption in the Bay State Of an amendment
TO the Constitution, extending the term of natorali-
sation two years.
Bearing in mind the fact, that not only in Msssa.
ohusetts, but In souie other State governments the
Republicans have their Know Nothing allies, ami
court. and use the cooperation of that party so far
as possible in the National government, it is no
wonder they should feel n little anxious in regard
TO the effect which such a hostile measure as the
one referred TO-, will probably produce upon the
foreign born citizens they have in their
ranks, or hope to have. The Massachu-
sets movement against citizens of foreign birth,
would seem to indicate that tho Republicans of
that State are willing to he looked upon as consti-
tuting not only a "white mans party" but "a par-
~ for white men of American birth" Although
it was q move that operated badly upon the Repub.
lican party elsewhere, 1t is hardly worth while for
its editors and speakers to attempt to remove from
The shoulders of the party in Massachusetts,, the
burden 1t voluntarily assumed. The measure was
proposed in a Republican Legislature, and put
forth as d Republican measure SO its paternity is
uhdoubted.
Sd The voters of Massachusetts, number considera-
bly, over 200. 600. Less than 10000 votes were
cast for the amendment, and yet it prevailed by
more than 6 200 majority-the vote of either party
being extremely meagre. We are told that if the
Democrats were really opposed to it, they might
easily have defeated il, and would have done so.
IF this be true, then it is even a greater truth, that
il the Republicans were really opposed to it, they
could easily have defeated 1t, and would have done
90. If the rank and file of the party stayed away
from the polls because they were afraid to vote
against a proposition which their leaders favored,
they deserve to lie marked for their cowardice.
We are sometimes half inclined to believe that the
amendment must have adopted itself. The Demo-
cratic party, we are assured, was opposed to it
all the Republicans out of Massachusetts were OPP
posed 20 1t and nearly all in Massachusetts, were
opposed to 1t and yet it has become a part OF the
organic law of the State. The P~usburgh Gazette
intimates that nine tcntbs OF the Republican pa
pers of Massachusetts opposed iti and yet it was
adopted. The press Of the oil Bay State must be
"poperfM ,cake'--as an 1rishman once affirmed
was the condition Of his physical state-or else
the amendment must have been powerful! strong.
The fact of the matter, we suspect, Is simply
this: The Republicans didn't dare to offend their
Know Nothing allies, and were compelled to
grant what they demanded. 1t is only another
item to be added to the long list of compromises
another evidence Of the facility with which pc
litical parties turn their hands to any work which
promises to secure success. The Republican ma
iority, and not the Democratic minority arc re-
sponsible fer it. The members of the party out
side Of The State look upon it as n great mistake,
mud feel that it will injure them, unless special
pleading can partly smooth it over, and local oppo-
sition atone for the blunder.
Anti,slavery principles would lead to the con-
dcmnation OF such q measure, and yet there are
those who are inclined to believe that the extern
sion of the period of naturalization for the term Of
two years. is no. after all so very much more OF
an outrage upon human rights, than is tho prohi.
bition of the elective franchise to all negroes who
do not possess $3.50 in real estate, as is the case in
Republican New York or it's total prohibition tC
the polored man. as is the case in Republican
Ohio, and in many other States where the Repub
lican party bears rule.