Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-11
The sams3sfen of Oregon.

the Union. The report Is an able one-as is
everything else that proceeds from it's distin-
g1ished author He objects to the admission
fist because OF insufIiciency of population to
constitute State, and condly because she
has Incorporate into her Constitution the
viilainoLs modern provision. allowing IN
natur,liz d foreigners to vote. We make
some extracts from this able report
The population of the proposed State is
not yet sufficiently large to entitle it to adj
mission. Since the organization of the
Fefaral Government. nineteen States have
been admitted into the Union. and no
instance has ever occurred in which State
ha- ben admitted with population less
than the ratio of representation i'll Congress
at the time. raE
The rule is founded in wisdom, Justice and
the safety of the Republic and should never
be parted from, unless und r the pressure
IF an overshadOwing necessity. In the case
of Oregon there is no such necessity, and
cl ar want OF showing of population equal to
the present ratio of representation.
If admitted under these circumstances the
precedent would be dangerous one. Other
communities with populations less than that
of Congressional district. would also knock
ut the doors OF Congress for admission. and
would he admitted Such petty communities
erected into Stat s, would at once assume "a
footing of equality with the most populous
States Of the Union. With populations less
than one-thirty-third part of that of the State
Of New York. they would each WELD in the
Senate of the United States power equal TO
tlat Of New York, aud, in contingency
IL lder the Constitution, an equal power i'll
re- elections Of President and Vice President
OF the United States. Ia all the independent
powers of the Senate-the treaty making
power, the trial of impeachments. the con-
hrmat on Of ambassadors. Judges OF the Su-
preme Court. and other important public OH
rs-these small communities would have a
p ,riect equality Of suffrage with the most
p)pulous State OF the Union. In those other
vast powers of the Senate, too. which it ex-
ere SEES as n correlative branch of Congress
Euch as upon questions of war. levyinS and
collecting taxes, regulating commerce with
foreign nations and between the States. rails
Ing aud supporting armies, &c.-thcy would
hold an equal check upon the large and
populous States representing the masses of
the people. Their Introduction. as a balance
ot power, might, therefore, not only be- made
to control Presidential elections, but the
very destinies of the American Union.
Mr.. ZoLLICoFFER then proceeds to discuss
the alien suffrage clause of the Oregon Con
stitution. Says Mr.. ZoLLICoFFgR
There is single point in the constitution
of Oregon against which the undersigned
I els it his duty TO enter his solemn protest
IL ailudes To the clause allowing unnatural
lied aliens TO vote for members of the Legis-
lature. He regards this clause as viOative
OF fundamental principle of the Constitu-
ton of he United States. 1t cannot be doubt
ell that such alien electors are thereby to be
REGARDED as at once introduced as a COMMON
eut part of the sovereign power c0gfryEiag |
I II Nov -
accord ng to all practical usage. electors of
X ~. senta;iv in Congress. electors of those |
who choose United States Senators, and hold |
tle pow'r 10 determine the electOrss of Presi |
d"nt aud Vice President of the United |
States. Thus to the body OF aliens so intro |
duccd into the body polite is given a direct
or mdir CT power 81 control over every de- |
pertinent of the Fed raj Government. This
h resp ctfully but earnestly submits, is
supyersiVc OF th"v-ry foundation idea of
tn" Government itself.
lie then proceeds to show that the Const-
tatIon INTENDED that none but citizens should
vote in the elections OF the country; proving
1t by reference 10 the debates in the CInven-
tim which fraued the Constitution. wherein
unnaturalized foreigners were expressly un-
derstood as being excluded from the right of
suffrage. He adduces the decision of the SUI
prem Court in the bred Scott case to the
same effect. Mr. ZoLLICoFFER concludes his
unanswearable argument, upon this point as
follows:
The undersigned docs not mean TO assert
that Congress can look into the constitution
Of state asking for admission further than
tn Sc that II is republican. and not in conflict
with that of the United States; or that the
General Government can regulate the right
Ot suffrage in the States.-Far from il. 1t is |
the right of very State TO determine who of
rs otrR c.tizeas shall vote for every Office, and
in regard to Offices, strictly municipal the
Stat may coHstitutionally, if they choose
permit aliens to vote. But, whilst the State
may confer upon aliens rights, Of citizenship ia
utter pertGi,,i,g erclpipsy % the State they can
MT Constitute the a9tHs OF citizenship they
cannot convert alieas into citizens, THAT power
hoviug been conferred by the Constitution
upon Congress alone, and they cannot there |
lore, give To aliens the right Of citizenship ia
matters psrtdiHiag 70 the Federal Government But
to Civ to aliens the right IL vote for mem
bars of the State Legislature, "a is the case |
la the Oregon institution, gives them Incl |
d utaliy,' power of control over every de- |
pirtment of the General Governments; and |
therefore it is our duty TO resist this ianova-
ton upon the rights of the General Govern |
ment ut the very threshold As the people |
framed and the States ratified the General |
Government as ii Is constituted they are !
bound by every consideration of good faith |
t. stand by it., in lis letter and spirit Whilst |
the rights of the States, they have been |
res rived. shoald be seduously maintained, |
tiose rights which have been conceded To the |
G. neral Government should not be ruthlessly |
ignored.
Especially is this true with regard TO those |
elemental principles upon which rests its /
seli-preservation. The General Government |
stands between us aud all ioreig IN innovation |
or invasion. II was established by The ciiizeqs
of the United States for their otca be7eht and |
the benefit of those Who are To b come cili-
zens by birthright or naturaliz ,iion. In all |
elective Governments. ia ais ages. from the
time of tue Greciaa Republics down To our
time, the right OF suffrage has been held |
to b long Ia none but citiZcns. This fuuda-
mental p inciple of = H. preservation having |
been fully granted to our General Govern |
msnt it is unwise and unsafe to ignore il,
and thou ghtlessly give the deslinirs OF such
G. lvrrnment into the hands of those who /
.owe it no Allegiance" have mo right 10 |
claim its protection, or even to present to il |
"a D .iitlon.
When a STATE has ono been admitted into |
the Union, with such provision that point
e. out in the Oregon constitution. the un-
Il rsgned wogld not counsel coercion by the |
i a raj Govrrnm- nj To bring about change. |
Bat when Territory Il k 10 put on the garb |
of State snver- igaty, ald e. be admitted into /
the Union. II, ia his jldgmant, the precise |
point " Iim at y hich 10 make this issue. |
Sach proposed Slatr should be required TO /
coaforil Ia use tfeIangJmgr of Mr.. Madisoa) 1
u tie ''isIndapcntal articles OF republican /
gosernm mt s-perteulariy that gn,at flrst |
article which feZard- q Republic" Ito use |
th 'iauguase of Mr. 'Jttf rSou) a. "a Govern |
m-Ht b. a. eib-,as "a "a ssss.p In this parti- |