The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-28
ADDRESS OF THE GERMAN CITIZENS
OF TOLEDO, OHIO.
To the People of Massachusetts,

To the People Of Massachusetts,
The citizens of Toledo, Ohio, of German
birth, have heard with establishment and in
dignation that the Legislature of your State has
passed an amendment to your Constitution, to
the effect that no naturalized citizen shall here
after have the right to vote in your State until
he has resided there two years after receiving
his certificate of citizenship. Not questioning
the right of your Representatives to legislate
on matters pertaining to the welfare of your
Commonwealth, we still take the liberty, as
telto,c-cittzens and as members Of the Republican
party, to express our opinion on this subject,
now before you for final action.
We hailed with delight the success of the
Republican party in Massachusetts, and the
election, as your Governor, of the late Speaker
of the House of Representatives in Congress,
whose elevation to that seat we watched with
anxious solicitude We always considered it a
fundamental principle of the Republican party,
that all citizens had equal rights before the
law, without distinction of color or birth. But
this action of your Legislature strikes at the
very root of these eternal principles of equality
and right. We had never expected that the
Party Of the Rights Of All Men would sig
nalize their accession to power in your State
by enacting such clauses, discriminating be-
approved of by Republicans and by the silence
of their Press, then we, citizens of German
descent, will have nothing more to do with such
party-we will never more lend our help to
elevate a party to power which trampleS us
under foot. Nor will we be driven back into
the other political organization, whose avowed
purpose is the preservation and extension of
American Slavery. We can never act with any
party that does not recognise the eternal truth
of the equality of all men, and equal rights of
all citizens and should none of the existing
political parties be able to elevate themselves
to this standard, then we shall endeavor to
promote and to advocate the formation of one
that will stand up to the level of the trainers of
the Constitution of the United States.
We ask the People of Massachusetts to reject
the proposed amendment to their Constitution.
p. LENK,
GUIDo MARX,
GEO. WEBER, Committee.
M. HOFFMAN,,
GEO. TANNER,
This address, forwarded to us for publication,
we insert with pleasure. 1t IS fundamental
principle of the Republican Party, that all citi-
zens have equal rights before the Law, without
distinction of color or birth. 1t ought to be a
sacred Principle with the American People, for
it is Justice. If a man born in New York or
New Orleans may vote in Massachusetts, after
one years residence therein, for the same
reason, no longer residence should be required
of man born in England or Germany, pro-
vided he has received his certificate of citizen
ship. 1t is unjust and anti-Republican to dis
criminate between them, making two years res
idence in one case, only one in the other, con-
dition to suffrage.
We do not wonder at the feeling manifested
by our German fellow-citizeus but let them
bear in mind that the Republican Party stands
committed, not for, but against any such dis
elimination, and the Republican Press gen.
orally is in sympathy with its liberal position.
Let not the action of Republicans in certain
localities give rise to misconceptions of the po-
sition of the Party, or drive our naturalized
citizens into precipitate measures.