Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-08-10


upon its face-the factions of the Opposition,
whose oppressive. tyrannieal and bigoted hos
tiity to the naturalized citizens nav be seen |
in the ruins of churches destroyed by fire, and
IN the mouldering remains of hundreds of
victims from New Orleans to st Louis, de-
prIved of life while endeavoring to fulfil their
duty as freemen at the ballot box, have en-
| deavored to patronize this despised and ILL
treated class of our fellow citizens by pretend
ing newborn zeal in their welfare. Well
may each adopted citizen exclaim in view of
this sudden manifestation of friendship, as
did the Trojan of old, .sTimeo Danaos ct
dona terentes"-I fear the Greeks when they
bring US gifts
But as further proof of the hollow heart
ed hypocrisy which has marked the meretri-
cious display we have witnessed, you will
permit us to call your particular notice to the
recent amendment of the Constitution of the
State of Massachusetts,, a State wholly and
hopelessly given to Black Republicanism. Gas
distinguished from pure AmeIicanism, pro-
vidng that mo person of foreign birth shall
be entitled to vote, nor shall be eligible to
office, unless he shall have resided within the
jurisdiction of the United States for two years
subsequent to bis naturalization, and shall be
otherwise qualified according to the Constitu-
ton and laws of the Commonwealth. The
! language of this amendment speaks for itself,
| and requires no explanation comment
| Before it could be submitted to vote of the
people of the State, the law required that it
should be acted on aud passed by two success
sive Legislatures. Accordingly this was
done. 1t is an undispured fact that four -ffths
of each Chamber of those two successive Leg
islatures, were neither Democrats. nor Amer
leans, but Black Republicans. The vote of
| Massachusetts at the Presidential election in
1856 was, in round hunters, one hun
1rsl AMI five thousand votes for.
Fremont (Black Republican, twenty-nine
thousand for Buchanan, (Democrat,) and
twenty thousand for Fillmore. (Know Moth
ing.) The proof is therefore incontestible
that this measure, originating with the Black
Republicans, was passed through two success
sive legislatures in which that party was
overwhelmingly predominant, and that it was
finally consummated at the popular election
by the sufrages. The immo oral, not to say
illegal, effect of this extraordinary amend
ment is two-foli. 1t first discrimnates against
the naturalized citizens by setting them apart
as class among white men, unworthy to
participate in elections with them or in the
active affairs of government, for the period
of two years after they have become, in COM
pliance with all the forms of the naturaliza-
tion law, full citizens of the United States
In the second place, it makes, in derogation
of the rights aud respectabiiity of naturalized
citizens an excessively insulting demonstra-
ton in favor of negro equality with the native
born, and a,egro Superiority to the foreign
born. For while the naturalIzed citizen is
prohibited from voting, although perfect
citizen in the sense Of the Constitution of the
United States, negroes in Massachusetts. are
not simply permitted to vote. but are eagerly
courted to assume the badge of electoral pow
er. Not only this, but more. While every
white man. no mater how long he may have
resided IN this country-no matter how i'm
mense his fortune or heavy smount of tax he
pays, or large his family, who may be made
: full citizen of the United States to-day. or
e who was even made so on the tenth of last
2 November or at any time since. cannot cote
: before or at the nert Presidential election IN
the State Of Massachusetts, "a negro who has
d rua away or been stolen from Maryland OIL
r any other slave holding State, and who fee;
q into Massachusetts, before the first day of mex
Il November, and remains there, may proceed
to the polls and assert then and there his po-
a ltical equality with the native born. and hi:
e political superiority to every citizen, natural
S lied within two years. who may happen by
e fixed residence, otherwise, to be within tn,
e limits of that Commonwealth And is it no
S apparent that if the Black Republican party
y of Massachusetts, has altered the Fundamentals
e law of the State, by the introduction of ;
N clause restraing naturalized citizens from vo
l. ting for two years after naturalization, tha
r they may hereafter, on the same principle
Ie extend the period of restriction to FIVE, ten
d fifteen or twenty years Some other State
s unless this unconstitutional and oppressiv
te movement be at once resisted and subdued
- may next amend its Constitution with re
Of strictive provision In duration of time still
Of more offensive, until to all iEtents and purpo
n ses, should the example be followed by 9th
lie ers, the old Native American doctrine c
as ttccntg-one years residence before naturaliza
al ton, may be established in all or a majorit
le of the States of the Union. 1t must be cor
ed fessed that this is grave question occurrln
l. here In the United States, under the Amer
ed can Flag itself, in which every naturalizc
I'D citizen is interested either in respect to b
a honor or his franchise There is consequen
I'D ly no cause for surprise in the circumstant
ck that the newspapers and politicians of IL
It's Opposition have so strenuously endeavore
he by their impudent and silly effusions regart
ry irg General Cass' brief note to Mr.. lie Cer
ly to divert the popular attention from Ca
ic like this, the dread responsibility of whiC
a they cannot escape, in which, by delibera
of and solemn act of Government, they ha
placed the naturalzed citizen. not merely
ng position of political inferority to white M
in but to negroes, and by which they have i
to augurated policy that, if fully develope
If. would lead substantially to the disfranchis
IS ment of all future eniigrants.
10 1t does not admit Of doubt that many VIC
sly thy men among the adopted citizens la
raj been seduced froa the protecting ranks
nj the Democratic party by some of the shall,
a humanitarian theories broached by the Bla
ut, Republican wing of the Opposition. Tn