The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-04-28
To the Republicans of Massa.
chusetts, and of the Union.

SGlue CenCral OOminlttee, OF iowa. Ill COil-
naction with this action, we declaim alike
the right and the disposition to interfere
with the purely local questions Of Massachu-
sets politics. With the interior legislation
and policy of another sovereign State we have
nothing to do. That policy, in its relation
to exterior interests which it affects, is text
for the comment of the country, and espe-
cially of the Republicans elsewhere, who are
sought to be charged with its responsibility
Massachusetts, was one of the first, as well as
firnest, Republican States in the Union
Her example, while it does not control, may
seriously retard the progress of the essential
principles of the Republican rarty through
out the country. It is, therefore, with the
most serious regret that the Republicans Of
Iowa have learned Of the legislative action Of
Massachusetts,, which, in their opinion, con-
travenes the elemental principle upon which
the party was established, and is now or
ganized; upon which they have hitherto won
the support Of the country and by the pow
er which they are now looking to for the re-
form of the National Administration.
These principles rest upon the Declarations
Of National Independence and the Constitu-
ton established to perpetuate its theories.-
There is no doctrine of Republicanism which
is not derived from fair and just construc-
ton of the National Constitution. So far as
its doctrines are supported by that instru-
ment they are national. Any attempt to
thwart the legitimate purpose of constitu-
tional provision, becomes local, sectional, and
disorganizing
Congress, to give effect to the constitu-
tional provision respecting naturalization,
has provided the time in which, and the
mode by which foreign born inhabitants may
become entitled to the enjoyment of the
rights of American citizens. When thus
naturalized, it seems to us, a violation of the
spirit and intent of the Constitution to es-
tablish by State legislation an invidious dis
tinction between lawful citizens, based upon
the accident of birthplace. This discrimin-
alton once affirmed, we do not see where
the limit to its application will be necessarily
fixed. You may discriminate between the
different nationalties, p.incipalities, and even
municipalities, from which the neutralized
citizen may have come. Indeed, you may
extend such State legislation, quite as legit-
mately upon principle, to discrimination
between citizens who have settled among
you from different States of our Union. 1t
opens field for the most dangerous innova-
ton upon Constitutional rights. 1t is kim
dred in spirit, to the legislation formerly at
tempted in one or two States, discriminating
in taxation between the manufacturers of
Northern and Southern States, and in one
instance, refusing to recognize the right to
protection in South Carolina of citizen of
Massachusetts, Every discrimination in the
enjoyment of a common constitutional right
or privilege, is, in our opinion, traught with
peril to popular peace and harmony.
This committee, therefore, in the interest
of National Republicanism, enter their delib-
crate protest against the incorporation, in
whole or in part, of any exclusive principle
of legislation into the creed of the Republican
party. In behalf of that party in this State,
they most emphatically reject it. And they
invoke Of that portion of the people of Mass
achusetts who have hitherto so CALAMITY up
held the National Republican standard in
that State, to condemn this proposition at the
polls, and maintain the integrity Of our ma
tional platform.
JOHN A. KASSON,
Chairman Of the Rep. State Com'6 Of lo,ca.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS the legislature of the State of
Massachusetts, has passed an amendment to
the Constitution of that State, by which for
eign born citizens are deprived of the right
of suffrage for two years after their natural
ization; and
WHEREAS this amendment will be submit
ted to vote of the people of Massachusetts,
on the 9th of May, 1859, for approval and
disapproval:
Therefore, Be it resolved by the Republi-
can Central Committee of the State of Iowa.
1. That the above named Act of the Leg
islature of Massachusetts, is violation of the
principles of the Republican party as affirm
ed in the National Republican platform adopt
ed at Philadelphia, in 1856, and should there
fore meet with the earnest rebuke of the Re-
publican party in every State Of the Union:
2. Resolved that we regard this act as
making an unjust and offensive discrimina-
ton between citizens on account of their
birthplace, and showing therefore tenden-
cy to undermine the foundation on which the
Republican party is based, which carefully
preserves strict acknowledgment of the equal
rights of citizens under the Constitution OF
the United States, without regard to nation
atty, and in the condemnation Of all pro-
scription in legislation:
8. Resolved that the Republican party in
the State of Iowa cannot and will never ap-
prove Of an act which our naturalized citi-
zens are deprived of part of their rights as
guaranteed by the Constitution and existing
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