Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-29

compoft Win Uuc safety, permit Them to com
IN and participate in the political rights erjoye
by the other citizens Of the Commonwealth.
hr. FLoUREoY. desire to have the amend
ment again read, as have some delicacy in ir
terfering with the rights Of foreigners -
(Laugh,er)
The amendment wss accordingly read.
Mr.. SnEYpEY.--I rise 10 ask for informa
ton
propose to otter a substitute for boil
amendments, and would ask whether sucH'
proposition would be in orderf
The PassIDRNT.-The Chair decides that i
would not be in order, the amendments havinI
not reached the third degree. If ths smond
ment to the amendment is voted down, it vii
then be competent for the gentleman to snbni
his proposition.
read the amendment which intead to ofol
should ths amendment to ,hs amendment bt
voted down:
But uo alien, hereafter naturAiized shs!
be entitled tc vote ,In!eass---:er Ne offers sc
.v.e, ~ w. s,,.s:i ue resident of the toHieaaratt
States ten years. and of Virginia Eve yesrs,
next preceding tie elsction, and shall he rht
owner Vt real ustate 20 the amount OF $500.
Mr. HALL, uf Peasants aud Rtchie.-l
think that is going too iar; think that il
gentlemen will consider for q p!u,eut they
will see the propriety Of Withdrawing their
amendments AID allowing this ie.ture .! the
Constitution to remain as it il.
There are great many foreigners s:i1t e7e
now in thilwar, though rc: ci:z,ns D! the Con
tederate States. Wo have is The Confederate
States service 9 number of soldiers from tho
State uf Maryland, aud We do not know lbs,
the State oi Maryland will ever become mem.
Der OF the Conlederscy.
Ths effect Of that amendment will DC to G.r-
franchise forever The soldiers from Maryland
and Kentucky, now in our service, should
they mink proper 20 max. the: homes in the
Southern Ccnfcdcracy in the future. This
would 10 the cf!ec! OF the amendment Irt-
Posed by tie gentleman from MsGieon, Mr.
BLAksY,) and if the proposition of tie gentle
man from Plttsylynnis ;M-. TnYDwAyJ slGu3
prevail, these people who have CONS mere 10
the rescue Of Virginia, would BE- cut I'll from.
the right OF suffrage fer lEenty-cne gears,
like others who might come hero alter tie
close of the wsr. snail certainly frsl boua;a
20 oppose aay suck proposition. am told
that there are abcat c;sht thousand soldiers;
VIC StStS v. Nn' i'OT III tic SCI wv
of the Confederate States, aal this proposition,
if adopted, would strike at these very men and
disfranchse them for life or for period Of
twenty-one years, should the amendment to
the amendment be adopted.
If gentlemen should desire to reach disIoysl
citizens Of the State o! Virginia, would
heartily concur in The. object. Dnt could
ns7er vote TO disiranchive those gallant men
who have lett their homes TO fight Cur tst.cs,
should they at any future time determine TO
make Virginia their place Of residence SIR,
it would be cruel! it would be unjust ard w.
grateful in The LAST degree in US to refuse 80 &
people who hsve COMO ID our aid. IN rnr h'ur
Of need, the right OF suffrage when they ni;ni
fest every proof Of fidelity that man can ex.
hibt-the risking OF their lives in our cause
trust this Convention will be guilty Of 90 such
act
| make these suggestions, Mr.. President,
believing that the idea which they cmbody
was lost sight of by gentlemen seeking 10 i'm
prSe this disfranchiscment The proposition
ought rather be made to spply to d:sloyal cti'
zens Of Virginia tha: to citizens CT other STATES
vino came here TO sght our battles would
cheerfully support such propositions.
Mr. HAL, Of Wetzel.-I think il wonld b.
we'll enough for us to lock at the permanent
Constitution of tie Confederate States and see
whether we sre proceeding regularly or moi.
II recollect the provisions Of tina! Constitu
ton sright, they settle this matter TO great
extent We have yielded the power 70 the
Confederate States Congress to determioe this
question of suffrage, SO fsT as relates 10 the
election of officers 70 the Congress of the Con.
federete States. Va have, as | suppose, re
served 10 ourselves the regulation Of this right
Of suffrage so far as relates TO State elections
But i, strikes mo inst the tEac policy would
be to establish soEc uniform system of suf
frage 80 that tie safne iua!itica ton which
would entit}e a Insn 10 v"se tor member o
Congress- would Gisn ca!ii:4 i.ito 10 vote fer q
member of tho Legislature II tbe State.
think we mad better !o9x into the Confederate
States Constitution beiore ws proceed further
Mr.. FisHEK-I an ve:T inush surprised tt
hear the remarks OF IA? Iiaai ,reIn We:zcl
Does the gentleman mean 10 co;icits that tie
Confederate States can regulate The represen
tatire franchise for snJ STATE? 1t never has
been assumed by any politician Of the ole
United States, aAd / hope it never will bt
assumed by any politician of ths Confederate
States, that State mad not exclusive power
over the question Of franchise within her OWL
jurisdiction.
The Constitution OF the Confederate States
has nothing 70 do with the subject of the re-
preventative franchise, and cannot prescribe FOL
State who may or may not exercise the righ
of electing OF GERS 10 represent that State il
the Congress Of the Confederate States.
l hope tie Ccn9enrion will proceed 10 pas:
upon this question Without regard to tbs Con
sii.ut.on ci the Confederate States.
Ir. HAYxoND--As understand, tie Con
gress Of tho Confederate States has tia power
ucder tie Constitution OF the Confederate
States to pass uniform Law ci naturalization
and 10 prescribe the time which foreigner:
shall reside within sny State OF the Conicdera
cy before they Snail become citizens Of tht
CoufedeTacy.
If that be true, and understand there car
be no oIestlou as to tnat-wnerc IS the neces
sity of ths Conventions embodying in th'
Constitution tie form Of naturalization &hict
this body might desire to sss established.
take it that Congress will, at the proper time
pass lag upon that subject, apG inasEi"ch a:
We are necessarily ignorant Of wla: that laV
will be, think the proper course would be t
pCSlpOIo any aCtloh up"H luto seoJSNt ~ S.'
body, and leave it altogether to Congress.
We might if We pass any la" upon thi
subject, put tho period OF residence bafore nat
uralizason, a: standard far above what Con
gress might determine, and thus create a con
flict whicn wili iesd 10 Inconvenience and di!
aculty.
Nov, Sir, sm unwilling, so fer as ! an
conce1ned-apd Am but 6 vc:Y humble mem
Der vf this Coavcatlcl-to change my pas
views Gud sentiments upon this subject l an
not unwilling, for the reasons stated by tn
gentlsuixn from the county vf Richie, (Mr
HAIL. if for 40 other, to change ny views
But, sir, am unwilling to do SO for still othe
rcasons. Sir, know the fact that large pro
portion o: our army is made Up OF foreigners
or more properly foreign born citizens, man.
OF whom srs doubtless aliens. nm hfral
that we are attributing our calanitics to i'm
proper causes; and would admonish mem
bers here to beware, least, in framing this OF
ganic Ia 90 thew NAV rnsh ;rofn one extreme [