The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-04-17

admitted as soon as possible, according to
the principles of the federal Constitution,
to the enjoyment of the rights, privileges
and immUnities Of the citizens of the
United States A provision to the same
effect is 20 be found iu the sixth article
of the treaty with Spain for the purchase
of Florida. aud in the eighth article of the
treaty of 1913 with Mexico also,by the
annexation of Texas, under a resolution
of Congress of March, 1915, on its ad
mission into the Union on au equal foot
ing with other states. collective naturali-
zation," says the authority from which |
quote, "may also take place of class of
persons native of the country or other
wise, who, without any act on the part of
the individuals, may be made citizens.
In the United States it is incorrect to
suppose that alens,as opposed to citizens
implies foreigners. As respects the
country, Indirns are the subjects of the
United States, but they are not therefore
citizens nor can they become citizens un.
der the existing naturalization laws but
thoy can be made citizens by some COM
petent act of the general government, by
treaty or otherwise. BY these various
treaties, resolutions, and acts of Congress
it will be observed that Frenchmen, Span
iards, Mexicans and Indians have all been
made citizens of the United States--some
of the very classes of persons spoken of
in this bill, and yet the President tells US
that this right Of federal citizeuship-as
if there was such thing as federal
citizenship as contra distinguished from
state citizenship-is now for the first time
proposed to be given by law.
DECLAToRY ACT.
If, says the President, as is claimed BY
many persons, all who are native born are
already, by virtue of the Constitution,
citizens of the United States, the passage
of the pending bill cannot be necessary to
make them such. But is the President
to learn now for the first time that princl-
pie to be found in the very born books Of
the law, that an act declaring what a law
is, is one of the most common acts passed
by legislative bodies When there is no
question as to what the law is, for their
greater certainty, it is the most common
thing in thing in the world to pass statute
declaring it's object. My opinion is, and
snch was the opinion of the Attorney
General and of the present Secretary of
State, which was the opinion of Mr.. Lin
coins administration 10 all its departments
and such believe 10 be the prevailing
opinion in the United States. But some
dispute this: hence for greater certainty
1t is proposed .o pass this law. It is now
made ar objection to the passage of this
law, aud a reason given by the President
why he cannot approve it, that it is a
declaratory act.
THE OBJECTION THAT ELEVEN STATES
ARE UNREPREsNTED.
But if such is not the law, says the
President,a grave question presents itself
Whether, when eleven of the thirty-six
states are unrepresented in Congress, at
the present time, it is scupd policy to
make our entire colored population, and all
other excepted classes, citizens of the
United States. This is not a standing
objection, it is not urged it seems, against
all bills; for the President tells US in this
message that he has sigued some forty
bills that have been presented to him.
Why is it made an objection to this bill !?
The President states no objections as ap-
plicable to this particular bill. 1t is
81, nh ho nj
cable to all bills. But if there is any
thing IN 1t, no bill can pass the Congress
of the United States until these states are
represented. Well, sir, whose fault is it
the eleven states are not represented
Whose fault is, it that twenty-five loyal
states, which have stood by the Union and
the Constitution, are to be deprived of
their right to legislate? Sir it is not the
fault of the twenty FIVE loyal states and if
the reason urged by the President is
good one now, it has been good one for
all time If the fact of some states having
rebelled against the government is to take
from tie government the right to legis- |.
late, why, sir, then the criminal is to take
adv antage of his crime, and the innocent
are to be punished for the guilty.
THE PEACE PROCLAMATION.
Within a few days the President has
issued proclamation, not of peace, as the
Senator from Nevada ( Mr.. StewarD seems
to suppose; by no means. Not a proc
lamation that the rebellion is over. The
President docs not tell us that Texas, ,one
of the states in rebellion, is in condition
to be represented here. Sir,if we had to
wait for the eleven states, must we not
wait for Texas The same principle
would require US to wait for Texas, and
she has not yet recognized her state gov
ernment. And those states which have
reorganized have not yet been recognized