The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-01-19
ADMISSION OF NEBRASKA.
Remarks OF Hon. j. A. J. CresWeii,
OF MARYLAND,
~ TrIJ- JT>vITI'I err tu'I.S Cy-N Try

January s, 1867,
On the bill for the admission Of the state Of Nebraska
into TIE Cnicn.
Mr.. CREswELL said:
Mn. pREsIpsNT expect 10 vote for the
admission Of Nebraska whether the pending
amendment be adopted or not. | expect
further to vote for the pending amendment,
although l am satisfied that il will effect
nothing. | am Of opion that the Congress
Of the United States has no authority to i'm
pose a condition in this manner upon the
people of State about to be admitted into
gress has constitutional right TO ihterposc
by conditions to be submitted for acceptance
to the people of Territory or inchoatc
State, wherever Congress may consider that
those conditions are necessary to secure to
the people Of sucl. TERRITORY or State a re-
publican form Of government. believe
that the first clause of the fourth section Of
The fourth article Of the Constitution is a
controlling one, and that the United States
is bound by the highest obligation to guar
anty under all circumstances, to every state
in this Union republican form OF govern.
ment and further, that the powers reserved
To the States and the people thereof must
Yield to the paramount operations OF this
guarantee.
Admitting, therefore, that the right is re-
served to the people of the States to recu-
late the matter OF suffrage, | think it equally
clear chat the people Of the State have no
right so to regulate the suffrage as to exclude
absolutely and perpetualy from the govern
ing mower Of the State any portion OF its
citizens by reason of their race or color, or
by any other arbitrary and unequal rule of
exclusion.
But as TO the pending amendment, let us
nut the case in this way: suppose this act
shall mass with the amendment offered by
NV honorable friend from Vermont. and
notwithstanding its passage, and the adniS-
sion Of the Senators and Representatives
from the State Of Nebraska. the people Of
Nebraska in their Legislature, should refuse
to recognize the principle, and should insist
that their constitution stands as they sent il
to Congress, and that none but white persons
eau vote under It's provisions: I apprehend
that when the constitution should come into
the courts. the question being raised by "a
n.rson Of African descent whose vote had
been refused, the courts would decide that
the amendment of the Senator from Yer
mont did not control the language Of the
State constitution inasmuch as the people OF
the State had never in any manner accepted
that amendmcntor acguiesced therein. The
argu,aens, brief, though pointed, of the hon
orshla !. snator from Maine, is conclusive to
INV mind OF that subject. Nevertheless the
amendment is valuable as declaration OF
nr;rcp]e. and confidently expect and be.
I;eve thht the people of Nebraska will vol
unfairly amend their constitution SO as to
conform to it.
But, sir, there are other considerations in
connection with the position of this State in
its application for admission that | desire to
present TO the Senate. ] am anxious to see
the whole OF the western territory filled UP
with States. have none Of that feeling Of
Jealousy to"dru VIC west which inc 'eualoi
from Wisconsin Mr.. Howell said yesterday
exists among eastern men. On the contrary,
my heartfelt sympathy is with the adventur.
Gus people Of that section. believe that
the active element of this nation is working
there in the cause OF civilization. The brave
men of the West who spend their strength
aud their blood in subduing the wilderness
and fighting the savage are the true cham