Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1870-03-19
MiseeIla
REMARKS OF EI0N, SOHN sCOTF.

In Senate February %, on the question Of
admitting to his scat Hon. Hiram Il.
Rercls, Scnato. elect from Tie state Of
Mississippi.
Mr.. Scott. Mr.. President, I will occupy
the attention of the Senatc.iOr a very few
moments, and ihat upon the direct qucs-
tion. do not propose sir, TO discuss the
past history of the contest about the negro,
nor prebabl future consequences Of that
contest but to look simply at the question
which this debate has developed, i'll the
hope that In few moments we may be
able to dispose of that question.
This debate has developed two leading
facts. The first is that the person VINO is
proposed as Senator from the State OF
Mississippi is now citizen Of the United
States and the second is that he never
been an allen or foreigner. Now, sir, in
view of these two facts. propose to make
the point that even if tie proposition that
has been conteuded for by the gentlemen
on the other side of the Chamber were true,
namely, that he was a citizen before the
enactment Of the civil rights bill or before
to the Constitution, still ne is eligible .
Senator Of the United States, and ought TO
be sworn in.
The proposal is to refer his credentials to
the Judiciary Committee for the purpose OF
making inquiry as to whether he has been
n citizen of the United States for nine years.
1t is admitted that he is citizen now, and
therefore he is admissible as Il Senator un-
less there be some disqualification. What
is that disqualification ? 1t is alleged that
he is man of color. and that therefore EC
was not citizen prior to the enactment o.
the civil rights bill. Now, sir, no one
stands here to question that his citizenship
was an open question before the adoption o
the civil rights bill. The history of the
litigation that had occurred in various
States, and that finally got into the Su
preme Court of the United States in tht
bred Scott case, the universal discussion
- of this question at one period iq our histor,
n these arc enough 10 show that the public
mind was not settled upon the question
But if it was not settled then, could 1t b
more effectively settled than it has been
first by the passage of the civil rights bill
and then, if that was not sufficient rs
mere act of Congress to determine tn
status of citizenship in the face of dec
sion of the Supreme Court, surely it wi
not be contended that the fourteenth COZ
stitutional amendment, declaring that n
persons born within the United States ar
citizens, is not sufficient to settle 1t.
The civil rights bill, if its text be turnc
10, ana lllc louIlctuln ullIcliNlllClil, II u
text be turned to, will be found to be bot
declaIatory. They do not enact that "iroi
henceforth all persons born within Il
United States shall be citizens but Il
present tense is used in both: ''all pc
sons ''arc citizens of the United States
If that be sufficient TO settle the questlo
if that be enough as Il dcclaratory law
declare that all persons born within Il
limits of the United States are citizens
the United States, where does tins M
n stand VINO now presents hImselfas Senat
elect from Mississippi
1t is urged by gentlemen on the 9th
side that he became citizen only by virt
of one of the other of these enactment
but if they turn TO the history OF il
clause in the Constitution of the Unit
States ON which they rely they will ii
that it was inserted both in reference
senators and to Representatives in
other House of Congress, and also
reference to the President, because OF
apprehension that was felt OF hrcign
huences in our Government. In the q
cussion which occurred in the convention
| have il here but will not take the time
the Senate TO read it-On fixing the qua!
cations of senators It was especially dN
-. upon that the SCn0Ie being The body "h
raj. was to pass upon treaties WIN lore
ore. Governments u NhH lilt4AA4sNta
rket that the period Of citizenship should be
tenled aud made longer for senator u
fries for member of the House of lepreser
.snl, tiyes. The discussion of Mr., Madison
~ the Itderdlisl of this clause, shows I
the purpose, the reason, the intention
Il. this clause In the Constitution of theN al
States was that persons who had been
abroad should not be permitted 10 bte'
senators until after they had been eiAI
n, a certain length OF time, That is the rea'
"a, that ID the spirit uf the law aud II
Iis Of maxim which | need not quote, that
~ reason ecasing the law crases with Il,
4" M Here, then, IA n man born Ia lhe Tn
,sr,. stales, not au alien, not lnrylguer
shleh comes here elected by State l3slsat
oiheT No question Ia raised as g. hls qunliilea
iheif la any other r,spsct than as "a whrihe
has been eltilen oI the luiled STATE
- nine yraTs, Now, even " ihe doc1
IfshP conisnird i0T by the r,'lllrmtn pn the q
q a. sldo arrs trur thal hr vac uoi "a ti'
.aA.,l until the tinir of thu Iasst-o ui ihe
W. rights bill nf uulll lhg adppliun 81 th.
to,alh constitution aiuendmtni sllll