Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-25

TIES.
We are in favor Of the sixteenth
amendment to the Constitution; not,
however, for the purpose Of enfran-
chising women, but to make
every man, whether native or
foreign born, eligible TO the presi-
denev of the United States. Two Of
the truest patriots. the most lofty
statesmen, and watchful and eloquent
champions Of the Constitution, T de-
prived by the very Constitution they
would preserve, from holding the
Office OF President of the United
States. We sIlude to Eugene Casserly,
of California, and Carl Schurz, of Mis-
souri,. Both OF these Senators were
born upon foreign soil. But their de-
votion to the Constitution, and the
fidelity with which they would guard
1t from the frequent violations
OF native-born Senators shows conclU-
sively the injustice and absurdity Of
that clause Of the Constitution which
prohibits a foreigner from holding
the office OF President. Would not
Carl Schurz make as good a President
Of the United States as Fred Doug
las? No one has the i~mpudence to
deny this; set Fred Douglass is eligi-
bic to the Presidency, while Schurz is
debarred by the very instrument he
loves and defends. Casserly, the able
and eloquent Senator from California,
would make a safer and better Presi-
dent than Beast Butler; then why
should he be fettered with disabili-
ties? General Jackson was born up
on the ocean; and had he been ush-
cred into the world two weeks earli-
er, would have been placed
under disabilities by the Con-
stitution, and the country
deprived Of that iron nerve and love
of freedom which contributed so
much to make triumphant the genius
of our republican government. Would
the American people have suffered
any detriment by the election Of the
heroic lafayette to the Presidency of
the United States? Is there a man in
our midst who had not rather trust
General Shields, Of Illinois, as Presi-
dent than Gov. Morton, Of Indiana?
That clause Of the Constitution which
enables Fred. Douglas to be elected
D--c9I-,F Of tho TTpitod CAohos onI
disabIes Carl SchuTz, is a monstrOus
insult to the foreigner, and should be
amended so as to place the intellec-
tual, educated statesman on
an equal footing with the Hit
crate negro Ounce. When a for
eigrer leaves the land Of his birth for
the hOspitable shores OF America, he
is drawn hither by a love of freedom,
a detestation Of tyranny, and the
transition from despOtism to liberty
thoroughly imbues him with the
genius Of our institutions, and he is
ever ready to defend them. If it be
dangerous to elect a foreigner Presi-
dent, it is dangerous only in aless de-
gree to elect him to the Senate, to
Congress, to any Office. The soul Of
Thomas Francis Meagher, who so no
bly, fought for the flag Of his country,
burns with a pure and steady fame
for the land Of his adoption; then
why should the country for which he
fought deprive him Of the privileges
which the Constitution secures to the
negro? Carl Schurz incompetent for
the Presidency, and q. S. Grant Presi-
dentl Out upon such a mockery. 1t
is no crime to be born in Ireland;
then why bar the doors of the White
House to the entrance Of Charles
O'ConnOr, and throw them wide open
to the aspirations of Revels, the
negro Senator Of Mississippi. Our re-
vOlutiOn was won by the valuable aid
OF such men as Lafayette, MontgOm-
cry and Barry. The blood Of the for
eigner crimsons every battlefield for
our Liberties; but the American Con-
stitutiOn says to the foreigner, you
can share in the h~ardships OF the
march, the camp and the battle, but
you are not patriotic enough to fill
the position open to the ambition of
Butler, Sumner and Fred. Douglass. ,
Schurz is a better, safer and more pa
triOtic American than Barbour Lewis.
Cssserly is ADLER and more
trustworthy than Revels; then why }
dwarf their aspirations and shrimp
their capacity by insulting them with
degrading disabilities. 2
This is a subject Of importance not 8
1nly 70 the foreigner, but to every
nan who loves justice and equality. =
Heretofore the Democratic party has ;
)een true to the foreign-born citizen, 4.
md ia the approaching Presidential d
.lech0n IL will, no doubt, show states 8
nanship and the part OF wisdom by a
.dvOcating the removal Of all disabili- L
les which preclude the foreigner from a
Ompeting for an Office which is now Al
pen to the negro and worthless
americans, but closed to foreigners,
owever exalted their patriotism and
riliant their talent. 9
al