Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-27
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE IN
THE TERRITORIES.


THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE IN
THE TERRITORIES.
We have never heard, what appeared
to us TO be q valid reason, why the peo-
pie of the Territories should he de-
barred from the right to vote for Pres
ident and Vice President of the United
States, and we are more than inclined
to favorably consider the resolution,
offered recently in the House by Hon.
+. w. Bennett, Delegate in Congress
from Idaho, instructing the Judiciary
Committee to inquire into the expedi-
ency Of incorporating q constitutional
amendment removing the disability
under which the people OF the Terri
tories at present labor in this regard.
The resolution was adopted by the
House, and we hope the committee
will report fayorably, and the PROPOSE
ton permitted to come before both
Houses, when it can be discussed in all
its bearings. The Idaho Avalanche, in
an article upon the subject, says no
valid reason can be given for depriving
us of a privilege which the Constitution
OF the country recognizes as the BIRTH
right of every American system. Our
present condition is another illustration
of the injustice Of taxation without rep.
resentation. The people Of the Terri
tories are compelled to do their part in
contributing to the support of the Gen.
eral Government, and are at the same
time, in being deprived of the exercise
of the elective franchise in this in
stance, debarred from a right that even
menials, servants and ex-slaves are
vested with in the States. A more I'M
Just and un~warrantable discrimination
does not exist in the whole range of
enactments pertaining to the rights and
liberties of the citizen. The great ma
jority Of the male residents of the Terri
torial domain are men Who have exer-
cised all these rights ia the older States,
and have to submit to the injustice of
being deprived of them in moving from
one section Of the country to another.
What have they done that they should
be thus ostracized, as it were? They
have LEFT the civilized and populated
regions Of the country to be brought in
contact with the hardships and dangers
or frontier life. They have faced trou.
bles and braved exposure to which
the people of their former homes are
entire strangers. They have traversed
the plains and explored the mountains,
aiding to bring the public lands into
use for the benefit of the Gov
eminent as we'll as that of the citi-
zen. They have removed distractions
and paved the way for other settlers to
follow, taking their lives i'm their hands,
e~ncountering the savages and driving
the wild denizens Of the forest before
them, resulting in the opening up of
busy settlements and the development
of q hitherto unproductive country.
All this the brave pioneers have done
at their " risk and peril, and
without the protection OF a Govern
ment that should never deprive
these enterprising citizens Of any
aud every right that the peo-
pie enjoy in the older and O
civilized portions Of the country. In
stead of barriers being thrown in his
way or privileges sacrificed, the Amori-
can citizen who goes into the Terrific
ries should be encouraged by every
possible means to push forward the
work Of developing, and such a thing
depriving him of any of the bless
ings OF citizenship, in SO far as the
same can be reasonably bestowed,
be discountenanced and dis
couraged by all. We are glad that the
Delegate from Idaho has taken hold of
subject, and We hope he will use
all tho influence and energy at his
to bring 1t to q desirable
consummation. Other Territories are
interested and we hope their
Delegates in Congress will come to the
'front.' and do all in their power on be-
half Of q measure urgently demanded
BY many thousands of the best, most
and most enterprising clti-
sens of the United States.
IMPORTANT POSTAL DECISION.
Many merchants In various cities Of
he country having been in the habit
II sending out papers devoted to spe-
Hal interests, in their own name,
printed boldly on the wrapper, ad-
iressed sin tho care OF" their custom
,rs, at the regular pound rate charge
.ble on daily papers, the question was
to the Postofice Depart
nent, and the following decision has