American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-11-15
FRIDAY MORNING, Nov. Is, 1914.


it touches on a subject which we'll merits the
consideration of the legislature, viz: the en-
ploymcnt of money to purchase votes at cleo
tons. Opposed as we arc, to all practices
which tend to degrade the elective franchise, or
to prevent the fair expression of public senti-
mcnt through the ballot boxes, we shall look
to the legislature ofthe state for the enactment
of such laws as will remedy all abuses, con-
nected with elections, as far as it may be found
practicable. We cannot close our eyes to the
fact, that corruption has been practsed to an
alarming extent in various ways; and that, UNI
less a remedy be applied, our elections will be-
come mere farce. Illegal voting must be
prohibited under the severest penalties; and
strong measures must be adopted to prevent n
repetition of the frauds which have been per-
petratcd by means of naturalization papers,
The right to vote must be rendered more m-
portant, and be brought into greater respect
provisions will therefore be necessary, not only
to guard the ballot box from access by unna-
turaiizcd foreigners, but fclons should be dis
francliscd and paupcrs residents ofalms-houses,
should also be debarrcd the right Of suffrage
right intended to aprertain TO freemen only.
The fact is otorous, that paupers and Grim
inals, (the latter brought in irons,) are sent
from Europe and cast upon our shores to be-
come citizens Of the United States, and to in
flucnce our elections by their purchaseabe
votes. The legislature of the state has the
4 al.
must be exercised for the benefit of our citizens.
law should be passed lorbidding the landing
of any person from Europe as an immigrant,
unless upon the payment of certain sum of
money, or the exhibition of an American Con-
suls certificate as to the moral character of the
individual, with the statement that he is not u
convicted ielon nor from an alms-house. 1t is
the intention of some of the European powers
to transport all their criminals and paupers to
this country and unless our legislators act
with promptness and decision to counteract
this determination, American children will
hereafter have to be reared amidst the corrupt
ing influence Of criminals and beggars, elected
from the prisons and poor houses of Europe
pers, and the system of transportation has lit
tie more than commenced: what then will be
our condition, if we permit the powers of Eu
rope to carry Their plans into full effect? Our
streets and alms-houses will be filled with va
grants who should he maintained at home; and
the support of the poor will become an enor-
nous item in our expenditures Our lcgsla-
tors must look to this matter in time, SO that
the evil may be avoided.
To the Editors of the American Republicans
In your late numbers you complained very
justly of the importation OF foreign criminals
and paupers into this country, to become citi- |
zens and voters. believe that honest men OF
all parties will agree that it should be prevent !
ed; and the difficulty is, to find a remedy, |
which can only be done by extending the time |
of probaton and making the foreigner pay
heavy duty before permission to land.
But there is another and may say, a much |
greater evil to be guarded against, mean the
large sums of money collected in this, and all
the large cities, for the purpose of corrupting
and bribing voters. Impress upon the Legisla-
ture the necessity Of condgn punishment upon
all the contributors, for L hold it undenable,
that the man who gives bEihc is much more
criminal and deserving the Peniteniiary than
the poor wretch who receives it, Let your
columns be devoted to cure tho evil, and we
shall not hear of Illegal voting hereafter.
HoSEsIuS.
New MAIL ARRANGEMENT. We mentioned
a few days since that the Postmaster General
had changed the time of the departure Of the
Southern mails. 1t will be seen by the adver-
teement nf the WASHINGTON Railroad Comm