American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-11-30

interesting matter. Price only 81 per annum,
or cents per copy.
RIGHr OF SUFFRAGE. Although the con-
sttution has confded to Congress alone, the
power 10 prescribe the condition upon which
aliens shall be admitted as citizens OF the United
States, it has conferred no authority on the ma
tional legislature to regulate the right OF sui
frare in the several States, This power be-
longs exclusively to the States. 1t does not
then necessarily follow that when an alien is
admitted to the rights of citizenship, he be-
comes entitled to vote. In some States the
right Of suffrage is regulated by the constitu-
ton: in others, Gas in Maryland,) its by sim
pie law, which can be amended or repealed at
pleasure 1t will been seen, them that the
whole subject is within legislative control in
this State; and that laws may be passed at the
next session of the legislature to guard the right
of suffrage from being abused and also to pre-
vent the introduction of foreign criminals and
paurcys within the State. Some days since
we suggested such measures as we deemed ne
which we refer the reader.
1t must be evident to tho members Of the
legislature, that some action on their part is re-
qured to preserve the purity of the ballot box.
The experience which We have recently under
gone, has demonstrated the absolute necessity
of change in the election laws Of the State,
and we hope that there will be no hesitation in
making it, Now is the time to effect this great
and desirable object, and to enact such mea-
sures Of reform as will at once and forever
guard the rights of the citizens Of Maryland.
1t has been suggested by writers in this pa
per, that aliens who may hereafter become nat
urazed, shall reside within the State for a
term of years after becoming citizens, before
they be permitted to exercise the right OF SUI
frage. This would be just and wholesome
provision, as it would prevent interference iii
our elections before they had become acquaint-
ed with the nature Of our institutions, and also
take away the inducement to solicit aliens to
become citizens. Everything connected with
the process of converting aliens into citizens
time of their arrival in this State to the period
of their naturalization. This would prevent
perjury from being committed.
If we are correctly informed, we have had
conviCts and Paupors brought into our port
within a short time past, whose passages were
paid by the authorities of the port from whence
they saiIed-and this practice will be continued
so long as it is tolerated here, or they have
feon or paupcr in Europe. We say let it be
arrested instantly by the enactment of Il strict
ly proibitory law. And that the tide Of i'm
migration, which threatens to overwhclm us,
may be somewhat checked, or at least that the
refuse population Of Europe may not be poured
into our State, to the serious detriment of the
laboring classes Of our own citizens, let Il GER
tain duty be levied upon every immigrant who
may hereafter arrive in Maryland. We shall
thus protect ourselves; and 1t will be for other
States to act as they may think proper on the
subject. The people of the State will sustain
the legislature in its adoption of energetic and
comprehensive measures in relation to these
matters; and we hope that there will be no
haltipg.