The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-04-15
Mu.islral Outrage on Naturalized Citi-


Munisipal Outrage ON Naturalized citi.
| Gems.
1t has been matter of serious discussion, espe
cialy in the large cities, what should be sufficien
evidence Of citizenship to entite aliens born to b,
voters. Some have commended that the voter o
foreign birth should produce the judicial record o
bis naturalization, the ground that this is III,
highest evidence, and as removing all temptation
to commit perjury, and all opportunity for mistake
This has been our own opinion, both in point o.
law and of morals. But others have urged witt
much force, the Inconvenience of this strict rule
that papers are often lost mslaid and that tn,
oath Of the party should be deemed sufficient. Tn,
Legislature Of this State has by statute dec
ded in favor Of the latter, and the oath of voter ii
sufficient. Ii he has sworn falsely, he is liable t.
prosecution but, in the meantime his oath is to be
deemed sufficient proof, and his vote must be re-
ceiyed.
Now, last night, when the Committee of the
Council Examined into the qualifications of mem
bers they asked questions and required no proof
from any one, but Claude Brugniens The others
were all endorsed without a single inquiry, but he
was put on oath, and that, too, by Committee
composed of his political friends, and after he had
Served one term in this very Council! He ssoore
he a naturolized citizen, and yet Messrs Perry
| and Stewart reported he was not! And this, too,
without any proof to contradict his own statement
under oath
What will the democratic voters of the Seventh
Ward say to this
Twice last year we heard in the Council, the
anecdote Of John Randolph, that on his first en-,
trance into Congress he was asked bis age by the
Speaker, and he answered, :" Go ask my constitu.
ents." This was asmart reply, but utterly in VIC.
lation of law. As, however, the story was twice
told as extremely appropriate, we tell it for the
| third Time And we, ask what will the voters of
the Seventh Ward. large majority of whom are
naturaized citizens, say to this charge of perjury
against their Representative :" Let him produce
his papers. if he has any" said Mr.. Perry. This
is all very good logic against man who, demo.
crat all his life, happens for the moment to be in
Office by the help OF whg votes. 1t is little re.
markable that no one thought Of questioning his
qualifications when in '46 he was elected as dem
ocrat. AT that time Mr.. Stewart was on the Com
mittee to examine qualifications, and he then gave
a report in his favor. AFIE,s
But now, after five years Of continued, open an
uninterrupted use Of the rights of citizenship, Mr.
Brugnens is rudely called upon to produce papers,
and his oath is set aside as Of no avail Why was
not Mr.. Wheelehan put to the question? He is
an freshman, but no one called on him for papers
or even affidavit. His political opponents know
him to be an honest man, and feel assured that he
would not claim seat which did not belong to
him. This insult to Mr.. Brugniens, and this slur
at naturaized citizens, the ebulition of party
spirit unworthy of any set Of men. The unpar-
donabe sin OF Mr. Brugniens is, that he was against
regular nominations. He was of the opinion of the
Delta and Crescent, that these Municipal offices
should not be controlled by the party politicians,
and he had the temerity to run as an independent
candidate. All at once, it was discovered by some
Paul PTy, that Claude was not a citizen. To
be sure, he had voted for years, and had served
in the Council before, but that was no presumption
even OF citizenship. The leaders and wire workers
were known o'be connecting their plans all day
Mr.. Ferry was selected to spring the trap, and
caught his own tail This gentlemen manifested
an impatient desire to go into an examination of
qualifications. He would not allow the letter of the
Mayor to be read, which recognized the election OF
the members. He interrupted the call of the roll.
He could not be easy till he had laid the Commit
tee, and precious gosling was the report it
Matched. ..-t
Mr.. Perry's legal demonstration was capital
thing. We must enR gAten him little. To
make good legal argument, man must not only
have good law, but case to which the law applies.
tie forgot the facts, so tickled was he with the
opportunity to display his legal acumen Mr..
brngniens, who has been waEtonly insulted, is
one OF the most respectable of our citizens Left an
orphan, at an early age, he received in the
Orphan House of Charleston and wis tbers the