Washington sentinel., 1854-05-31


! in efigy. But, sir, / do not hold the great mass
of them responsible for these acts. The hon
est and industrious German does not wish to
medde unseasonably in politics. nor does the
| generous and warm hearted Irishman, whose
| heart beats responsive to the bold anthem of
Erin-go-braugh" Those who set themselves
| up for leaders among them, who claim to be
the special guardians of their rights who pre-
tend to have the same religion that they have,
that they may sell them out in election times,
either for money or Office, are their worst ene-
mics. have seen good many claim Office
on the allegation that they influenced this or
that portion of the alien vote, and threaten those
in power with the displeasure of the voters Of
foreign birth if they were not gratifed. Did
we not see General Scott, the gallant old chief,
who fought during the war of 1872 upon our
northern frontier, and who had carried the stars
and stripes of our country in triumph to the
halls of the Montezumas, talking during the
last presidential canvass about the rich Irish
brogue, and the sweet German accent 1t was
humihating spectacle. For my part, sir, /
do not wish to see our candidates making ap-
peals either to or against any portion Of our
emigrant population. / wish them to feel as
American citizens, and act as such at the pro-
per time. But when they hold. separate meet
ings, why, of course, they induce native-born
American citizens to hold meetings and organ
ize against them.
Mr.. President, think ] have pretty clearly
shown that the spirit of the Constitution, and
sound policy, require aliens to become citizens
under the clause Of the Constitution / have re-
ferred to, and the act Of Congress passed in
pursuance thereof, before claiming the right to
vote. Our own people, moving from one State
TO another, cannot vote in the State into which
4 @laxxL Lox,a .1,l
some time, and paid tax. Utmost Of the States
it is two years; in some one year, and in few
six months. Some time is supposed to be ne
cessary to enable them to become acquainted
with the laws and the people among whom
| they reside. will now proceed to show that
| the section, as it comes to us from the House,
| is a departure from the previous legislation.
| The celebrated ordinance of 1884, organiz-
ing the Northwestern Territory, prior TO the
/ adoption Of the Constitution, contained this
provision. The Southwestern Territory was
afterwards organized with similar provision:
g Pyorided, That no person be eligible or quail
fed 10 act as representative unless he shall have
4 been oiti-en Of one Of tie Unitfd States three
4 years and be resident in the district. or unless
he shall have resided in the district three wears
and in either case shall likewise hold in his own
i right in fee-simple. two hundred acres of land
| within the same: Proeidsd, also. That freehold
In Aty acres oil land IN the DISTRICT HdCIHg bceH
citizen ofone offhe States and being resident in
the district or the like freehold and Two years
residence in the district. shall be necessary 10
qualify man as an elecior ofa representative"
i In 1903 Congress passed the act alluded to
by the honorable senator from Maryland. il
not only required citizenship, but certain
amount of property. 1t reads as follows:
That every free white male person in the Mis-.
sssipp Territory, above the age Of twenty-one
years, having been ctti-en Of the United States
! aud resident the said Territory, year next
preceding an election of representatives. and who
has q legal or equitable title tract Of land. by
virtue Of any act Of Congress, or who may be
come the purchaser Of any tract of land from the
United States of the quantity of iifty acres, or
who may hold in his own right, town lot Of the
value of one hundred dollars within the said Ter.
rory shall be entitled 10 vote for representatives
10 the general assembly Of said Territory"
In 1919, Congress authorized the people OF
the Territory Of Michigan to elect delegate
to Congress, and then slight departure took
place, but still not SO great as is now proposed.
A residence of one year, and the payment of q
tax was required to qualify an inhabitant Of
the Territory to vote. The section under con-
sideration neither requires prior residence,
payment Of tax, nor evidence Of intention to
remain in the Territory, or naturalization.
The following is the law to which refer:
white male citizen of said Territory, above the
: age Of tweaty-one years, who shall have resided
therein one gear next preceding an election, and
who shall have paid county or teyyitorial tar,
shall be entitled 10 vote at such election for dele
, gate to The Congress fthe United States, in such
manner and al such times and places shall be
prescribed by the governor and Judges of said
Territory
a In 1886, Congress organized the Territory Of
Wisconsin, and in 1888 the Territory of Iowa.
/ The territorial law passed for Iowa is in the
4 same language as that contained in the Wis
4 consin bill. The fifth section Of both contains
a significant proviso:
i stSEc S. And be jixyther enacted That every
free white male citizen of the United States, above
/ the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been
an inhabitant of said Territory at the time Of its
organization, shall be entitled to vote at the first
election, and shall be eligible to any office within
the said Territory but the qualifications ofvcters
al all subsequent elections shall be such as shall
be determined by the legislative assembly: Pro-
vided, That the right Of suffrage shaH De erercised
only 5y the citizens Of the United States
In 1913, the Territory Of Oregon was organ
lied, and then still greater departure took
place; but still the law required residence
in the Territory at the time Of the passage Of
the act, and in this respect it differs from the
legislation now proposed
Then, sir, we come to the legislation con-
talneu III tnc compromise measures OF IS0U
There has been a great Misrepresentation in
regard to the legislation upon this subject in
the two bills organizing the Territories of
| Utah and New Mexico. 1t has been represent
4 ed, over and over again, that both of these Ter
ritories have been organized in such a manner
as to give the inhabitants, whether native-born,
naturalized, or unnaturalized, the right to vote.
1t is not SO. The bill organizing the Territory
Of New Mexico was approved on the 9th of
September, 1850; the Utah bill was approved
the same day. This provision is contained in
, both:
!" SEC. 6. Aad Jc further enacted, That every
free white male nhabitant above The age Of TWEEN
J ty-one years who shall have been a resident Of
said Territory at the time of the passage Of this
act, shall be entitled 10 vote nt the first election,
and shall be eligible 10 any Office within the said
r Territory; bnt the qualifications of voters and Of
holding Office. al all subsequent elections. shall be
such as shall be prescribed by the legislative as
sembly Provued, IHat the rigAt Of suffrage, and
of holding etfce shall be erercised only By citizens
Of Me United States, including those recognised