Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-19

4
residence as a citizen is required.
| The gentleman Is exceedingly solicitons about
the rights Of these naturalized Americans, and APP
pears much grieved because another year Is added
% their term OF probation; yet at the same time Il
very agreeable 20 him to deprive the natiye-born
who attans the age of twensy-one subsequent to
the Slst December and prior TO the annual cleo
ton in June telewing, OF similar right.
II is q terrible thing to make the foreigner re-
side here one year as citizen 1t Is even viola
ton OF the lawsand the constitution but il is very
riting matter to make the native born reside here
| twenty-five years His sympathies are with the
alien and against the native born He battles man
fully for therights Of the foreigner, but permits
the rights OF the natiye-born TO be curtailed with
out mufmur.
| And now, Mr. President, who are these Ameri-
can citizens whose rights the gentleman 80 zeal
ously defendsg For the most part, they are sons
Of the Emerald Isle, fresh from the boys Of Killar
ney, who, for aught know, are part Of that num-
| Der who have been metanorphosed into American
citizens on the eve Of an election, at the expense
of the gentleman's colleague, (Mr. Bayly.) will
not say that the gentleman Mr. Bayly) paid the
expense of naturalization Of all, but he is the re-
sponsible person. 1t is probable the gentleman
| from the First Ward mr. Magruder) paid a part,
and probably the contestant (Mr. Fitzpatrick paid
q portion.
| But do say that the sum of $2sS has been
charged by the Clerk of the Circuit Court to the
gentleman. What induced the gentleman to incur
| this expense? What was the consideration? Is
II probable the gentleman volunteered his purse to
detiay the expenses of naturalization without as
pertaining the political proclivties Of the parties?
The gentleman has laid down the doctrine this
evening, that when mans acts warranted an in
ference, one had perfect right to draw that In
ference. propose TO show the practical effect OF
vha, lad IN, inf hat
he knew how these individuals would vote. infer
that he 6aryained with them to vote at any place
and for any person, as he might indicate to them.
Yes, sir, the inference is clear and indisputablc
that he purchased their votes at the price OF the
cost of naturalization. And, under the Charter of
this City, they, having sold their votes forever
after prohibited from exercising the elective fran
chise.
Here Mr.. Bayly, who had been absent for a
! few moments, came in; the above was repeated
in his presence, and he admitted that he was re-
sponsibe for the debt, denied that he had paid
one dollar, and admitted the amount was S270.
! Mr.. Busey, (continuing) l will take the gem
tleman at his own figures, just enough to purchase
ninety votes at $3 per head. The gentleman says
he has not paid one dollar; true, l understand
there is a squabbe between three or four persons
as to who shall pay the bill, or what proportion Of
it each shall pay The gentleman admits he is
responsible. He, Mr.. President was the treasurer,
the depository, the disbursng agent of a corrupt
fund, collected, contributed, and dsbursed by him
for corrupt purpose.
The position which he voluntarily assumes is still
more humiliating, Twas disposed to give him some
credit for benevolence for excessive hberaty, but
he acquts himself of that charge. He, sir, has
bartered in American citizenship; he has specu-
lated in the dearest privilege Of an American citi-
zen, and for what purpose? TO defeat his native
| born brothers.
will now proceed to analyze the rejected votes.
Whole number claimed by contestant, 81; whole
number claimed as part Of the returns by the
contestant, l8. Brown and Ferguson, two OF the
Commissioners, certify that there were but II |;
whole number of aifidavits presented by contest
ant 10; no affidavit for John Shagrew and Joseph
Sullivan, whose names are on the certified list OF
rejected voters But IS of the rejected voters, as
certified TO by the Commissioners, have filed affi-
davits. james Powell, Joseph McGueken and G.
Sugrue, whose names are not on the certified list,
have filed atidavits. throw out these, because ii
every person who did not vote is to be permitted
to file affidavis, as to how he would have voted,
had he voted, l, TOO, must be permitted TO file
| similar affidavits.
| / have some of that kind, but shall not pre-
| sent them. They are government employees, and
would be subject to the ruthless prescription prac
tised by the present administration. Joseph Nc
Quicken claimed his residence in Baltimore, 80
stated on the day of the election, and refused to
offer 10 vote pressed TODD so by some one OF the
anti. American party lie was naturalized just be-
fore the election; yet it can be proven that he
voted in Baltimore at the last Congressional cleo
ton. Number the list claimed as part of the
returns, Is. Noafidavit of Shagrew and Sullivan
they must be deducted--Sulvan is a minor. Votes
in dispute Is; not on the poll lists MS admitted
by themselves, IS; on the poll list (Kenney, Ge-
nau and Divine,) 5; OF these, one, Daniel Genau,
admits in his affidavit that he had not paid his
school tax, but that he was "ready and willing TO
pay" Readiness and willingness to pay do not
entitle one to vote. The Charter expressly de-
clares that he 1" shall hare paid"
| To recapitula.e--- s7sHea aN
| Number possessing school-tax qualification s
Number possessing registry qualification 3
Number possessing neither schootax nor reg
istry qualification -t-F-.- 8
Allow contestant all who possess either qualif-
cation SO IL
Sitting members majority, according to the re-
turns Of the Commissioners, admitted by the
/ contestant TO be correct $500 IA
Sitting members majority will then be 8
But the fifth section Of the Charter Of 1s4s, de-
clares that all voters must possess both qualiica
| tons.
Allow contestant all who possess both, 2; then
/
tion-the minority report--says the Court decided
in the case of Wallach, that his name having been
left off the list through the neglect or inadvertence
Of the assessor, land he DR.. Miller produced a
newspaper record to sustain him. should be put
upon the list then win allow the contestant all
who paid the schoolta1, whether registered or
not, s sitting members majority viii be g.
Thus you perceive, Mr.. President, viewing the
case in the most favorable aspect the contestant
has not a shadow Of claim to the seat now held
by myself ra
now come TO the consideration Of the last point
involved in this case--the Interpretation Of the
Charter The 9Th section Of the Charter of ls4s
/ IL as follows
And be IL further enacted That every free
white male citizen of the United States, who shall
have attained the age Of twenty-one years, and
shall have resided in the city of Washington Que
year Immediately preceding the day Of election
shall be entitled to vote"
Under this section, not one Of these persons are
entitled TO vote. Why? Because they do not
possess the qualification Of one years residence as
citizen of The United States This Is the obvious
meaning Of the Charter. The minority report
claims that only residence Of one year is required