Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-27
To Judges of Elections.
The PaPcrs Necessary TO Entitlc a Fsr-
eigner 20 Vote.

| Ihe FapCrt necessary 10 EhNhc q 81
eigner 10 Vote.
We understand that some foreigners
have been in the habit of voting upon the
exhibition of what is called their "firSt
papers," or declaration of intention to be-
come citizens of the United States. This
is an abuse, and a violation of the natu-
ralzation laws, which require two distinct
papers to be taken out before the foreigner
becomes a citizen and entitled to the right
of suffrage. The first paper is certificate
of his declaration to become citizen, and
is as follows. We copy from the books OF
the Circuit Court Clerk:
United States Of america: State Of Tennessee David
County.
Before the clerk of the circuit court appeared
Patrick Hughes native of Ireland aged, % years,
who being duly sworn upon his oath declares,
that il is bona 6de his intention 10 become a cti-
zen of the United States, and renounce for ever
all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince,
Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever and more
particularly to Queen Victoria, of whom he is at
present subject. PATRICK HUGHES
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 25th
day Of May, 1850. THOS. T. SMILEY, Clerk
The second paper is taken out five years
after his declaration of intention to become
citizen is made, he having in the mean
time resided in the United States, and is as
follows:
Patrick Hughes-Er pGrte-Naturalized
State of Tennessee, Davidson County Circuit
Court, May Term 1855 BE it remembered that
this cause came on to be heard before the honor
able Nathaniel Baxter, Judge, and on this 26th
day of May, 1855; and it appearing to the satisfac
ton of the court that the said Patrick Hughes was
born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, on the LIST day
of April 1924 thathe emigrated to the United States
in the year 1850, and that he has resided in the
United States more than FIVE years, and that on the
25th day of May 1885, before the clerk of this court,
said Patrick Hughes made his declaration Of inten-
ton to become citizen of the United States, agree
ably to the statute in such made and provided
that the said Patrick Hughes is a man of good mo-
raj character and is attached to the principles Of
the constitution of the United States and we'll dis
posed to the good order and happiness of the same
And it further appearing that he has in all things
complied with the laws in regard to Naturalization
and having taken an oath to support the consttu
ton of the United States: 1t is therefore ordered
adjudged and decreed by the court that the said
Patrick Hughes be admitted to citizenship, and
that he be entitled to all the rights principles and
immunities of naturalized citizens.
The first paper is certificate under the
hand and seal of the clerk, that the for
eigner has made simple declaration Of
intention to become a citizen, and renun-
citation of all his allegiance to his former
Prince or Potentate; but you will notice
that he does not swear allegiance to this
country. He may take out his first papers
the moment he lands on our shore, as you
see Patrick Hughes has done. Now, if you
allow him to vote with this declaration, he
could have voted from 1850 But in fact
he had no right to vote until he received
his Second papers" five years afterwards.
We wish to caution our friends against this
deception, which may be honest in many
who practice it; some Of our foreign born
citizens not being aware that more than
one paper is required.
We have copied the forms used in the
Circuit Court of Davidson county, substi
tuting names and dates Of course forms
from different courts and different States
will vary somewhat from the above, but
the material distinction between those pa
pers which confer power of voting and
those which do not, is that one merely
states that certain declaration has been
made, whilst the other certifeS that the
Court has decreed that the foreigner be lad
mitted to citizenship, and that he be entitled
to all the rights, privileges and immunities,
of naturalized citizens" and it is this decree
which confers the authority, and unless the
paper offered does contain in substance,
whatever may be the language used,
decree to the same effect, it is void and
Intellectual, so far as giving him right to
vote is concerned.
We would remind our friends throughout
the State to watch this imposition, now
that illegal voting has become profession
We see it charged that the Democrats
have carried Pennsylvania and Indiana by
the most stupendous frauds ever heard Of,
transporting hordes of foreigners from one
State to another like swarms Of devouring
locusts, and oyer-powering and brow-beat-
ing our resident citizens by this coating
majority, keeping up regular system of
shoulder hitting, underground railroad,
and black carpet bag immigration. Let
us remember that if We in Tennessee would
preserve the purity of our ballot box, we
must frown down such attempts to destroy
the Palladium Of our Liberty.
-. Tk. NJ. Yo~A E.....I e ~.