The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-24
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you shall not vote i; while they say 70 me
zen "You shall not vote and win not require you
ar. KEITT ask the gentleman from Georgia whether
the amendment OF the gentleman nom o ,hs
impose the conditions apon the native as upon e
naturalized citizen a
Mr. COBB know that the phraseology OF the amend
ment is calculated to produce that impression pt
tleman from Kentucky will deny that am placing the
proper construction on his amendment.
Mr.. MARSHALL. ! understand the oPerauoh VI ny ~
amendment 10 be as plain language can express
the conditions shall apply TO DOM AS W he s
inction which the gentleman from Georgia
you will require the alien to pay A anu " NV a. ~
registered-et say that do not understand iaI you
make registration of the alien at all and therefore ne
could not be required to pay q tax
Mr. COBB Ii he does not pay q tax and is not upon
the register he vote under the existing law he
excluded just natvebon citizen when ns
arrives the age of twenyone years between the 3st
December and the day Of election The dstlncon Wmch
have drawn the truth will test the sincerity OF gen
temen the other side Of the House In reference 10 TINS
matter by now asking my friend from Kentucky, instead
of urging his amendment which excludes aliens TO extend
the right of suffrage both to the nauralzed eitzen VINO
was natuazed the 3st of December and TO the ma
tveborn citizen who arrives ut the age OF twentyone
years after the 3ls of December say that am not In
favor of excluding the natveborn citizen ana as gen.
eman from kentucky has control of this matter having
the motion commit in his CONTROL and also his amend
ment ask him modify his amendment so as to provide
that the citizen who naturalzed between
the 3Ist of December the day of election shall be ad
mtted registry and allowed to vote and Also that the
citizen who arrives at the age OF twenty one
MIR. MARSHALL Will the gentleman indulge me? l
read from the charter:
sThe said corporation shall have power lay and collect
a school tax every free white male citizen.
Mr. COBB Has my friend so soon forgotten the argu-
ment made by the gentleman from Maryland has the
House forgotten the argument based on the opinion given
by judicial officers Of this District and the opinions
given the attorneys the board of aldermen and com
mon councmeu and which they have acted-that they
have construed the word czen" be citizen of the
Unted Int he of Washington
know that this thing be covered darby and we
may have difficulty in arriving at the truth know
that this bill may be defeated by putting in unjust
amendment like this and gentlemen arrayed against 1t be-
it is founded upon erroneous construction OF the
law. will put end to the question again appeal to
the gentleman from Kentucky to alter his amendment 80
permit the citizen who is nauralized between the
December and the day of election and the native
born citizen who arrives age twentyone between
the periods of time, to vote; and will support his
amendment What is the objection to it?
Mr.. MARSHALL The gentleman makes a direct appeal
say to him that my motion to commit this bill
to the Committee of the Whole the of the Union
will afford the opportunity to present to the committee
amendment which will put the suffrage what con-
ceive to be the proper basis will present that amend
mcnt if the House will into committee and give me
chance.
Mr. COBB l beg that the House, if they intend to do
justice, will mark well this conversational argument be-
tween the gentleman from Kentucky and myself Mark
YOU he has his amendment pending here. If the motion to
| commit be voted down, will have opportunity
to to amend his amendment 1t stands ready for
vote He has it in his power to put that amendment
right again appeal to him to place the amendment
| the principle which have presented to the House.
He complains that desire to discriminate against the
natveborn citizen. repudate it in my behalf and
in behalf of those with whom am politically associated
and before this House and the country repeat the test to
the gentleman from Kentucky. challenge him to meet
the ground of equality between the nauraized c
and the natve-bon. Does he still reuse2 Is there
reenng of that stern American sentiment against the
naturazed citizen? Will he exclude the natveborn be-
cause by admitting him to the right vote the right
given the naturalized citizen put the candor
House
tleman from Kentucky stands justified before the
try in still further urging that amendment the Ian
guage of which has already created false impression
less intelligent gentleman than my friend from
South Carolina Mr.. KEITTl Now if you want 1t free
of all doubt of all difficulty, SO that everybody will
understand IT. and that every OF this House who is
controlled by right feeling and proper spirit may vote
for it, make the amendment as have proposed. again
amendment would be that every natveborn citizen ar
irving at the Of wentyon after the 3lst of December
shall have the right to have his registered and that
privileges of others who have been registered would 60
| further would even allow those young men who have
arrived at the age Of wenyone between December and
day OF election to vote without the payment of tax
would go even further and extend that privilege to all
voters
trust that gentlemen will bear in mind the provisions
of this amendment and its effect and forget the refusal
Of my friend 10 make ii clearly ineligible when they
to vote this matter and appeal the friends of the
bill to down the amendment unless it be made right
| as well as the motion TO commit
One word in reference to the construction of this law
They object to this law because friend from Maryland
says that have the judicial officers the marshal the ju
rosthat have the control of the whole machinery
the judicial department of this District and that this is the
groundwork for prosecuting commissioners who honestly
and faithfully discharge their duties not familiar
with the details of criminal law in this District but APP
prehend that here well in every other portion of
country ample provisions made to insure all persons
accused OF crime a fair and impartial trial. want
know what evidence il is connected with the past his
of the judicial cour-he criminal Of this Dis
trict-wbether under democratic or any other admins
tration Of the government the gentleman from Maryland
charges that Judge your marshal your jurors
corrupt that they can be made willing tools TO carry
the infamous proceedings Of politicians and punish honest
who free from the charge Of any whatever
When has IL been done7
IL this House prepared TO say, the gentlemans
statement that your judge your marshal and your jurors
under the system provided by for the execution Of the
criminal laws of this District corrupt that
trust in their hands the trial Of these commission
Of election, the responsibility rests every
Der IL that other citizens for other offences
rescued from this corrupt and infamous judiciary
of the District Of Columbia Can my friend from Mary
land sit still and have his anxiety and his enthu-
sasm aroused for other but these commits
soners Of election Will all the other citizens Of the
District still continue to be subjected to this corrupt
shall this dishonest Judge these infamous urors7 and
there voice raised the floor of this House to ask Of
Congress remedy for these evils In the future and that
justice may be done In the criminal Of this District
II is miserable scare-crow raised up by the gentleman
from Maryland for the purpose Of hiding his retreat from
the argument My friend from Maryland does not believe
he asks for investigation leading impeach-
ment Of these officers the better. They deserve IT,
Mr. DAVIS, Of Maryland. Removal from Office Is q
shorter remedy