Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-11-04
WHO CAN YOTEt

1t was contended for q time last summer. by
some of our know-nothing friends, that the State
statute requiring six months residence in the coun-
ty in which any one offers to vote, should be SO
construed as to require nAturalzed citizens to be
in the county six months after their naturalization
papers were obtained. We might Just as well re-
quire minors to be in the county six months from
the time they become of age. The question was
finally referred to q committee of lawyers, compo-
sed of both parties, and the result of their nves
LEGATIONS was thus summed up in the Gazette of
July 81:
1.-THE committee OF our citizen lawyers, compo-
sed of Messrs. K. j. Meigs and Russell Houston on
the part of the American know nothingl party,
and Messrs. Andrew Ewing and w. +. Cooper on
the part of the opposition party, appointed to de-
eide the controversy relative to the right of for
eigners to vote, in consultation yesterday morning
unanimously agreed that the word "citizen' in the
State statute relates back with regard to residence
and that therefore the taking out of nsturaza ton
papers at any time previous to the election will en-
title the foreigner to vote, in case he has been,
previous to the election bona Jide resident of the
State and county the time prescribed. The Amer
lean Gknow-nothingl party will cheerfully abide by
the decision"
said that foreigu-born citizens would not be per-
mitted to vote in the November election, unless
they produced their naturalization papers. For
this there is no authority. By reference to the
18th Sec of the act of the Tennessee Legislature
of 1s4l, it will be seen that the production of such
papers is not indispensable 10 the exercise of the
right of suffrage. The act says:
H.,
citizen of the United States, shall offer to vote
and his vote is objected to, he shall produce GER
tilted copy of the record of his naturalization
which record shall show that the person has been
declared by competent court q citizen of the
United States if the same is in his possession. or
If not then he may be examined as TO his aaturqhza
ton, and if the judges shall be satisfied from his
examination, and otner oral testimony Gf any is
oferedl that the party offering to vote is natural.
zed they shall rec eiVs has vote accordingly In like
manner the party offering to vote may be examn-
ed as to bis naturalization when he produces the
CODY of the record of his naturalization and the
same is objected to on account of Authorization"
From the Nashville Patriot we again copy the
following correct summary of the qualifications of
voters in this county
PERSONS QUALIFIED TO VoTE.-The following is
an abstract of the laws of this State fixing the
qualifications, &c. of voters:
All persons qualified to vote for members of the
General Assembly are qualified to vote for electors
of President and Vice President-Act of 1872,
chapter 164
Every free white man of the age of twenty-one
years, being a citizen of the United States, and
citizen of the county wherein he may offer to vote
six months next preceding the day of election,
shall be entitled to vote for members of the Gen
ersl Assembly, Constitution, Article f. Sec. l.
IL Offara IN vOta and af fha
Judges know that he is qualified voter or, if his
vote objected to by any candidate other citizen
of the Stste--the judges of the election or some
one of them, or the officer holding the election,
shall under the direction of the judges, or msjor-
ity of them, administer al oath or affirmation in
the following form, or to the following effect:
You do solemnly swear (or affirm as the case
may beg that you will true answers make to such
questions as may be asked you touching your Quail
itcaton or right to vote in the present election
so HELP YOU GOD"
The judges, or some one of them, shall then ask |
the person offering to vote the following questions
Are Won citizen of the United States?
Are you q citizen of the State of Tennessee?
Are you twenty-one years of sgef
Do you reside in this county,
Has your home been in this county Fix months |
next before this day?
Have you voted at any other time or place in
10 election2
thAnd any other questions that the judges may
think material to ascertain the qualifications of
The person Offering to vote.
IF the Judges, or q majority of them, are salts
Fed that the person offering to vote
Is citizen of the State;
That he has attained the age OF twenty-one
Tears;
That ne had his home in the county in which be
8 Offering to vote six months next preceding the
lay of election;
That he. resides therein;
That he has not voted before in the same cleo.
ion;
That he is Otherwise a qualified voter-the
judges shall thereupon receive his vote.
But if thew or any of them have reason to sus-
eot that the person offering to vote has sworn
slsely, they or the officer holding the election, or
ome Justice of the peacs, under their direction,
lsy swear sny by-s.snder as to the right and
publication of such person to vote.-l84l, chap
A