Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-04-14
From the Illinois State Register
Foreign Voters Prescribed
i'm Massachusetts.

i'm Massachusetts.
The recent Legislature of Massachusett
made provisions for change the Constitu-
tion of the State so that persons of foreigns
birth should remain in the State seven years
before they should be allowed to vote, or
two years after they were naiuralized.-
When it is remembered that this State
this same Black Republican State of Mas
sachusetts--allows the negro who may
come there from another State 10 vote af-
ter one years residence, the restriction of
foreign born voters to Ssven years residence
is not only outrageously unjust. but it is
also an insult to The intelligence, the pat
riotism and good name Of every foreign
born citizen Of America THIS idea Of a
Legislature of white men placing negroes
in suprrior position to intelligent white
: citizens, merely because they happened 10
be born in foreign country, is prepos.er-
Gus. outrageous and Gamnable But,
strange as it may seem, this very idea has
been entertained by the Black Republican
Legislature of Massachusetts. Processing
to entertain friendly feelings towards the
foreigners, the Republicans OF that State
have attempted an outrage which would de-
grade the foreign-born voler below the
level of the backest nigger in the COM
monwealth. Negroes are invited to come
to that State and vote after one years resi-
dence, but the intelligent foreigner is cool
Iy and insu'tingly told BY these puritanic
Black Republican bigots that he must wait
seven years before he can be permitted to
exercise the dearest right of freemen-the
right of the elective franchise.
But who are responsible for this attempt
ed outrage on the foreign born citizens of
Massachusetts? TIE Legislature Of the
State is largely Republican, and the amend
ment to the Constitution which proscribes
foreigners received the support and votes
of every Republican member. But the
Democrats in the Legislature only thirty
two in number--voted against, worked
against it, and fought it to the last. The
Democratic party has always been true to
the rights and interests of the foreign
born residents of the country, and the
Democrats in the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture, in resisting the unjust. proscriptive
and despotic course of the Republicans to-
wards the foreign-born vo.ers. only carried
out the long and well established frinci-
pies of the .jemocralic party. Equal
and exact JUS ice to all men'' has ever
been the cherished motto of the Amer
lean Democracy.
Will the foreign-born citizen of this
itself so recreant of their dearest rights9--
! Willahey allow themselves to be outraged
and insulted, have the sacred right of the
= LII IL g. IL II
their place of birth made a cause of re-
proach, and not spurn with contempt tie
party which endeavors thus to wrong
them? 1t has been the boast of the Re-
e publican party that it is the Same wher-
ever lts organization exists. This being
granted, as they claim it. and what have
The foreigners Of this State TO expect from
i such party? We point TO Massachusetts
5 the mother of Black Repubicanism-ror
5 the answer. We ask the foreign born cit.
Il liens of Springfield and of the whole State
S to consider this subject well before they
e will allow themselves to act with party
t that has thus attempted to outrage and in
suit them. We commend to them the ac-
ton of the Germans of Boston, who had
previously acted with the Republicans
They assembled in that city, few days
ago, to the number of many thousands, and
openly withdrew from and repudiatod for
ever the Republican party. Speeches were
made denouncing the attempt to degrade
than, and the greatest unanimity prevail
ed. 1t is SAID that from six to eight .hou-
{ sand Germans who had up TO that time
acted with the Republican party, were
| nd TOO 81
The following preamble and resolutions
were unanimously adopted;
WHEREAS, The Legislature of Massa-
chusetts having decided upon an amend
ment to the Constitution ofthis State which
restricts immigrated persons (persons of
foreign birth from The exercise of their
4 right of voting and of holding Office in
this State for two years after their natural
{ ization: the German citizens of Boston and
vicinity, whose remonstrances In the Sen
? ate had been left unheeded, have seen fit
to pronounce their sentiments and opin-
ions in the following resolutions There
fore.
Resolped, By the German population Of
Massachusetts, That taking this amend
ment for what it is, WE MUST MAKE
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RE.
: SPONSIBLE FOR ITS PERNICIOUS
CONSEQUENCES,-if this party suffers
its platform to be thus stealthily infring-
ed. li tR
Resolcea, That we. immigrated eiti-
, zens, having neither provoked nor being
responsible for this amendment, cannot
, take any position but that which the vio-
latien of onr rights. the abuse offered t,
our intelligence and the blemish intended
for our decent, forces US to take. ~
AS LONG AS THE REPUBLIC.
AN PARTY DOES NOT RESENT AMI
REJECT THIS AND SIMILAR RE,
STRICTIONS OF THE RIGHTS OFIM-
MIGRANTS. WE RENOUNCE THIS
; PARTY AND ASSUME A POSITION
OF OPEN HOSTILITY TO IT.
@One very cold night village doc
tor was reused from his slumbers by