The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-08-12
which, in exceptional cases will not be found
TO bear ipjariously and upjustly.
Now. the prot,er mode bv which 10 Judge

Now. the proper mode by which to Judge
Of any law. IL not to criticise it by it, ef-
fects 10 isolated cases only, but to inquire
into its general operation, and into the OBJ
ject Of lis enactment And Judging Of this
South CsroliLs law by this rule, no fair
man can say il was intended to operate in
vidiously a9.ips, any particular class Of
citizens. And the general condition Of
things in South Carolina, a. well rs the
contemporaneous history Of politics there,
shows that no thought Of its possibly unjust
bearing upon naturalzed citnns had any
influence whatever in procuring ia enact
rDent. In the first place, the foreign born
population OF South Carolina never amount
ed 10 an appreciate fraction Of the popula-
ton Of the State According to the census
Of 1850, out Of a population Of GG5.507,
only s,50S. or l-75,h part, we're born out.
side the United States. This. according 10
the Southern ratio Of voters TO population
One to seven would give foreign vote
Of 200, or less than -30,h Of the vote oithe
State. Sosmall fraction Of the voting popu.
lation Of State could never have amounted
10 An influence, even il combined ia strict.
ly class movement, sufficient TO excite gen
eral hostility, or even attention. There then
cnuh hov. h1., M, ra.ao, L., a.. at.ta "a
things, for the enactment Of proscrip,iye
laws against them. And the facts CORES
pond with this view OF the case. There
never has existed 10 South Carolina, since
colonial times, any hostility against Tor
eigners az class. Whatever may be said
OF the lanaticism Of South Carolina on the
subject Of slavery and State rights, the big
oted spirit Of Know. n othingism has never
entered the hearts Of its people, nor inau-
cnced its legislation. This view is further
sustained by reference to the debates and
proceedings Of the General Assembly Of the
session of 1855, when the act above quoted
was brought forward and discussed. In
those discussions not q word is uttered
against the class OF naturalized citizens, nor
does the suggestion seem TO have come
from any source, that even in the most ex.
IRENE and isolated case, could its provisions
operate more severely upon the naturalized
than upon the native citizen. That u law,
thus enacted. should he cited as a precedent
and al excuse for the illberal enactments of
Massachusetts which were directed specif
caIly against foreigners ~ class, and which
embraced no other class OF citizens whatever,
is an insult to common sense, as well AZ an
outrage upon common honesty.
We propose now to take n review Of the
laws Of Massachusetts, and to set forth the
bIgoied and proscrip'ive sentiments which
influenced the Black Republicans OF that
state 10 enact them. Under the Constitu.
tion OF Massachusetts, adopted in 1850,
" every male Inhabl'ant, OF twenty one years
Of age aud upwards, having freehold
estate, within the Commonwealth, OF the
annual income of ihrc pounds, shall have
u right TO give in his vote for the senator's
Tor the district Of which he is al inhabl,an,.'
l he qualifications for voter for reprcsen-
tatvcs were the same as those required in
IA voter Tor senators, except that years
residence was necessary in the representa-
tive district. And persons entitled to vote
Tor senator's and representatives were al.
lowed to vote Tor Governor and other gen.
eral State officers. The law regulating
suffrage remained ~ above until ISL when
the following amendment to the Consttu.
tion was adopted by the people;
Every male citizen of tScn,y.one years of
age and upwards, excepting psupers and per.
sons under guaTdlanShip,l who shall have re
sided within the Commonwealth one year. and
within the town ~ district, IA which he may
claim right 10 vote, siN calendar months next
preceding any election Of governor, lieutenant
governor, senators, or representatives, and
who shall have paid, by himself or his parent.
master, or guardian, any state ar county taN,
" heb shall. within two years next preceding
such election, have been assessed upon him,
in any town or district Of this Commonwealth;
and also, every CITIZEN who shall be By law
exempted from taxation, and who shall be in
all other respects qualified as above mentioned,
shall have right 10 vote IN such election ot
governor, lieutenant governor, senators and
and no other person shall be
entitled 10 vote in such elections. Il At. !
-tH's~dm,sh 10 Mass. Const.. adopted l>?l.
THIS constitutional provision. which, con
siderlng the aristocra,lc notions Of the old
Wing party was as liberal AS could have
been expected and which, in its worst NJ
poets. was relieved from any prescription
against any particular class or nationality
remained the Law wiihou, any alteration un.
I'll 1857. When, however, in 1855. the
Know Noth,ngs and Black Republicans
united IN opposition 10 the Democracy Of
Massachusetts, and gathered s,r,ng III enough