Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-18

TACT, such as the length Of residence in
inns country, or the like. There il
nothing novel in this, for it is the com
mon practice OF Courts 10 receive afii.
davits ON the hearing Of mere motions,
ana An application for naturalization is
a motion To be admitted 70 citizenship.
But by iorbidding the use Of affidayits
the bill would, IN a vast multitude Of
cases, have made it practically impossi.
sIble for an applicant 20 prove the
length OF his residence. The only per.
sons by whom he could prove when be
came To the United States might live in
another and distant State. If he
could not use his afiidayits he could not
procure his naturalization unless, in.
deed, he could procure their personal
attendance at cost OF hundreds Of
miles Of travel and Of their reasonable
compensation. But this was not all.
The applicant might be ready and
have his witnesses in attendance when
any one might intcrpose and contest
the application. Any pettifogging law
yer employed by Know Nothing Lodge
or moved by his own yindictiye feel
ings, might 90 TO work to examine and
cross.examine the applicant, and for
animation and the taking OF testimony
the Commissioner might adjourn the
hearing from day 10 day, receiving six
dollars for every day he sat. II was es.
tlmated by some of the Senators in the
debate upon the bill that the average
cost Of naturalization, should the bill
become law, would not be less than
one hundred dollars a Gaze. Bat let US
/ suppose the applicant successful and
the certificate granted and the gix
months which were TO elapse before it
should be effective, expired. Then you
would think all his troubles were at an
end. But not at all for the bill pro-
vides that at any time thereafter q Dis
trIct Attorney Of the United States
might drag that mau into the Federal
Courts TO show cause why his certiG.
cate should not be revoked.
Now, it may be asked, why 10 dwell
30 much upon this BILL or rather the
substitute Of the Senate Judiciary
/ Committee, since the substitute failed
10 become a law? | do 80 for two
reasons First, TO show what kind of
measure large number Of the most
| distinguished Republican leaders we're
anxious to adopt and in the next
place, 10 show that the election laws Of
which We complain and this Know
/ Nothing Standardization bill were
twin brothers for then you will be
better able 10 comprehend how it il
that, IN the execution Of the election
laws, they have been turned principally
against the nAturalized citizen.
/ Having failed TO destroy naiuraliza-
Isg Ha 80
ferrcd, they now seek, by corrupt and
tyrannicsl execution Of the election
laws, TO throw every possible obstacle
IN the way OF the naturalized citizen
right to vote The purpose to thus use
election laws disclosed itself the mo-
ment the substitute bill OF which have
spoken was defeated. That. as have
taid, WAS propo- ed as an amendment 10
the House bill. As soon a. il was voted
down, the Senator who had the bin in
charge moved two additional sections
10 it one providing for Supervisors of
Elections, and the other providing ss
follows "And be il further enacted.
chat in any city having upward of
twenty thousand inhabitants. il shall
be lawful for the Marshal Of the United
States for the district where such city
shall be, to appoint a. many special
deputies as may be necessary 10 pre-
serve order at any election at which
Representatives TO Congress are to loo
chosen and said deputies are hereby
authorized 10 preserve order at such
elections, and TO arrest for any oifense
or breach of the peace committed in
their view
The bill thus amended passed both
| Houses, and WIS approved by the Presi-
dent July 18th, 1870. This ball was the
entering wedge for the enactment of
the voluminous Congressional laws that
have since been passed. Ii introduced
the United States Deputy Marshals
upon the scene, under the pretense Of
preserving order at the elections. bat it
stopped far short of the powers con-
ferred upon them by the subsequent
acts. 10 which ] will shortly refer.
At the next session of Congress the
Radical leaders returned to the charge,
and by the act approved February u.
1871, containing twenty sections, set up
the vast machinery Of Federal interfer.
ence in the elections of the people that
now exist. This act provides for n
Chief Supervisor Of Elections, for two
voting precinct in any city or town
having upward Of twenty thousand in.
habitants, all to be appointed by Fed.
eral Judge and it then confers upon
the United States Marshal, on the ap-
plication OF any two citizens of any
such city or town, power TO appoint as
many Special Deputy Marshals as he
shall see fit TO aid and assist the Super
visor OF Elections to keep the peace, to
support and protect the Supervisors in
the discharge of their duties. 10 pre-
vent fraudulent registration and fraud
ulent voting, or fraudulent conduct up
on the part of any officer Of election,
and with power 10 arrest and take into
custody, with or without process, any
| person who should commit, or attempt
to offer TO commit, any Of the acts or
ofienses prohibited by the act, or any
otfcnsa against tho laws af tho Halted