The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-02


going 10 that state decline TO become
+paturalized- They decline, 70 take the
burdens of citizenship withoas being per-
mitted to enjoy it's benefits.
AS specimen case, your committee
refers to that OF Col. james Moran. OF
Providence. An abstract of his testimony
is as follows: II
Lived here invent y~eight years; foreigner; at
uralfled eutered Bervice OF the United states
need that sana %So went into the
service could vote when they came back commits
sass served VssYs three
held An election for officials in Rhode Lsian .i
In his company In the army ona eSc nos r,s
estate; has lost 1t, and cannot vote now; been
colonel in militia, and notary paolie majority o.
changed about and can't money to buy
homes
Although naturalized he cannot vote,
because he does not possess the real estate
which Rhode Island laws make 1t pecess,
airy for 9 foreign born citizen to own.
A similar case is that of Col John nj.
Duffy, vino had been q resident OF Provi-
dsnce for twenty years. He entered the
service of the United States In May, 1861,
In the Second Rhode Island Volunteers.
as q private. being promoted. subsequently,
te sergeant, second lieutenant, ana nrst
lieutenant of that regiment: AFTER some
service in the Second Rhode Island tot-
unteers. he was honorably discharged 20
accept the commission 10 the United
States Regular Army rs hrst lieutenant
| in the Thirteeuth Infantry ,kbeing brevett-
ed lieuteuant-colonel for gallentry at the
battle of Missionary Ridge. de remained
| in the Army until 1859, when he was dis
charged for disability, aud received pen
sion of SIS sper month. Colonel Duffy
ACQUIRED real estate after his return from
the army, and upon becoming tnaturalized
was permitted toll vote. Having lost his
real estate from the vicissitudes OF for
tune he has lost his right to vote.
| The case of Hon. Thomas Davis. for
merly member of Congress from Rhode
Island, ia given in the following condensa'
| ton of bis testimony: .-.--
Live In Providence; foreigner; natnralixed forty
year, sgH San IN SoS Of he ss
| islstuFe a nnmber OF dmsa member OF Congress
| from Rhode island in 1881. then owned real
business andfhe title 70 my property passed 20 m
assignee, and cannot now vote; eolored men now
egn- born citizen IL excluded unless he owns real
estate the effect OF this Is bad 1t makes the voters
mercenary; wealth controls suffrage in Rhode
Island money is all-powerful here it can over
whelm public sentiment at any time here; have
wavs advocated the repeal Of this Restriction.
| THOMAS MoMURRoUGH. Naturslized cannot vote
no real estate: tam president OF the Rhode Island
ing for extension OF suffrage to foreign born cit
zelss father lived in Massachusetts; nsturalized
sno sbs"aed asd we ee we're roy ,nae
Rhode Island; we cannot vote now, Tor we own
| no land; at least 1900 naturalizad citizens In The
DANrsL DoEovAa. Naturaliaed. came from
Connecticut; lived 10 the United States since i've
years old IAN skilled mechanic; ten of us work
together in one room in factory. the highest
grade room in IT. SIX q the fsn gre foreigners and
suit my family would cost me $3,ooS
Repeated efforts hsve been made to
secure the alteration OF the constitution OF
Rhode Island in regard to property quail
fcations for foreign-born citizens. but they
have always been defeated. Special
| instances are shown where state senators
and representatives hays voted to submit
| the question TO the extension Of suffrage
| to the vote of the people. aRd then haye
done everything ia their power st tbepolis
60 defeat ii. In the case of submission 81
the question of the extension of suffrage to
| soldiers and sailors who had served ia
| Rhode Island regiments during the war,
| submitted durine the Presidential canvass
of 1876. the testikzong shows that it was
| made party question at tae CELLS.
Witnesses testify that q minority of he !
/ people has ruled Rhode Island tor more
than fifteen years past, and that the oppc-
sition of the extension ct suffrage came
mainly from those now 10 power. the BE-
publican party. who tear the loss OF place
that would follow.
/ Your committee believes that there are
good grounds for the complaints made,
that the government Of Rhode Island.
under its present constitution. is nearer
an oligarchy than democracy. The dis
l franehjsem of SO large percentage Of
her pseple, :by systematic effort and rigid.
IL enforced slatDses. the small vote cas-
fur president at p LotiS cog tested election,
the small number ct votes e@st fer Dem-
bers OF Congress in four successive 6Ees
tons, when contrasted wills the number
cast 10 other stasss Ia the same elections
4 the CHOICE eff members OF Congress, gov.
Iernor aud Presidents by the VJ;cs of one
out Of every ten Of The lrUt''e, Wits,
/ other states cast one or eS4fy I've o!
| theirs, the maintenaDce vi the fale oi
three 6fths Cor the anentDnR' OF her
constitution. by which the will Of the
majority has been twice defeA Ell. all ,u
pei US to recogDiz RLode tst4ud a. differ
ent iu her government. 4er ipstitntions,
and her policy from all Der slster an u %
weaiths in the u Mon, and lead as TO grasp
at any provision Of the Federal Constitu
ton which. fairly construed will grant Us
power to enforce. for her people. IA re-
| publican form of governmeD., by which we
mean government by the whole people,
for the whole people of the state.
Rhode Island is the only state in tho
u MON in which native and foreign born
citizens stand upon dltferen, grounds a. to
state qualifications tor the right Of suff
rage. - "a - --e-s
The laws OF the United States require q
residence of FIVE years within the country
before foreigner can be naturaiz d This
makes hin eiizep OF the United States;
but be may be voter fox mem ers of
Congress, or for electors for President, or
for the members of State legislature who
elect United States Senator, after be has
resided six months in ths country If he
lives IN Kansas. Nebraska. Colorado, or
Georgia, or within twelve months resid-
snce 10 Alabama. Arkansas, Florids.
Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon.
Texas. and Wisconsin.
A naturalized foreigner can vote in
California after residence OF six months;
Connecticut, after residence OF one year
if he be able to read any article Of the con-
stitution or any section of the statues of
the State, Delawar after one years resid-
ence if he paid taxes: Illinois. after one
year 3 residence; Iowa. six months resi-
dance. enfuekv two vaarE' raaidanae.