The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-18
POLITICAL PRESCRIPTION.
REPORT OF SENATOR wALLACE'S SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THEMEAsU2Es WHICH
MAINTAIN A MINORITY IN pow
ER-PRosCRIPTIvE POLITICS
DENOUNCED.

The following is an abstract of Senator
Wallace's report presented to the Senate
The testimony taken by the committee at
Providence discloses many Determinations
by the laws of Rhode Island, and the prac-
tices under them, against foreign born citi-
zens of the United States aud of Rhode Is
land.
Naturalized citizens may own any amount
of personal property, aud pay any amount of
taxes thereon, but they cannot vote unle, S
possessed of certain amount of real estate.
Foreign born citizens who were naturalized
and voted in Rhode Island long before the
War of the Rebellion, and who served the
United States and the State of Rhode Island,
in Rhode Island regiments throughout the
war, and who have been shown to have lost
this real estate, have been deprived of the
right to vote by that loss. The result has
been in Rhode Island that very many resi-
dent foreigners, not already made citizens OF
the United States elsewhere, on going to
that State decline to become naturalized.
They decline to take up the burdens of citi-
zenship without being permitted to enjoy its
benefits.
As specimen case your committee refers
to that of Col. James Moran, of Providence.
An abstract of his testimony is as follows
"Lived here twenty-eight years. foreign
er; naturalized; entered service of United
States from Rhode Island under promises
made by the State officials that foreigners
who went into the service could vote when
they came back; commissioned as second
lieutenant; promoted to captaincy; served
three years; honorably discharged; held an
election for officials in Rhode Island in his
company in the army but could not vote
HIMSELF was voter once because he owned
real estate; has lost it and cannot vote now
been colonel in militia, and notary public
majority of the operatives in the mills are
foreigners; are changed about and can't save
money to buy homes"
Although naturalized he cannot vote be-
cause he does not possess the real estate
which Rhode Island laws make it necessary
for foreign born citizen to own.
A similar case is that of Colonel John NJ
Duffy who had been a resident of Provi'
dence for twenty years He entered the SER
V ce of the United States in May, 1861, in
the Second Rhode Island volunteers as s
private, being promoted, subsequently, to
sergeant, ID lieutenant, and 1st lieutenant
of that regiment. After some service in the
Second Rhode Island volunteers, he was
honorably discharged to accept the commits
sion in the United States regular army al
lst lieutenant in the Thirteenth infantry
being hreveted lieutenant colonel for gal
lantry at the battle of Missionary Ridge
He remained in the army until 1869, when
he was discharged for disability, and receiv
ed pension of Sl5 per month. Col. Duffy
acquired real estate after his return from
the army, and upon becAming naturalizet
was permitted to vote. Having lost his rea
estate from the vicissitudes of fortune he ha
lost the right TO vote.
The case of Hon. Thomas Davis, formerl
a member of Congress from Rhode Island
is given in the following condensation of hi
testimony
"Lve in Providence; foreigner; natu.ali
zed forty-fve years ago; seventy five year
old; manufacturing jeweler; been in bot
branches of the legislature a number {
times; member of Congress from Rhode /:
land in 1858 H. then owned real estate;
am not now qualified voter failed in br
siness and the title of my property passed t
my assignees, and | cannot now vote; colore
men now vote here like native born white
while every foreign born citizen is exclude
unless he owns real estate; the effect of tn
. is bad; it makes the voters mercenar
wealth controls suffrage in Rhode Islam,
money is all. powerful bere it can overwhel
5 public sentiment at any time here; hay
, been both a republican aud democrat, br
always advocated the repeal of this restri
f tion.
!. Thomas NJ MMurrough. .-Naturalized; CA
not vote; have no real estate; am preside
: of the Rhode Island suffrage associatio
!, presented memorial praying for an exte
J. sion of suffrage to foreign born citizens; fat
J, er lived in Massachusetts, naturaliz
9 citizen and voter there; the line betwe
@ the States was changed and we were thro,
i into Rhode Island; we cannot vote now
l. we own no land; at least 5000 naturaliz
y citizens in the State who cannot vote
81 Daniel Donovan,-Naturaized; came fir,
Connecticut; lived in the United States sir
five years old; sm skilled mechanic; ,