The daily gazette., 1880-05-07

upon the part Of the poor men ana
foreign horn citizens in hhode isianu
and TO these features OF her laws many
intelligent witnesses ascrioed Ihe sinsli
percentage of voters among her people
and the large amount of corrupt prac-
tices In the elections of the state.
foreign born soldier, brevetted maJlr
for galiantry, said under OATH
"I have never qualified myself to vote
for the reason that | consider the prtnci.
Pile wrong, that suffrage ought to be
based on manhood and not on real es-
tate, and that no qualification was re-
quired for negroes, their color oelng
satfi Client passport, PROVIDED they vote
right"
In reply to the question what action
the Coz ernment OF the United States
could take 20 remove the disqualifylnR
fea ures of the State constitution he
said that "by the Fourteenth and Fif-
t6enth amendments OF the constitution
of the United States universal suffrage
was forced upon the South" ana that
"the rule ought to work just a. well on
the North"
In detailing the working OF these
laws the committee say that OUT o,
~ TAI voters, shown by the census or
le75 to be In the State amt quail fed TO
voie, but 26,6N actually did vote N the
holly contested Preside Dtial elecLon OF
1876
Witnesses testify that minority OF
the people has ruled Rhode Island for
more than fifteen years past, ahu that
the opposition TO the extension Of sat-
frage came mainly from those now IN
power, who fear the loss of place that
would follow, aud the committee ex-
ha haah h..f har
grounds for the comp laints made that
the government of Rhode I-land, under
IT'S present constitution, is nearer an OIL
garchy than democracy.
ln discussing tue constitutional ques-
ton suggested the committee state mat,
~ expressly decided by the Supreme
Court of the United States, suffrage is
under State control, and the clear teach
lug of every part Ot our system forbldS
US to Interfere or seek tU meddle with
the power OF the State upon this most
vital of all her rights. The remedy OF
the people of Rhode Island hes else
where, as it is indie ,ted in the conclu-
sions of the committee.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
After presenting numb of statistical
table, interspersed with commfnts, TO
exhibit the stri king discrepancy between
and In other States IN comparison with
their respective popuations, the com
mittee conclude their renort az follows :
Your committee report that the right OF
suffrage To foreign born citizens ot the
United States is abridged by tue consti-
tuition and law of Rnode Island, and re-
sp cifully submit -
Fira-That the fifteenth amendment
has no reference To the subject matter of
Il 'scrlinlnatlon agalnht natuTallZed clll-
zens of the United states. 1t was intend
ed to secure the rignt Of suffrage 10 the
negro, aud does not confer any privileges
upon naturaliZed citizens.
SecOHd-rhat remedy can be found by
an amendment of the cOustitut' ON Of the
United states, the wisdom and exp diem
cy whereof Is submitted with the peti
u ms from Rhode Island on that subject
To thu judiciary Committee ofthe senate,
accomp inied by AN expression of our
opinion that the change would be an un
Wise one, as IL would tend stitl further To
consJIi Iatiou of the powers ofthe govern
ment.
ThTd-Under the fourteenth amend
ment and the provisions oi the act APP
poriioni q representatives to the states,
IL would be competent for Congress H. this
time TO deprive Rhode Island of one OF
her representatives. Ia Congress, II salts
He'd that the application of the rule laid
down IN the consiitutiou would reduce
the representative basis In that stale br.
low the ratio looked To in the apportion
ment.
F0urth-That II being impossible, ow
Ing to the lack OF Information contain ed
III the census Of 1870 or in any other cen
sus touching the number of persons citi
krns OF the United States whose right u
vote Is denied or abridged, any action
iaken by Congress should look To future
appOTtionments. Hence your com NIT
tee rec 'mlnend the passage of an act 10
provide for such an enumeration OF per
sons in the tenth census as VIII clearly
designate the basis OF repre- sen ntatiOn lie
quired to be made under the fourteenth
am ndmenl. and they report IA bill fol
that purpose.
The republican members Of the com
nittee will submit a minority repor
hereafter.