Speech #450117281

Now Davenport says that over three thousand warrants were issued on the eightfive hundred complaints sworn to by his clerk Mosier. in the summer of 1878. These warrants were subsequently withdrawn. as they were not issued under the instructions of the district attorney or with his consent. Afterward the district attorney issued a notice to holders of certificates of naturalizations purporting to have been issued from the supreme ad superior courts of New York in 180$. stating that he "was officially informed by the chief supervisor of elections for this district that complaints have been lodged with him. as commissioner. charging many persons residing in this distrietwith being possessedof fraudulent certificates of citizenship (commonly known as naturalization papers) purporting to have been issued by the supreme and superior courts in the city of New York. in the year 1S68. such complaints further charge the holders of such certificates with having fraudulently registered thereon at the last congressional election in lb76. These are offenses against the laws of the United States. As some of the persons holding such certificates may be lawfully entitled to be naturalized. and as many of them were possibly ignorant and misled. and in order that no injustice may be done to any person now willing to obey the law. I hereby give notice that each person against whom such complaint has been wade can acoid arrest and procetifoon by appearing before Commissioner Davenport. in his office in the United States district court building. room 1. fourth floor. on or before September next. 1878. and surrendering such certificate. if upon examinaation it shall prove to be fraudulent." This notice was twice extended. and to avoid arrest about thirtyfour hundred of these foreignborn citizens who had been naturalized in 180$ surrendered their certificates of naturalization to Mr. Davenport. He then caused a clerk in his own office to swearto complaints against all persons who had registered in 1676 on papers issued by these courts in 1868. within two days before the election. to the number of thirtyone hundred and ninety. and issued warrants on these complaints for their arrest on the day of election. Why is it that from that day to this not a single criminal prosecution has been had against parties who have obtained these false naturalization papers or issued them ! Why is it that none of them have beenprosecuted to conviction! While 21r.John I.