Speech #460010903

Still I feel it my duty to say a few words in behalf of my State. and in doing so I am confident that I express the opinion not only of all democrats but also a large number of republicans. for I doubt if there is any State in the Union where the law as it now stands would deprive the citizens of the right of suffrage to the same extent that it would in the State of Minnesota. It is true that it has not been applied or enforced there. but its application. if it is allowed to remain on the statutebook. is only a question of time or of party necessity. Disguise it as you may. its operation so far has been against naturalized citizens. and this is why it would work great injury to the people of the State which I have the honor in part to represent. a large majority of whom are of foreign birth and would be particularly affected by it. According to the census of 1870. the total population was 439.706. Of these 285.516 were such whose parents were of foreign birth. and only 154.190 whose parents were natives. and among them thousands of grandchildren of foreign.emigrants. According to our constitution. every foreigner who has resided one year in the United States and four months in the State. and who has declared his intention to become a citizen. is a voter. Many of our citizens have filed their naturalization papers in the land offices to prove their right to preempt or "homestead" their lands. The election laws of Minnesota do not require the presentation of the naturalization papers as a requisite to have their names placed on the poll list. The oath of the applicant stating when and where he was naturalized. that he has had a certificate of his naturalization. and that the same is lost. destroyed. or beyond his power to produce to the judges. is sufficent evidence. and the judges must enter his name on thepoll list. and he is entitled to vote. Now. Mr. Chairman. if the supervisors of election have the power under the supervisor law as it now stands. and John I. Davenport has assumed that power. to examine the certificates of naturalization and pass upon their validity. then. indeed. many of the voters of my State can be disfranchised. If the supervisors can pass upon the validity of certificates. what can they not do in the absence of the latter ? Not one of that class would be permitted to vote if this law would be applied.