Speech #500118583

The question what value it will have thereafter is settled by the law. and is to be determined by the court. This. I say. is all that appears in the statement that certain Chinamen had been naturalized in the State of Indiana. There is no provision for the appearance of counsel in such a proceeding as that. There is nothing for counsel to do. and I understand there is nothing in the record to show that there was any counsel. And tle Senator himself does not declare today that there was any counsel. much less any one connected with General Harrison. Some affidavits taken in Washington have been read here from a party or parties in the employ of some of the Departments of the Government. as I understand. to the effect that one of the Chinamen offered his vote and that it was received. Suppose that was so. how does that affect the question of political parties in Indiana or in the United States on the question of Chinese naturalization ? If that was so. it was the fault of the laws of Indiana. and I think they are very loose laws in that regard. The statute of Indiana. approved April 21. 1881. provides. among other things. as follows: SEc. 3. All elections shall be free and equal. and i all elections every male citizen of the United States of the age of twentyone years and upwards. who shall have resided in the Stateduring the six months. and in the township sixty days. and In the ward or precinct thirty days immediately preceding such election. and every male of foreign birth of the age of twentyone years and upwards. who shall have resided in theUnited States one year. and shall have resided in this State during the six months. and in the township sixty days. and i the ward or precinct thirty days immediately preceding such election. and shall have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States. conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization. shall be entitled to vote in the township or precinct where he may reside. Until I read that statute. I was not aware that any State in the Union allowed a foreigner to vote immediately after his declaration of intention to become a citizen.