Speech #510091112

It is eminently fitting that in the most strongly pronounced Hamiltonian measure which has been introduced in Congress since the beginning of the civil war the old leaven of knownothingism should peep out in this FederalWhiggery bill. All the citizens of the United States are to be harassed and obstructed enough by this bill. but the foreignborn citizen has been especially singled out by provisions which look to so much annoyance. so much espionage. so much hounding by the hired spies of the Government. that he will be intimidated from casting a free ballot. Why. this bill provides that these chief supervisors. mere ministerial officers of the Federal court. shall go into the State tribunals and supervise there.- in courts where they have no right nor business. the naturalization of foreignborn citizens. Why. it is a sham and a delusion to talk about State rights and State sovereignty and the liberties of citi-- zens. or the equality of citizens foreignborn andnative. when a mere satrap. a mere paid mercenary. at $5 a day. appointed by the Federal Government. appointed at second hand. can go into the State court and supervise the naturalization of the foreignborn citizen. Let the adopted citizens of this land who yield to none in devotion to American institutions. and among whom are not a few like myself whose kith and kin and may be immediate ancestors shed their blood to secure our liberties in Revolutionary days. and devoted their best years to making permanent the Republic. and who today. as in the past. would glory iu dying for it. read the following paragraphs of the bill: To make in any city or town having 20.000 inhabitants or upward. atany time between the Tuesday five weeks preceding the day ofany election at which a Representative or Delegate in Congress is to be voted for and the day of election. a thorough and effective housetohouse canvass of the whole or any portion of any election district or voting precinct which they shall be directed by the chief supervisor of elections to visit and canvass. to ascertain by inquiry at any dwelling. building. or other place of abode in any such election district or voting precinct which they may be required to so canvass the name. age. nativity. term of residence in country. State. city. county. parish. district. or precinct. and other qualifications as a voter of every male person therein residing. to make full report. In writing. to the chief supervisor of elections of all answers and information obtained by them in response to their inquiries so made and upon the completion of their work to file their reports with said chief supervisor. Twelfth. To make. in any city or town having 20.000 inhabitants ol" upward. when required by the chief supervisor. a list of all such persons as shall be naturalized in any court therein. the date of their naturalization. whether as a minor or otherwise. with the residence of such persons. their place of nativity. and the name and residence of their witness. and. for such purpose. shall have at all times access to and the right to examine the original affidavits or applications presented or which have been presented to said courts and there filed. Such lists so made shall be filed in the office of the chief supervisor. Thirteenth. To inform all voters who may inquire of them in what box any of their ballots should properly be placed. and to prevent. as far as possible. the depositingofanyhballot in the wrong box. This thirteenth is a nice plan to scrutinize the ballot Fourteenth. To observe and scrutinize the manner in which naturalizations are being made and to aid the court in the matterof preventing fraudulent naturalizations. and for these purposes to have at all times free access to all rooms where such proceedings are being conducted. Th provisions of this subdivision to apply only to such discreet or special supervisors as shall. from time to time. be directed and detailed by the chief supervisor of elections for this particular duty. in cities or towns having 20.000 inhabitants and upward. save that when a chief supervisor of elections shall have reason to believe that actual fraud or perjury has been. is being. or is about to be committed in the matter of naturalization in any particular city. town. village. or other place having less than 20.000 inhabitants. he shall take measures to ascertain the facts and expose and prevent the same. and in so doing may detail such supervisors of election as lie may select to aid him therein. and such supervisors shall have all the power and authority conferred upon supervisors in cities of 20.000 inhabitants and upward. And it provides further. that in order to harass. obstruct. and annoy this man who has been naturalized. they shall make. five weeks preceding the election. a domiciliary visit to every house. And you will notice that this bill does not say they shall inquire of the man himself as to his age. nativity. when he was naturalized. etc.. but they shall make inquiries in the dwelling. Why. the old English adage which our fathers brought over to this land. that a mans house is his castle. finds no place under this bill. The mans dwelling is to be invaded. his charter of citizenship. the most sacred thing in his eyes. is to be investigated by hearsay evidence of anybody in the dwelling. For this "discreet "spy is to go into the dwelling five weeks before the election and make inquiries of anybody. It does not specify of whom he is to make inquiries. but he is to collect the neighborhood gossip. to invade the sanctity of the dwellingplace. to go to the house when the man is absent. to harass the women and the children and the people whom he may find there. to inqui re as to when this maii was naturalized. the validity of his papers. and the names of his witnesses who certified to his naturalization. when such witnesses may be dead. Take an unmarried naturalized workman in a large city. whose residence in a boardinghouse changes. may be. frequently. to follow his work. or for any cause. And these Federal police would follow him up as if he were a criminal. covering him with suspicion in every house where he found a lodgment. And these men are to be continued in office for two months.