1856.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.            483

The rules were suspended to allow him to submit the follow-
ing resolutions:                                    

Resolutions requesting our Representatives in Congress to use
their exertions to secure the passage of laws extending the period
of residence requisite to entitle foreigners to the rights of citizen-
ship, and excluding foreign paupers and criminals from our
shores.                                                                                               

Whereas, the recent rapid increase of European emigrants to
this country is, under existing laws, adding annually to our vo-
ting population thousands who cannot be presumed, upon a five
years residence, to have acquired sufficient knowledge of our
laws and govermental policy, to be qualified to exercise with proper
' intelligence and discretion, the sacred and important right of suf-
frage; and

Whereas, it is evident that certain European States have
adopted the policy of ridding themselves of the expense and an-
noyance of maintaining their paupers and criminals, by transport-
ing them to our shores; whereby, many thousands of the most de-
graded and vicious of Europeans are each year admitted to the
inestimable privileges of American citizenship, and enabled to
exercise a prejudicial influence upon the administration of our
State and National Government; therefore                     

Resolved, By the General Assembly of Maryland, That our
Senators are instructed and our representatives in Congress be,
and they are hereby requested to use their best exertions to se-
cure the passage of such laws as will make a residence of twenty
one years a requisite for citizenship to emigrants hereafter arriving
in the United States and exclude all paupers and persons con-
victed of crime from landing upon our shores; Provided, however
that such laws shall not apply to persons born of American par-
ents residing temporarily abroad, or interfere with the vested rights
of any persons of foreign birth now residing in this country.

Resolved, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Delegates are requested to forward a copy of these
resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress.

Which were read the first time.                                    

The hour having arrived for taking up the special order of the

The House proceeded to the considerate of the bill entitled
an act to establish a general system of public Education in this
State:                                                                                    .

Mr. Abbott moved to strike out all after the word "purposes"