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Proceedings of the House, 1856
Volume 659, Page 988   View pdf image
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12

laws, the repeal by the Legislatures of the respective States of
all State laws, allowing foreigners not naturalized to vote, the
repeal without retroactive operation, of all acts of Congress
making grants of land to unnaturalized foreigners and allowing
them to vote in the territories." And in the 8th Article it de-
clared a purpose of "Resistance to the aggressive policy and cor-
rupting tendencies of the Roman Catholic church in our country,
by the advancement to all political stations, Executive, Legis-
lative, Judicial or Diplomatic, of those only who do not hold
civil allegiance directly or indirectly to any foreign power,
whether civil or ecclesiastical, and who are Americans by birth,
education and training."

These Resolutions touching the views of the Party, promul-
gated in a National Convention of American citizens, and pub-
lished to the world, have fallen under the animadversion of the
Governor, and furnished the topic upon which he has thought it
his duty to ask the remedial action of the Legislature.

The Committee cannot be mistaken in saying that the reme-
dial action thus invoked can be no other than the application of
the power of the Legislature to suppress the avowal and circula-
tion of such doctrines in this State. His message and letter al-
lude distinctly to such a purpose. He says in the latter of these
documents, which only professes to explain what was ambiguous
in the former—"I am credibly informed that there exists now
within this State numerous societies of a secret character, whose
object and purpose is to prevent the election or appointment to
office of any person belonging to the Roman Catholic church, or
who is not a native born citizen of the United States." "The
existence of such unlawful combinations has been repeatedly
charged in the Congress of the United States," &c. "With you
gentlemen abides, under the sanction of the House of Delegates,
the power of ascertaining the truth or falsity of these allegations
—I am powerless in the premises beyond the making known to you
what I fear and believe in regard to them."

It is clearly the Governor's opinion, as expressed in these ex-
tracts, that a combination of citizens of this State to proclaim
and support a determination to vote for or appoint to office no
person belonging to the Roman Catholic church, nor any one
who is not a native born citizen, is an unlawful combination; and

 

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Proceedings of the House, 1856
Volume 659, Page 988   View pdf image
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