CHAP. XIV.] FRAUDULENT VOTES. 195 



During our stay in Philadelphia, we heard much regret ex 

 pressed at the establishment of what is called here an Irish 

 .quarter, entailing, for the first time, the necessity of keeping up 

 a more expensive police. In the riots of May 6, 1844, many 

 lives were lost, and a party has been formed of native Americans 

 to resist what they call &quot; the papal garrison.&quot; Although much 

 sectarian feeling, mixed with the prejudice of race, may have 

 been betrayed against the Irish Romanists, I find it impossible 

 not to sympathize with the indignation cherished here in regard 

 to the interference of aliens with the elections, and the danger 

 which threatens the liberties of the country from fraudulent vot 

 ing. Originally a residence of five years was required to confer 

 the electoral franchise on a new settler, and the time did not 

 begin to count till after a regular notification of his intention to 

 settle and acquire the rights of citizenship, accompanied by for 

 swearing his allegiance to any other sovereignty. The federalists 

 imprudently extended the term to sixteen years, in the president 

 ship of John Adams, which excluded more than half of the popu 

 lation in some newly peopled districts. The original term of five 

 years after registration was again restored in Jefferson s president 

 ship, and continued till the contest between John Quincy Adarns 

 and Jackson, when Mr. Buchanan carried his proposition that, 

 instead of registration, two witnesses might depose on parole that 

 the candidate for naturalization had resided five years. This 

 regulation has led to much fraud and perjury ; and cases so 

 flagrant have occurred, that judges have been cashiered for con 

 niving at them. The same rules, however, are not binding in 

 all state elections, for in Virginia, at present, the right of citizen 

 ship demands a residence of seven years, while in Michigan, new 

 comers can vote two years after their arrival. 



How many of the stories related of fraudulent voting may be 

 true, I can not pretend to decide ; but I was amused at their 

 number and variety. It came out, I am told, in evidence on a 

 late trial, that convicts had been carried to the poll at New York, 

 and then taken back to prison ; and that the dexterity of those 

 who manage the Irish vote often consists in making Paddy believe 

 that he is really entitled to the franchise, One of these dupe? 



