IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 !f:»- K I.I 1.25 2 5 12.0 11= U 1 1.6 •4^ IM <^ %, '^ ^1«^^ /i 7 ^>#' c> / /A PhotDgrap!:iic Sciencei; CorpoMion ,-\ ^ •w 'n require )ort of the ive grave- ormation, QQs taken ** Southern district of New York : "George Henry Paulsen, aged 52 years, agent, residing in the city of New York, bein^ duly sworn fully and truly to answer the several interrogatories which shall be put to him by the said commissionjrs, and in such answers to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but tlie trutli — "To the first interrogatory annexed to said commission, he answereth thus: : "I have frequently been present as an interpreter daring the process of natural- ization; that the instances of persons applying to be naturalized who are wholly ignorant of the English language are frequent; and though they un- derstood the terms of the oath when translated to thtm in words, yet they were frequently unable to comprehend the meaning of said oath; and that there are now hundreds of Germans, who have been admitted citizens, who do not noio understand the English language, or the meaning of the oaths to which they have been sivorn; and as to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, they have no knoivledge ^.i comprehension of them. Many of them are aged persons without any ed^ cation, and loho are naturalized at the solicitation of others, and unthout any dcdre cf their oion, merely to he- con e the tools of political parties. I have beer' present, 'and been asked to in- terpret the oaths, and my interpretation has been received without my having been previously sworn. •'To the second interrogatory annexed to said commission, he answers: "That he has no personal knowledge of such instances, but has heard of many, and believes them to be frequent. It is a general practice to advertise in a Ger- man paper in this city, that all Germans wishing to be naturalized should apply to ihe German committee at Tammany Hall, wher^ they will receive their natu- ralizations gratis. I am well informed that it is the practice, previous to elec- tions, for persons, employed for that purpose by Tammany Hall, to call on the 'Germans and to persuade them to be naturalized ; and I have learned, in their general conversation, that it is often the case, the certificates of naturalization are kept by said committee until the day of election, when they are handed to the parties, to be presented by them at the polls — they being accompanied there- to by some one of the said committee. "Question.. At the times such votes are given, have the parties voting atiy knowledge of the principles or policy of the party in whose favor they deposite their ballots ? "Answer. They have not ; they are led by the word democrat. I do not take any part myself in politics, but ray knowledge of these facts is chiefly derived from being agent of the German Emigrant Society. I formerly conducted a Ger- man paper in this city. 10 •'To the fifth interrogatory annexed to said commission, he answers thus: "I know of many instances where convicts have been pardoned and sent to this country at the expense of the Government by which they were pardoned. Ten or twelve such cases have come to my knowledge; and I know a case where four on board of one vessel were sent from a house of correction, in the dukedom of Brunswick. These I know of my own personal knowledge, having seen an endorsement on the passports, that the persons were convicts, transported by a guard from station to station to the frontier, where they are taken by an agent of the ship from the police officer to the vessel in which they are embarked. The instances which came to my knowledge occurred within the last three years ; a large number of the Germans, arriving here soon after, became chargeable for their support to the city or to their bondsmen. Such instances we have very frequently ; they call on me for aid immediately. There are also very numerous instances of foreign paupers, sometimes from the poor-houses, in other instances supported by the communes, being shipped to this port. This importation of paupers has increased very much during the last year; they are sent here to save the expense of supporting them in Europe, by the public authorities, at the pub. lie expense ; some of these persons, frequently owing to their having been bond- ed, are not received in the alms-houses ; and, not being aided by their bondsmen* very often become street beggars. "To the third and fourth interrogatories annexed to said commission, he an- swers: , .,■ I • ■•-' ■■'■ '■' - *'I know of no such instances. "'.,•>>' "To the sixth interrogatory annexed to said commission, he answers: "I know of no other facts pertinent to the subject. "GEORGE HENRY PAULSEN. "January 29, 1845. "Examination reduced to writing in presence of the witness, and by him sub- scribed and sworn to before the commissioners, on the 29th of January, 1845,"' What a picture does the foregoing deposition present. In view of it, can the Committee on the Judiciary say, our naturalization laws need no reform? Sir, there can be no mistake in this matter. Let me read again. I call the attentioa of the committee to the examination of Henry E. Riell, a member of the General Committee of Tammany Hall, and who testifies, that, for many years, he was actively engaged as such member in making out naturalization papers. The members of the Democratic party in this House will certainly not question this testimony: Question. Has it been usual to advertise for the attendance of aliens at tha place, of persons desirous of being naturalized ? i 11 thus: and sent to pardoned, case where e dukedom ng seen an )orted by a an agent of ked. The e years ; a irgeable for have very r numerous !r instances )ortation of lere to save at the pub. been bond- bondsmen' 3ion, he an- rs: JLSEN. y him sub- ry, 1845."' of it, can 10 reform ? 1. I call il. Riell, a o testifies^ in making rty in this lens at tha Answer. I believe it has been customary pretty generally to advertise merely that the'naturalization committee was in session. In 1840,1 think, I published, for some two or three months previous to the election, a brief exposition of the laws, that applicants might know what qualifications were necessary. At each election it has bee n customary for many hundreds to apply from the counties adjoining this, principally owing to the witnesses residing in this county, or the respective courts where the applicant resided being closed. Question. Have you known instances of persons attending here from other States ? Answer. I remember one young man from New Jersey, who was naturalized by Judge Betts, of the United States court. He had resided in this State one year, but not the last year preceding his admission. I remember no other in- stance. Question. Has it been usual for said committee to issue tickets or vouchers,, intended to answer as payment of the fees in any court ? Answer. Yes, it was. I redeemed the tickets. Question. How large a proportion of the naturalizations effected through the agency of said committee were gratuitous ? Answer. A large proportion, as the applicants were generally very poor peo- ple ; as those who wished to pay for themselves generally applied at the courts. Question. About what number were thus paid for or naturalized on such tick- ets at the last election, or shortly previous ? Answer. I should suppose the General Committee naturalized from twelve to- fifteen hundred persons for the last election. Question. About what number were thus naturalized at the spring electioD^ 1844 f Answer. I believe about thirteen hundred. I ascertained this number frora the clerks of the courts. Question. About what number were thus naturalized at the spring election of 1843, or at any election previous thereto ? Answer. I believe about the usual .mtnbcr naturalized at the spring and fall elections, with the exception of the Presidential election, 1840, would average about one thousand at each election ; and on that occasion I was engaged some four or five months in making out the preliminary papers, and, to the best of my remembrance, about three thousand were naturalized during the period of five- months. I paid several hundred dollars myself towards defraying these expenses on that occasion. Thus it will be seen that in 1844 nearly three thousand persons were naturalized by this sub-committee of Tammany Hall, and the fees paid out of monies of individual members, and of funds of a political party. m ■I' t li' y Vl l'''i fi H III that year some five thousand persons were naturalized in the city of New York — a number sufficient to determine the election of the State of New York; and thus, by the electoral vote of that great State, control the political destinies of the Union . Well may the g^entleman from that State (Mr. Grover) boast, as he did on this floor on a former occasion, that with the foreign vote his political friends secured a great poHtical victory. I call the attention of every well wisher to his country to this astounding fact. The evils of which we complain are not local. They affect directly the well-being of every man in this broad Union, let him belong to which of the great political parties he may. When I spoke, a few moments since, of the exemption of aliens from the burthens of citizenship, I was asked by my colleague (Mr. Rathbun) if he did not pay taxes. I answered — yes, if he possessed property which could be assessed. I now call the at- tention of that gentleman to the depositio^^ of his political friend (Mr. Riell.) He avers that the fees of naturalization of nearly three thousand persons, naturalized by his procurement in a single year, were paid by him because the applicants were too poor to pay for themselves ; and yet it appears, from testimony of the clerks of the courts in New York State, the fees of natu- ralization in some of the courts were less than one dollar for each individ- ual. And now let me not be misunderstood. Poverty is no crime. Far be it from me to impute it to any man as a reproach. But it does never- theless seem very strange that three thousand men should have been resi- dents of that section of the country for a period of five years, and yet be so deficient in this world's goods as to be unable to ^ ny one dollar to enable them to enter the great family of American citizens They must certainly be very deficient in that thrift which so eminently chi. acterizes the lative born American. It is notorious, sir, that many of the immigrants arrive up- on our shores in very destitute circumstances ; and may we not fairly infer that many of these better citizens had but recently arrived from their far-off homes across the water, and were thus, soon after their arrival, introduced into the full enjoyment of the rights of freemen . Mr. Chairman, in looking over a file of the London Times, of Septem- ber last, I find that the leading journal of England devotes a column or two to abuse of our Government and people , but more especially directed against the Native American party. I will read one or two of the conclud- ing paragraphs : *' Brother Jonathan, however,, knows what he is about, and is too wise, zee apprehend, to fix the young Republic in a narrow nationality. Where -^^ le city of e State of ontrol the Lhat State sion, that il victory, stounding ct directly : to which moments up. I was iswered — ill the at- r. RiELL.) 1 persons, n because ears, from 3 of natu- ;h individ- me. Far )es never- been resi- l yet be so • to enable it certainly the lative 1 arrive up- fairly infer heir far-off introduced if Septem- column or iy directed e conclud- 9 too toise, y. Where I will the free States get their ' ^ helps y'^ but from the outpourings of Irish '' misery 9 How luill he get up the steam against the Britishers, hut with the ueicborTi Irish citizens 9 How will he return a POLK? How unll i Jlc decide on annexation, but with these Democratic materials') How vjill he people Missouri and Arkansas — how Oregon and California 9 How ivill he hang UH a cloud over Mexico, without the continued addi- tion of these vast foit ign swartns 9 Hoia, on an emergency , tvill he man hisjlcets and recruit his armies 9 How keep down the continual = AND FEARFUL AMBITION OF LABOR, AND ITS INCREASING DEMANDS AGAINST PROPERTY ?" The enemies of the Native American party are welcome to the support of their new and powerful ally, the great leading Tory paper of England.- But, sir, I repeat the emphatic interrogatory, ^^How keep down the contin-' ual and fearful ambition of labor , and its increasing demands against property ?" Sir, honest labor is not over-ambitious, nor is it fearful in its character or exacting in its demands. I am no friend of radicalism — no exciter of hostile feelings between different classes and pursuits ; but there is a startling truth in the question propounded. It is greatly to be feared that the labor of our native citizen? will not meet its just reward, so long as we give equal, ay, greater encouragement to the '^ vast fcreign swarms'* ' of which the Times in its article speaks. Who wants cheap labor? I answer, the General Government, when it requires sailors and soldiers yes,' when it wishes to raise regiments of mounted riflemen ; the State, when it wishes to build canals and railroads. Chartered companies wish it when they construct their works ; the American laborer certainly does not wish it. The native born American mechanic and laborer feel already this fearful competition which now meets them at every turn, and which may, ere long, reduce them to the condition of their European competitors. It is a melancholy picture to contemplate, but it is a true one. The American mechanic, who has passed his lon^ years of apprenticeship in ac- quiring his trade — who has been taught to consider that a competency would reward his skill and his industry — who has been accustomed to y^^ clothe well his family and to educate his children, and generally to contri- Mbute his share to the advancement and support of society — is now finding m>y sad experience, in many of the large cities especially, that his hopes and %is prospects are darkening under the influence of cheap foreign labor. It certainly would seem but just lhat some legislation should be had which |8hould impose equal burthens upor tlie alien mechanics and laborers, or II- 14 e t which should afford equal exemption to the American born. At all events, the balance of political power should no longer be in the hands of those who thus force the American laborer into this competition, and who, by holding this power, demand of dominant parties most of the subordinate offices of profit. It is needless to speak of the radical influences which the power of the foreign vote has introduced. Those who dream on in peace, fearing nothing, will yet vkrake up to the reality of danger when it will be difHcult to avert it. I ttppeal to every upright native born citizen to aid in averting the evils which I have only briefly alluded to in the foregoing remarks. I appeal to that great class of adopted citizens, who, from long residence, from edu- cation, from association and habit, have become strongly identified with us, to aid in the great work. The Native American organization seeks to protect the rights of property, and to perpetuate our free institutions, by guarding and preserving the pu- rity of the ballot box. It seeks to elevate the character and reward the skill, and the industry, and enterprise, of the American laborer, in all branches of business, by freeing him, as far as possible, from the ruinous competition of the pauper labor of Europe. It is an organization which is at the same time conservative and democratic ; and more, and most of all, it is American y holding' as a leading idea that Americans should rule Ame- rica. I i ill events, of those I who, by ibordinate ivhich the in peace, it will be l the evils I appeal from edij- ified with ' property , ig the pu- avvard the :er, in all tie ruinous a which is lost of all , rule Arae- 't.