75
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
tribunal he would refer them for the adjudication of their qualifi- cations as citizens; for thousands of them, even in my own State, cannot speak the English language and cannot read anything printed in English. How would he determine as to their qualifi- cations? vVould it not require a very tedious and laborious exam- ination to ascertain whether they understood the Constitution of the United States, all the laws of the State of Texas, the rights of person and property, and all other things necessary to be understood, to be good citizens. Persons reared in the United States, who have but ordinary opportunities, generally have a general comprehension of th!:!se subjects, though they may not be familiar with all the details. I think five years short enough, and if the period were four times as long, I do not think it would be too much. It is no degradation or reflection on a man that you do not allow him to vote at the polls. A foreigner, as a general thing, is ele- vated when he comes here; he is benefited in his circumstances; he is improved in his social condition; he is permitted to labor, and to enjoy the fruits of the labor of his hands, without burden- some or oppressive taxation; his rights are vindicated as well as if he were in the most eminent position in society; and he derives actual benefits from his emigration to this country. If he is a decent man he can live very well without voting; and if he is not a decent man, the result of allowing him to vote is that he can get a little drunker than he otherwise would if he comes to the polls, and is pulled by the sleeve, and solicited to vote for this or that ticket. The privilege of voting is very unfortunate to many foreigners who come here. If they were permitted to toil in their shops or labor upon their farms upon election day they would be much better off than by being dragged to elections, and getting involved into difficulties there, squandering their means and getting intoxicated. The longer you postpone them the greater blessing it is to them, unless where the voting places are very convenient to them. I do not think it is degrading to a man not to allow him to vote. I have seen men of high respectability and position in society who never voted because they did not like the candidates; and it is so at every election within my knowledge. You can always find some individuals who will not exercise the right of suffrage. What is the necessity of forcing it on people who have not required it? There has been no demand here from foreigners for the privilege of voting that I have ever heard of. I never heard that they complained of it as a badge of degrada- tion that they were not permitted to vote. No, sir; the clamor
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