conflict, and men with rather weak party ties.(1) During 1854, other councils were established at the rate of fifty a month (2). By August 9, the number of lodges was reported to be about 250, and the Know Nothings asserted an expectation of polling 50,000 votes at the fall election (3). Thus was the hostility to the fast-increasing foreign population, organized and made a political issue. On October 18, 1854, the Know Nothings hold their state convention, with over 1,500 delegates present, and nominated their candidates for office. The head of their ticket, Henry J. Gardiner, (4) of Boston, was elected govenor, having received a clear majority of nearly 33,000, or 63 per cent of the total vote (5), thus clearly indicating the force of this movement. The mayor of Boston and all the municipal officers, save common council men in three wards, were also elected by the Know Nothings; and Roxbury, Lowell, (1) Haynes, "Chap. from Local Hist. of Know Nothingism"; N.E.Mag., XV, pp.83-88. 2) Lowell Courier, July 19, 1854. (3) The Spy, Aug.9, 1854.(4) Ibid, Oct. 25, 1854. and Lynn were carried by this party (1) Having now secured control of the state government in legislative as well as executive departments, the anti-foreign party proposed to rule Massachusetts. The gubernatorial message urged that the franchise laws be so amended as to withhold voting privileges from foreigners until they had resided twenty-one years in the state, and from all who could not read or write English. Other proposed measures were to forbid the use of educational funds for supporting sectarian schools, to disband military companies composed of persons of foreign birth, and to secure a law providing for the return of alien paupers (2). The governor proceeded to carry cut a part of this program at once. Lieut. Col. Butler, an Irishman in the militia was at once discharged and in the end all companies containing foreigners were actually disbanded (3). The general court of 1855 was remarkable because of its unusal composition. The senate was entirely (1) Desmond, Know Nothing Party,p.136; The Spy, Dec. 20, 1854. (2) Ibid., January 17, 1855. (3) The Spy, February 7,1855; Desmond, Know Nothing Party, p.77 Know Nothing, and in the house of 418 members all but three belonged to that party. A large proportion of the members were from the building. trade, and ship industries, occupations in which the rivalry of the foreigners was felt most keenly. The legislation of this general court plainly indicates its composition: an amendment was passed restricting office-holding to citizens by birth, and excluding from the franchise all who had not been resident in the United States for twenty-one years (1). The amendments passed regarding the suffrage in this period, reflected the attitude of Massachusetts towards foreigners. The twentieth amendment to the constitution was passed in 1856, and ratified the following year: "No person shall have the right to vote, or be eligible to office under the constitution of this commonwealth, who shall not be able to read the constitution in the English language, and write his name. In 1859 the twenty-third amendment was ratified, requiring a residence of two years on the part of (1) Haynes, "Know Nothing Legislation",N. E.Mag. XV1 pp.21-24. |