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THE SOUTH CAROLINA NATURALIZATION LAW. – For some time past the announcement has been going the rounds of the republican papers that a law was operating in South Carolina similar to that recently engrafted on the constitution of Massachusetts, in relation to the qualification of foreigners to vote or hold office. The Germania, of Cleveland, published the following letter from the Secretary of State of South Carolina, in which the foundation for any such story is entirely removed:
OFFICE SECRETARY OF STATE,
COLUMBIA, S. C., June 11, 1859.
In answer to your letter of the 4th of this month, I would state that a foreigner under the present law, so soon as he has taken the oath of allegiance, and received his certificate under the seal of the Clerk of the Court, is entitled to all the privileges of a native born citizen. There was [illegible] law in this State, ratified on the 25th of March, 1784, which prevented the foreigner from voting until he had been two years in possession of his certificate of citizenship; but this law is repealed.
WILLIAM R. HUNTT,
Deputy Secretary of State.
