Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-29
NATURALIZATIoN:

In our last paper, we inserted brief ar.
ticle that we thought had some considera.
BILE point on the subject of naturalization
Another case has occurred of more Ger.
tain and tangible character, and deserves
particular notice. The London papers,
speaking Of the preparations going on for
Che " doubling" as the yankee phrase is,
of Charlotte augusta Guelph with George
Leopold Cobourg, exultingly tells us, that
THE BILL FOR THE NATuRALIZATIoN OF
THE LATTER PASSED THROUGH PARLIA-
1iENT IN THE SPACE OF SIX MINUTES.
There is, then, a " clear and undeniabie
right" in the British Parliament to natu-
ralize foreigners. There could be no ques-
ton about the matter, seeing the S,hole bu-
siDess was done in six minutes. There is
nothing in the law of God or of nations, by
which the right can be affected by quality
an the persons claiming its exercise. CO.
bourgand Cockburn are the same, as to the
justice or propriety of the thing DONE
Does this act of the Parliament release
GeorgeLeopold Cobourg from the allegiance
he owed to petty German. Prince, being
his sc natural born subject ?" Some of the
would-be-thought great men, even in the
u. States, have declared the doctrine of
" perpetual allegiance" to be unquestiona-
bly, correct. Let these say whether said
CObourg is now British subject or not
If he is British subject by this act of Par
liament, might we not as easily and as
rightfully have made him a citizen of the
U. States by act of Congress- think so
for have notion that if it were lawful
for England, it would also be lawful for us,
to do it. But, if by this act George Leo
pold be not, to all intents and purposes, a
natural born subject'' Of the British EN-
pire, then has Parliament violated a first
great principle of the law of nations. This
procedure will put the g Iegitimates" in an
unpleasant predicament. be the fact argued
and twisted as they please, for it shows, in
way that cannot be mistaken, their base,
detestable hypocrisy, and holds up their i'm
pudence and falsehOod to the scott of the
world. Who will contend hereafter that
we may not as legally naturalize Mr..
league O'Ragan, if we like, as the Parlia-
ment invest this Dutchman with the rights
of British subjecta ] think that none
will be hardy enough to prate about it in
future--the question is at rest and what
was " SO clear and undeniabIe," is found to
be exceedingly obscure or absolutely false.
The truth is, the British have always
supposed they had right to naturalize 70
reigners they have several statutes on the
subject; and we must certainly admire
that modesty in their friends which would
refuse an exercise of it to other sovereign
and Independent nations but we should
especially esteem that manly sense of honor
in these of our own citizens, who grant it,
by the laws of nations, to England, and re-
fuse it by the same laws to the United
States
No man, unless he puts his fellow crea-
lures on level with the brute creation,
can advocate their perpetual allegiance,
and deny them the privilege of locating
themselves, as they feel most needful to
their happiness and comfort. 1t is the
most abominable doctrine that ever was
held forth; but that affected opponents of
the trade in black slaves and of negro sIa-
very should hold it, is really too impudent
to be borne with patience.
.Niies's Register.