The native American., 1837-08-10
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Erop, ~ Native American Citizen of Brnoklyn.


laws is the point which it is Indispensable to the
safety of the country that the attention of The Amer-
cans, as a whole people, should at this moment De
concentrated. II is national question, not only
separate from, but superior to- all Others All other
questions which divide the nation, are peculiarly OF a
domestic character; they relate 10 matters between
American and American. Whether the bank system
is, is not adverse to our democratic institutions;
whether internal improvement is constitutionally in
nusted 10 the management of the general Government,
OF reserved to the States respectively whether
poles of any kind just or unjust; whether the right
Of nstrucng representatives is to be allowed re-
ssted whether the high offices of the nation are safest
administered by these or by those citizens; all these
and many kindred questions entirely of domestic
character be settled between ourselves in the inst
democratic mode, by majority, by the prevailing voice
of the American people declared through the ballot
box. But the question Of naturalization, the question
whether foreigners, not yet arrived, shall or shall
be admitted to the American right of baotng, is a
matter in which the American people in a certain
sense, on one side the original and exclusive pos
SCISSORS OF the privilege, and foreigners the other,
as petitioners for participation in that privilege; for
the privilege Of expressing their opinions upon, and
assisting to decide all the other questions have
merated 1t is therefore, question separate aud su
perior to all these. 1t is fundamental question:; 1t
affects the very foundation of Institutions il bears
directly and vitality the principle of the ballot it.
SELF that principle which decides the greatest questions
of policy among Americans, nay, which can decide
the very existence Of the Government, change
form at moment. And surely thiS vital pTlncl
pie is amply protected from injury To secure this
point every means which people jealous Of their
liberties could devise doubtless gathered about ii
for its preservaonl 1t is guarded. Be asonshed,
Americans at the oversight. The mere statement of
the provisions of the Naturalization Law is sufficient
would think, to startle any American who reflects
at all. Five years residence gives the foreigner what
ever be his condition character this most sacred
privilege of assisting TO ccntro and actually of con-
trolling tere is nat guard 10 preren all the domestic
intara 6fh
allows any foreigner, (no matter what his character
whether friend enemy of freedom, whether an exile
from prescriptions or pensoned commission to
the interests of Imperial Despos.) to handle
this slock of strengA-How is it that this heart
of Democracy was left exposed, YES this very
hehr of the body polite, in which, in periodical pull
satlons the opinions OF the people meet, 90 forth
again as law to the extremtes of the nation; this
heart left SO absolutely without protection, that the
murderous eye of Imperial despots across the deep,
not only watch it in all its movements but they are
invited from its very nakedness, to reach ont their
hands to stab it, The figure is not too strong their
blow is aimed, now, whilst write at this very heart
cf our institutions. How is it that none of our sa-
gacious statesmen ofesaw this danger to the republic
through the unprotected ballot boy 1t was foreseen
1t did not escape the prophetic eve of Jeerson* He
foresaw, and from the beginning foretod the evil.
and uttered his warning voice. Mr.. Jefferson de-
nounced the encouragement of emipratiou And, OH
consistency, where is thy blush lie who is now urr-
ing Jederson's own recommendation on this vital
point, is condemned by some who call themselves
Jetfersonian democrats; by some Journalists who in
one column profess Jefersonian principles, while
in the next they denonnce both the PRINCIPLES and the
policy of Jefferson and (with wat semblance of con.
slstency let them show if they can) defend great
political evil against which Jefferson left his written
protest. 1t may be convenient, for purposes best
known to themselves, for such journalists 10 deser,
their democratic princ while loudly protesting still
to hold them; but the people who are neither blind nor
deaf will soon perceive whose course is most consis
tent with that great apostle of democratic liberty Dc
they ask would you defend Mr. Jefferson's opinions
when they were Wrcag! answer prove them to be
wrong and will desert them Truth and iustice are
superior to all men. advocate Jeferson's opinions
not because they Jefersons, but because his opn-
ions are in accordance with truth and sound policy.
Let me snow that MT. Jeferson's opinions in relation
TO emigration are proved by experience to he sound
What were the circumstances of the country when
laws SO favorable to the foreigner were passed TO in
duce him TO emigrate and settle in this country9
The answers obvious Our early history explains it.
In our national infancy needed the strength of num-
bers. Powerful nations, to whom we were accessible
by fleets, and consequently also by armies threatened
us. Our land had been the theatre of contests be-
tween French and English, and Spanish armies, for
than century Our numbers were so few and
SO scattered, that as people could not unite to
repel aggression. The war Of Independence too had
wasted us. We wanted numerical strength; we felt
our weakness in numbers. Safety, then, national
safety, was the motive which urged US to use every
emigration. Then foreigEers seemed all important
and the policy Of aluring them hither too apaby to
he opposed successfully by the remonstrance Of
Jefferson We could be benefited by the emiprants.
and we in return could bestow on them diff beyond
price, by making them citizens. Manifest as this ad
vantage seemed in the increase of our numerical
strength, Mr.. Jefferson loohed beyond the advantage
of the moment, and saw the distant evil
81 beg leave,' says Mr.. Jefferson ssto propose a
doubt. The present desire Of America is to produce
rapid population by great imporations of foreigners
as possible. But is this founded in good policy! The
advantage proposed, is the multiplication of numbers
But are there no nconveniences TO be tbrown into the
scale against the advantage expected from mul,pIi.
cation OF numbers by the importation of foreipnergf
is for the happiness Of those united in society to har
monlze as much as possible in matters which they
must OF necessity transact togeiher'
Clvll government being the syle object Of forminr
societies, It's administration must be conducted by
common consent Every species Of Government has
its specific principles Oars, perhaps, are more ne
cuar than those of any other in the universe Itis
composition Of the ftees principles Of the Enclisb CON
stituton, with others derived from natural rpht and
natural reason. To these nothing can be more on
posed than the maxims Of absolute rnonarchies. VET
from such we are TO expect the greatest number or
emgrants. They will bring with them the principcs
Of H., ant 1a,,, II. II