Piney Woods planter., 1839-11-23
From tie Feiiciana Republican.
NATURALIZATION.


NATURALIZATION.
MR. EplToR;--As the repeal OF the
naturalization law is beginning to ex.
cite considerable attention in various
parts Of the country, intend. with
your permission, to write few essays
on the subject for the columns Of the
Republican. It is deeply to be regret
ted. that some, who have written on
this topic, have INDUCED in spirit Of
acrimony, and in the use Of opprobious
pithets, that can do no good, and may
be the cause Of much epii. God for
bid, that the time should ever arrive,
when adopted and notioe citizens shall
regard each other as rivals, or in any
other light than as brethren, bound to-
gethcr by the kindliest sympathies,
heartily engaged in the preservation
of our Republican institutions. and u
nired devoted 10 the promotion of The
general welfare. In accordance with
this desire, intend to abstain from
every thing, that might reasonably be
considered as Il reflection, either upon
the motives, or the character, of those
who have hitherto taken sides in this
discussion.
On the subject proposed for consid-
Grafton, the following questions are
naturally presented to the mind:
|. Does Me Constitution gipe to Con-
greSs the poicer TO repeal The naturalization
la~s, so as 10 prepent foreigners from be-
ing admitted to the rights of citizenship?
2. Would it be erDedieat for Congress
uhoily to ercludc foreigners from the
privilege Of naturalization, admitting, that
IL possessed the constitutional pouer to
do so?
3. Admitting the rrpeal Of the natura-
HEation lars TO be both constitutional and
erpcdient, can IL be done?
One more Of these questions pro-
pose to discuss. as | may find opportu-
nifty. | am aware, that to many, the
discussion Of our first question may
seem work of supererogation. There
are many, who profess to think, that
Congress has power 10 pass all laws.
which. IN its discretion, il may think to
be conducive to ''the general pelf fare"
Many others find in the general govern
ment, SO far as power is concerned, a
perfect parallel to the state govern
ments. Hence, it is obvious, that be-
fore we can come to clear and cor
rect decision Of our first question,
(Which VIC now propose to discussD we
must farm clear and correct views Of
The constitutional power Of Congress.
y vas! amount of useless labor has
been expended in examining our colo
NAL history to decide the relative pow
ers Of the general and state govern
ments. As we'll might we go to the
British Constitution. or to the biogra-
ply Of Queen Elizabeth, or Of Oliver
Cromwell. to decide the same question.
The colonies, mo matter what may
have been their previous relations and
powersl became by the cver-memora-
bic Declaration Of l776, Stree and IN
dapeaaem S1,fTES."
To what extent they rclinquished
their character by the Constitution Of
1881, must be decided by an cxamina-
tion Of the document itself. 1t is man
ilesily absurd to suppose, that it can be
decided in any other way. What, then,
docs the Constitution say about the
powers therein delegated to the gen
eral government?
Art, 10 OF amendment TO the Con-
stitution reads thus: "The powers not
Eelegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor bv it prohibited to the
States, are reserved to the STATES
respectively, or the. people,"
Here. then, we learn from the docu-
nent itself in words than which none
could be palmer, or more explicit, that
the general government, 50 Tar from
possessing discretionary, and therefore,
UNLIMITED powers, possess abso-
lutely no poscer at all. except '0hat as er-
pressiy granted. Consequently, the teld
of its legislation is strictly limited to
the subjects and O5iecte enumerated in
the Constitution. In this respect, then,
the character OF the general govern.
ment is exactly opposite TO that of the
state governments. Both are limited,
it's true, but in opposite directions.
The general government can pass no
law excep. what its Constitution er-
pressiy allops. The state governments
can pass, all laps, except what their
constitutions expressly forbid. Congress
must look to the Constitution for what
it may do. Whereas state Legislature