Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-08-15
ADDRESS.
fConcluded.1

great many arguments are made use Of by
those who have never reflected on this subject
or who are opposed TO us in opinion to demon
srale the justice and propriety of q contnu
ance Of the naturalization laws. Our limits
will not permit us TO go into very extensive ar
gumentative discussions, but we will endeavol
TO take a summary view of those arguments
which are most frequently employed, and
which are best calculated to misead the unwa
~ and the unreflecting.
First then, as to the past existence Of the
naturalization laws. 1t is contended that our
country having so long continued the natural
ization laws, by which foreigners as it is said,
have been induced to come hither;-She would
now be acting in bad faith, were she TO repeal
them.
We deny the conclusion in toto, providing
Congress, in repeating the said laws, made pro-
vision for the naturalization Of all foreigners
who have legally declared their intention Of
becoming citizens, and we will even 90 so far
as to say, of all foreigners now in the United
States. Not because we believe that they made
any sacrifices to reach our country, in refer
encc to those privileges or that they have
had any object in view in coming hither, other
than their own private, personal, and pecunia.
try, or her institutions but because we feel
Jealous OF her spotess honor, and would prefer
our own individual inconvenience and suffering
to having her liberality and magnanmity i'm
peached, or her humanity and generosity ques
toned.
This subject has been treated in mastery
manner by recent American writer. he
says "No one born in a foreign country, can
forget his love and preference Of home, from
Foscari who returned to Italy, only TO perish
in dungeon, to the hodcarrier from the Eme
raid Isle, who would never quit it under all his
wrongs, real or imaginary, if he could live
there comfortably, and we find this opinion
borne out by the numbers who annually return
homo, with the proceeds Of their earnings made
in the United States.
And if the immigrant could entirely cast of
his love of country, which gave him birth, he Il
precisely that cold and heartless individual
who would never make good citizen. As t
making distinction in our naturalization laws
in favor of wealth and intelligence, the thing il
impossible and therefore such proposition
must fall to the ground.
Laws must in their nature be general, ant
men of wealth and intelligence among our for
eign population are not generally election
brawlers, and care little for the elective fran
chise for themselves but for their children j
they remain here,-and identify the interest o
their posterity with the permanent welfare ant
prosperity of the country.
From first to last the right of deciding on ou
political affairs, is boon which we have RICH
TO give or withhold at our pleasure.
The United States in this respect resembles
an individual, who having large uncultvatet
estate, considered it an object at first TO give
away lots, or sell them at very reduced price
in order to encourage settlers, Nth pleU Il
rendering The domain more v0luG6le to htmSey
and his descendants, but none but mad mar
or q fool would continue to give away, until tn
whole domain was absorbed, and himself anC
his children rendered penniless."
The next prominent argument with thos'
who are opposed to repeal Of the naluraliza
ton laws, and the one most frequently employ
ed, is the debt of gratitude to those foreigner
who aided us in our struggle for liberty, du
ring the war of the Revolution. They sa!
that TO close the door of naturalization now
would be an act of ingratitude to them in tn
persons of their descendants.
TO this we have but short reply to make
and that to our consciences, and our Judgment
ispertectiy satisfactory and conclusive.
II we owe debt Of gratitude to foreigner
for aiding US in the preservation of our Iiber
ties and institutions, to whom are we indebte
but to foreigners, for the desire and attempt
enslave us?
At the time the sages Of the American Re,
olution projected the wise, happy and indu
gent government under which we live, the
did so under circumstances Of great and ur
PTecedented peril, and every foreigner VIII