The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-06-15
COMMU NICATED.
CLINTON, (LA.) MAY "a, 1899.

CLINTON, IA.) MAY "a, 1899.
I Mr.. Editor: As l have-since / have been
liable to notice the current of affairs in our coun-
stry-lnarked the bad tendency which the policy
sof letting the tide of emigration into our country
Scontinue to flow on as it has for several years
I past, deem that the most proper steps to be
taken at the present day are those which the as
Ssociation, with which your paper is connected,
ESQ strongly advocates and endeavors to enforce.
II should like you to favor me with copy Of
Ayour paper, and to be considered subscriber II
Syou will send me few spare numbers, will en-
fdeavor to procure other subscribers. 1t is the
wish Of the citizens of this place to form them
sselves into association similar to the one now
Sexisting in Washington.
have observed for years past the rapid strides
(which foreigners making in our country
flowing in daily in vast numbers by every vessel
from every port of Europe-and the moment
I they are landed on our shores, being received
into the arms Of one other of the great politi.
: cal parties Of the country, they are endowed
! with the right Of suffrage, and enjoy the prv
8leges which native citizen does not; and with
this advantage, that the former has to undergo
probation of only five years, while the latter i:
: not considered politically mature until he ha.
arrived at the age of twenty-one. | would ask
with what safety our destiny could be trustee
Ito the hands Of those foreigners who have jus
arrived on our shores without even know
ledge of the provisions of the Constitution, the
naturalization laws, or any of the principal in
situations of our country, forming the great bull.
wark of our liberties! | say, if such policy
be continued by the American People, that, in
IA shorter time by far than they may expect, they
Twill find the country involved in such difficult
tiles, that were even Washington IN existence
Ito assert and endeavor to maintain the rights
7of the people of this Republic, these difficulties
could not be surmounted.
Entertaining the views that / do on this subj
|iect think that the naturalization laws should
|be so amended as to require every foreigner who|
comes into the United States to remain resident
of the same at least twenty-one years before he
can enjoy the right of suffrage. If this system
should be adopted, the American People would
soon see, by experience, what wrong course|
had been pursued by this Government in per-
Uniting that sacred right to have been so much
abused by set of outcasts from almost every
cline, many of whom make it place of refuge'
from the laws of their own, and covert for the |
blacklist culprits that ever escaped from the hand
of justice in any.
How, ask, can Republican Government,
like ours, stand under these circumstances!
say, Tor one, tnaL IL Is uteTly lIlpOSSlDle: IOr
while such abuses Of the laws and principles of
our Government are pracsed and carried out as
they are at present, no Government which God
has giuen the capabiHty TO man Of forming,
could endure for any considerable length of time
without being involved in civil wars equalled
only by those carried on in the worst days of the =
worst nation.
When l speak in favor of altering the laws of
do not wish to be understood as
intending it to affect those who have already
come into the country and are at present enjoying
the benefits of her laws and institutions. Far
from it. But wish it to affect the cupidity of
to retard, if we cannot stop, its cur
rent; and to cut off the retreat of criminals CON
victs, fugitives and outcass, and thereby prevent
an alien population, now overhowing the coun-1
try and rapidly increasing from ruling the elective
franchise by numerical strength; and sweeping
away the very foundation on which our threat
ened Republic rests-her moral character--andR
the spirit Of nationality that exists among her
people. /. w. II.