The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-21


na!ly manifested in favor Of Harrison and re-
form, is unshared by "A community, which more
heavily than any other has suffered under the
evils OF misrule; but simply because among
the intelligent and Incorrupt yeomanry Of the
tepublic, the du!ies Of citizenship are more
justly appreciated and the rights of citizenship
are more vigIntly protected than they can be
among the loDser and less rejecting population
OF a crowded metropolis. The Incidents of tie
late election bear the most emphatic testimony
to the wisdom of Mr. Jefferson, in assigning to
the agricultural districts of our country the
guardianship Of republican liberty.
The entire majority Of the government party
at the recent election, in the full conviction OF
this committee, was composed Of illegal suf-
frages. Without reference TO the coincident
appearance of several government ships in our
harbor on the eve of the election, flooding our
polls with all ncurson of voters not recognized
by the constitution OF the State; to the per-
sonal presence Of the Secretary of the Navy,
and the renewal OF extraordinary activity in the
arrangements for naval expenditures and con-
tracts in this city to the force introduced from
the Navy Yard at Brooklyn; to the five humid
red hireliDgs of the federal treasury in the Gus
tom house at this port; TO the army OF two
thousand dependents on the corporation conf
bned influences which enlisted in the service
of the administration at least five thousand
voters: the illegal suffrages that were deposit
ed, independent of all these sources of corrup-
ton, outnumbered, in the sincere conviction of
this committee, the entire government majority
at the recent election.
1t will he learned by the nation with 10 less
surprise than it was by this committee, on au-
thority which they cannot discredit, that indl-
viduas from the cells Of the city prisons were
marched to the polls in the charge Of their
aors, and, while excluded from society for the
criminal violation of its laws, were permitted
to exercise the highest privileges of citizenship,
and to vote in the election of our civil magiS
trates. Whether or not, the discharge OF this
duty in acquiescence with the commands of
their keepers, will heighten in their case the
penalty Of their crimes, or entlte them To the
special indulgence ofthe magistracy they have
aided to create, is subject emnently worthy
of digent future investigation.
But the committee would direct attention to
another more grievious enormity,pract to an
extent that can be hardly credited but by those
who have watched It's progress and results
They allude TO the illegal naturalization oil citl-
Zens al the Marine Court an inferior local trl-
bunal and in no sense such court OF record
of common law jurisdiction, as is intended by
the naturalization laws of the United States
This tribunal, in the opinion of the committee
possesses no constitutional or legal authority Ia
receive declarations of intentions, or 10 grant
the ultimate certificates Of citizenship; and yet
these powers it has usurped, and has been per-
mitted TO exercise from year to year with the
most insolent disregard of the positive require
ments of the law and the decencies of judicial
proceeding.
The committee would interpoSe no obstacle
other than those stablished by the laws oil their
country to the naturalization of foreign resi-
dents They would welcome to this free soil
the oppressed and afflicted of every country
under heaven, and would admit them to the
fullest participation in the rights and privileges
of American citizenship, under those statutory
provisions which our foreign citizens have aid
ed to enact for our common protection. The
committee are well persuaded, from their own
| personal observation, that it is not the desire
| Of emigrants to cvade or overleap the laws Of
the country; but that they are willing to wait
| for the due expiration of the legal term before
claiming the rights of citizenship. They are
made the dupes and victims of designing and
profirate men, who persuade them that they
! are entitled to citizenship on their arrival at
our wharves, and who deceive them into the
commission Of uninientonal perjury, consum-
mated through the agency of the government
committee of Tammany Hall, and tolerated il
not connived at and assisted by their profiigate
looseRess of judicial administration.
| The committee recognize with pride and
pleasure, among the warmest friends of the
| Wing cause, hundred and thousands OF our
adopted fellow citizens; and they know that
| from these friends al. the recent election the
Democratic Wing ticket received the most
hearty and enthusiastic support. In justices TO
those friends, and to remove all barriers from
the naturalization of honest emigrants, the
committee would suggest that a memorial
should be Immediately prepared, and forward
ed to Congress, praying that all the fees which
have hitherto been extorted from emigrants APP
plying for naturalization, should be forthwith
abolished The citizenship which we bestow
should be free gift to all the children of the
human race. 1t should not be bought and Sold
1t should not be huckstered and peddled; or
made the means OF judicial tempta i IN and cor
| ruption. The Democratic sovereignty, through
the tribunals which It's ordinances recognize,
should impart the seal Of citizenship 10 all who
are entitled to its possession, WITHOUT FEE
AND WITHOUT REWARD. $50
But the committee would call the attention
of their Democratic Wing brethren to the fact,
that on the day ofthe recent election land during
the week previous, naturalization papers were
tod Unf tl,M or.,