The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09

a. the cause Of legislation. lie spoke In no spirit OF
hostility 10 them---but be made distinction between
his own cOuntrymen and the citizens of foreign cOun-
tries Does the gentleman hold all aIike-fee no
more sympathy and affection for the people of his
own country than for those of France Germany, or
Russia
The gentleman tells US that the settlement on the
lands was the best evidences of citizenship Ifhis be
so CONTINUED Mr.. CD perhaps we had better abolish
our naturalization laws and make settlement on the
public lands requisite for citizenship Would the
gentleman think this good policy2 He had no feel
ngs Of enmity towards foreigners. He proceeded in
this matter the great principles of equality and JUS
tice towards all men.
We have vast extensive tract of country beyond
the Rocky Mountains -and he would ask the honor
able Senator what would prevent the crews of all ira
ding vessels while harbored there, to build log cabins
on the land, and then afterwards, at the proper
time, and claim the right of presumption those lands
and sell theml This may be done under your laws.
Do you intend that your laws shall admit of the posi-
bity of such thing2 But the gentlemen tells US
this is log cabin doctrine-but he Mr. CD did not
understand the log cabin doctrine in this way This
is not the sort of log cabins The sort of cabin that
good Wing or Harrison man constructs is another
thing from that of foreigner. One must be some
twenty feet wide, and comfortable for residence
but the other perhaps ten feet-room enough for a
man crawl intoto give him title to acquire the
land Your bill does not tell the sort of cabin or the
length of residence. There could be no possible in
justice in these amendments Let the foreigner, be-
fore he is entitled to this right, signify at least his in
tention to become a citizen. This was as little as we
could require of him.
Mr.. BUCHANAN replied at some length. He
protested that he had said such thing that settle
ment on the public lan!s would be preferable to our
present system of naturalization but he had express
" declared Yesterday that he not in favor Of in
creasng the rights of foreigners would not grant to
any foreigner the elective franchise any privileges
of American citizens until they had become natural
lied.
He wished to make no political capital out of this
question-but TO act the principles of eternal and
immutable Justice
But the gentleman says, why do you oppose 70
leigners holding little stock in petty bank2 Those
(said Mr. b are the foreigners of whom am most
afraid
Mr.. BENTON said, that they were the million
aires)
They have no intention Continued Mr. Buchanan)
of being citizensbut come here to suck your blood
and transfer it to their country for the purpose of
strengthening themselves and acquiring influence
over you They foreign mionaires who seek to
control your politics. and not for any purpose but their
interest do they invest capital in your banks.
! MIR. CRITTENDEN said that the Senator (Mr
B in arguing against his amendments insistedthat
settlers on our public lands the building log cabins
was to his mind far better evidence of intention of
becoming citizen, than giving formal declaration to
that effect Now if it be better evidence, why not
substitute it for your naturalization law If il was
better way of he would not be opposed to such
a substitution.
! The difference between them, was this. He in
ssts putting foreigner who has not according to
law sgnifed his intention of becoming citizen, ON
the same footing of those who have become citizens,
and not only this, but the ground with native
born citizens. He (Mr. CO. not, all that he ask
ed by these amendments that they should signify
| their intention of becoming citizens.
But the gentleman Mr.. B. is afraid of the million
ares who here, lie says, to fleece This remind
ed him (Mr C.( of the Spanish proyerb, aThat many
man who comes for wool will go back sheared and
he thought this would be the case with them should
they come to this cou ntry for this purpose.
! He should not now 60 into the question of a bank
| of the United States, bank of hundred millions
dollars which the gentleman was sure would be the
destruction Of the country, but he would tell the gem
tleman at once, what he always had said that he
should reoioo tho day and believed the day had
come, when the people of the United States would
have bank of the I'm tied States as the only aterna-
tive and remedy against the multiplied evils that has
existed in the currency for number of years. He
was for bank of the United States, but not to be
governed by English millionares.
| The only question was whether you would put
the mere foreigner who makes declaration of inten
ton to become citizen whether you will put him
on the same footing that you do the foreigner that
| really comes 20 you for an asylum, home He asked
only for the smallest particle of evidence that they in
tended to become citizens and on that preliminary evil
dence he willing to receive him and admit him to
all the privileges of citizen far as the bill is con-
| cerned
| Mr.. BUCHANAN asked what was the difference
between them--he Mr.. c. was good pre- empioner
If there be poor, ignorant foreigner who, not aware
of the provisions of the term who should happen to
settle and cultivate piece of land he appealed to the
genteman's heart and feelings whether he would de-
prve him of the land because he had not made decla
ration of his intention TO become citizen Certainly
not. This was the entire difference between them
1t had narrowed down to question between tweedle-
! DUN and tweedle-dee
He should not vote for either of the amendments.
Mr. CRITTENDEN would only reply to some of
the remarks that had last fallen from the honorable
gentleman. He (Mr b. says, that of course | have
expressed my willingness to vote for presumption for
| foreigners No, sir, am not committed to- vote for
presumption for foreigners or any body. Mr.. b here
explained Mr.. Crittenden continued-what he
meant to say this and no more: that if the bill
was to pass, he had offered these amendments with
view to confne its privileges to citizens of the United
States, or those who intended to become
| The honorable gentleman said that the difference
between them had dwinded down to a mere matter of
tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee Heinz CO. confessed
that he loved his countrymen little better than
| any body else-and those who came here among u.s.
who grasped hands with us and swore to live and die
among u.s. than those who do not at all, or
here only to make their fortune-to him (Mr. B. it
might be tweedle-dum and tweedle debut it seemed
to involve high American feelings and principles Ollie
! gislation of great Importance.
MIR. PORTER, of Michigan, presented an amend
ment which he wished incorporated at the of
] Mr. CrittendGn with his anen,lne9ts. The aSes-
ton was finally taken on the original amendments)
Mr.. ALLEN, of Ohio, gave his reasons why he
would against the amendments. In point of fact
the amendments amounted to nothing. The DECLARE
ton of intention to become citizen might BIZ made
with truth, but it not conclusive.
MIR. WRIGHT, Of New York, wished to discuss,
for few moments what he believed to be the real
question There had been great deal said about excu-
sve privileges He understood that the bill before usre-
quired all reemponers whether citizens or foreign
ers, to pay the prce-the minimum price-establshed