The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-01
THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.

THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
The Locofoco newspapers and demagogues are
engaged in the despicabe attempt to arouse the
prejudces of foreigners and Catholics against
the Wings. The whole ground upon which they
attempt to this fabric of falsehood is the fact
that Mr.. Archer, of Virginia, at the late session
of Congress favored the idea of extending the Pc
riod of naturalization to foreigners for twenty
years. The Globe stupidity calls this pro-
position to "disfranchise" foreigners. If the
editors information in any degree correspondent
to his arrogance, he would know that to :" dis
franchise means to take away franchise !;
but foreigner has no franchise when he
arrives in this country, and acquires none
even under our present laws for several years.
Even Mr. Archer does not desire to extend
the time required to persons already in the
country, and consequently he proposes to dis
franchise" no one. The editor of the Globe de-
nounces the measure as an attemptyto "degrade"
foreigners to the condition of slaves, and declares
that without franchise man is degraded. How
comes it, then, that State like Virginia, which
has been under Democratic rule ever since the
foundation Of the Government, should have kept
so many of her citizens to the present time in a
state of degradation! Ten thousand freemen in
Virginia, many of whom have the blood of revo-
utionary sires in their veins, have no vote, and
until within the last fifteen years the number Of
the "degraded" class was still greater. How is
it that the generous spirit of liberty in the breast
of the editor has slept upon the wrongs Of his
countrymen while it is so wakeful in behalf of
foreigners? Will it be pretended that native born
citizens are less entitled and less capacitated to
exercise the elective franchise than the serfs of
Europe The secret is, that native born citizens
can see and feel the corruptions of Locofocoism,
and have shown disposition to eschew it, hence
the desire to extend the franchise with so liberal
hand to foreigners, who cannot for many years
understand our laws and institutions. We shall
not take it upon ourselves to defend all the opin-
ions of the elder Adams or the younger; but if it
be true, as the Globe charges, that he was de-
sirous of keeping the preponderance in cleo
tions' in the hands of native born citizens, we
respond to the sentiment with all our hearts, and
none but traitors would desire otherwise. Those
who wish the preponderance in elections" to be
in the hands of foreigners may well support the
descendant of revolutionary tory for the Presi-
dency. We will here quote the sentence, and
since it is brought as a charge against the elder
Adams, it is a matter of course that the opposite
is the sentiment of the editor of the Globe, and
that he desires "the preponderance in elections
TO be with foreigners. The Globe says:
Federalism he supposed would always tri-
umph if the first settlers and their descendants
were given the prepoDderance in elections"
The following appeal to the spirit of old tory
ism by the Locofoco organ at Fayetteville, North
Carolina, will doubtless be responded to by all
those who have the same sentiments at the pres
ent day which actuated the enemies of the coun-
try in '76 The editor is indignant that any as
pensions should be cast upon the good name of
Mr. Folks tory ancestry. Hear him:
"As many patriots and excellent men of to-day
can look back aud find that some of their ances-
tors were what were denominaied tories in those
days, the cause of Democracy will hardly lose
much on account of any aspersions which the
maevolence of partisan editors may cast upon
James K Folks ancestors "-North Carolinian
The Globe OF Saturday evening says we
learn that Chancellor BIB has declined accepting
the office of Secretary of the Treasury"
George w. Wisner, Esq, formerly joint pro-
prietor of the New York San, is the Wing can
ddate for Congress in the Sd Congressional dis
trct in Michigan.
IMPORTANT INQUIRY IA portion of the cltl-
zens of Hanover, N. H., recently held public
meeting and appointed committee to ascertain
who Polk and Dallas might be