Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-17

years, VIC oiteH HiSupeTaole. suppose, as
under the alien law of 1893, the date of
registration be made the starting poin, for
who will be able, in the vas,
majority of cases, TO identify the applicant,
in Court with the name upon the record
Even under our present liberal system, |
cases constantly occur, Of reflections of APP |
plications for naturalization, through de- |
feet OF legal proof, where there is no room
to doubt the good faith Of the individual
applying. Every year Of additional pro-
baton must necessarily increase this diff |
Guilty. Fees of office, too. will be more
reluctantly paid as the prospect Of reali-
zing benefit from them IS more remote
and the general effect of this state of things
will be sullen neglect Of all prescribed
acquisitions.
We shall then have vast population
among us, who will not be Of as. They
may be thrifty and Industrious, and acquire
wealth. How far the States, whose action
in relation to their acquisition Of landed
property is independent of Congress. would
permit them to become propriciors. SO long
in advance Of naturalization as Is or 20
years, may be considered doubtful. Mary
land. for instance, permits the purchase Of
land by the alien, on condition of his ma
king a declaration of intent TO become
citizen within one year after the purchase,
and completing that intention us soon as
permitted by law. But very dltferen,
policy might prevail, under a more dilato-
ry system of naturalization. But. under
the mos, favorable circumstances, the un-
naturalized foreigner would, for the greater
portion Of his life, have no bond to the soil
but the sordd one of int rest ; and our jea-
lousy would subject his acquisitions to tar
alton pithom rePrcsentation-thev very gric
vance that drove our fathers into rebellion.
A necessary Consequence OF this will be,
that we shall make them agita,ors per
force. Freemen wiU not rest in relatirc
degradation, ,shile their neighbors possess
greater privileges than themselves; and, in
direct proportion to the knowledge and
material prosperity we endeavor TO hestow
on them. we shall render them more pow
erfu! and dangerous.
Another result must be the perpe,ua,ion
Of the feuds which divide them in the coun-
try Of their birth. True policy would
merge these in our own political dissen-
sions. which must ever exist N free states;
but the exclusive rule will leave those for
eign factions TO rage without any restraint
but that Of the military power.
The effect Of all this on our tranquility
must, even in times Of peace, be most dis
astrous. But who could estimate our dan
ger in the event Of foreign war? You,
sir, in one Of those crisis when Providence
committed the safety Of your country 10
your indomitabe energy. had practical ex-
perience Of what might be apprehended
from population alien in feeling, q, the
approach Of hostile army. What then
might we expect, with several millions Of
disconnected strangers among US, many Of
whom would necessarily inger sea-board,
or in our maritime cities Suppose war
with that nation, for instance, which like
Saturn has ever sought to devour her Am
erican offspring, who has never left unem-
pioyed the agents of her selfish and des-
tructive policy, her travelling lecturers,
her lying tourists, her spies, her subsidized
politicians, her hired assassins, whose max
i'm has ever been divide and rule f; whose
aristocra masters see their chief, If not
their only danger, in the continued peace
and prosperity Of this country, and would
spare no pains TO cripple The gigantic
growth by which we are steadily dwarfing
their artificial strength into impotence for
mischief. Would she not find, in this es-
tranged alien population, the willing and
efficient ministers of her enmity? re-
member, though then a boy. the ordering
of aliens. during the last war, TO 40 miles
above tide water. Could this be done with
the myriads I" Na,ivism'' would surround
US with VIVA, police could we rai.e TO
watch them effectively? What standing
army could hold them 10 check?
There is another consideration. By the
law OF nations, individuals remain under
their original alieg lance till dl.ested Of it
by some solemn act. What conditions are
essential to expatria,ion, governments nre
not agreed English, and | believe Euro
pean statesmen generally, insist that the
consent Of the original sovereign is nee s.
sary TO the dissolution OF the bond. The
United States, and the most approved wri-
,ers, contend that it is matter Of indivi du-
al cho &c and our laws accordingly pro-
vide for simple remuneration Of the nalu-
raj allegiance, and an oath Of fidelity 10
the American Constitution and Govern
ment, by persons DESTROYS Of the privileges
of citizenship. But, though this doctrine,
or rather our practice under it, remains an
unsettled point of controversy, between our
own and foreign governments. We all at-
nit my frs, position, that, until affiliated
10 new community. persons remain the
subjects Of that in which they were born.
Hence NativIsm," il unfortunately in the
ascendant, would fill our land with armies
of agricultursis. mechanics and laborers,
bound by law, and tina, morality which is
The handmade of law, 10 serve a foreign
poientale with goods and body nor could
they, If his battalons were marching upon
Us, take up arms in the defence OF their
own hresldes, without exposure 10 trail
tors death. The firmness by which our
government arrested the execution Of ma
luralized citizens, taken prisoners during
the las, war with England, BY declaring
that for every drop OF American blood thus
shed, two of British should fow, would find
no application here. The foreign Gene
raj wOnli ONLY have IN AL, ara thev Inn