Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-20

OF intention TO become cltlZenS, before they snail
be entitled to the privilege Of citizenship.
Mr. B. said he had also received, with this me-
mortal, request from a respectable citizen OF
Philadelphia, that he should express his opinion
this subject, al The time of the presentation oil
the memorial. He did no, consider this proper
time . enter into discussion OF this great ques-
ton. AT the same time, he had no objection To
state, that he was against extending the time of
the residence OF foreigners beyond the period OF
FIVE years, which was now necessary to acquire
the rights Of citizenship. He entertained the same
opinions now upon this subject that he entertain
ed when he formerly presented memorials of This
nature but if il should be established that the pre-
sent naturalization laws were not sufficient
guard against frauds, and lift should be establish
ed that frauds had been committed TO anything
like the extent mentioned, he should go with him
who went farthest so 10 amend the NATURALIZATION
laws, that fraud would not be the consequence OF
this system; and he believed that every citizen OF
The country, whether native or naturalizcd, was
deeply concerned in suppressing these frauds, il
such did exist upon the rights of The citizens of
The u. States. Without going further into this
subject at present, and stating that al the proper
time he should be ready 10 express his views mp
on it, he moved the reference of the memorial 10
! The Committee on the Judiciary, stating AT the
same time that it was signed by highly respecta-
| bic citizens OF the city and county OF Phlladel-
phia.
Mr. ARCHER presen!cd.a memorial from ciii-
zens OF The Commonwealth OF Pennsylvania,
PRAYING for an extension of the naturalization
laws, 50 as TO require probationary residence of
tweny-one years 10 entille foreigners 10 the rights
OF citizenship.
MIR ARCHER thought, with the honorable
Senator from Pennsylvania, (Mr. Buchanan,)
that the presentation Of memorials was not the lp-
proprae occasion for the expression Of their SEN
iiments on the great question involved in The
prayer OF this memorial He was exceedingly
anxious 10 give expression fully TO the sentiments
that he INDUCED as to The object OF this memorial
but perceiving, as he did, that there was 10 be
n hot war in the country in relation 10 this sub
lect, he had Moth least desire 10 throw away any
of his powder upon the parade ground He must
acknowledge, he was deeply concerned al the IN
dica,ions manifested in the bricl debate OF yes
erday Before the occurrence OF that debate, he
entertained hope that the demonstrations afford
ed by the great abuses which had been pracised
in reference TO these laws OF naturalization must
have produced an impression upon the Senate OF
the United States far different from that which
Ne understood yesterday TO prevail. He did
hope that, upon the very first indication of this
preston coming upon the floor Of the Senate,
he should see evnced something like the i'm
preston which he knew prevailed throughout
this great country. Grieved he was 10 say, that
he perceived no feeling Of thai kind in This body.
He was glad 10 know, at so early period,
what was the stale of feeling here. lie was glad
that il had been announced in that debate 10 the
people OF this country. Gentlemen were going
TO find, before two more years passed over their
heads that this enormous abuse, which he had
almos, heard denied on this floor yesterday,
would no longer be endured; the people were
not going TO be contented with observing the
effect of remedies, or any cutting off OF what
his honorable colleague (Mr. Rives) termed tex
crescences."
[Mr. RIVES observed, from his seat that he
had made use of no such expression
He (Mr Archer) understood him so; however
il was implied in the remarks of his collea que.
He was going 10 d. him iull Justice. He was
very sure his honorable colleague, like himself,
was most DESTROYS 10 find remedy for the abuses
which had been brought before The Senate. but
he MIR Rives did not seem disposed 10 20 10
the extent that he (Mr. Az was disposed TO 20
to-not in stripping off branches Of This abuse,
but in going directly 10 the root. Let him tell
his honorable colleague he should have his sin
cere participation in that object; but j, was not
in stripping of branches Of the abuse Of which
he [Mr. Rives] spoke Yesterday with 4 great
many expressions of qualification, that this great
abuse was TO be reached. He had expected 10
find in him, and the honorable Senator from Ma
ryland, [Mr. Merrick] cordial and Jealous allies
in the object which he, for one, would never lose
sight of-an eieclual eradication Of the root Of
the evil.
As 10 the sentiments of the honorable Senator
from New York, Mr.. Fosterl he asked the al
teniion Of the country 10 them. After that honor
able gentleman had finished his remarks, he (Mr.
A. really did not know whether he would he at
liberty 10 make any distinction between indigo
nous citizens Of this country and those otT.scour-
ings of foreign population who were 10 come
here and enter into The practical operation OF our
institutions, if not TO assist in framing them,
while wholly ignorant Of their value and import,
or reckless of the consequences.
He was told that il we undertook TO form any
distinction between foreigners and Native Anne
ricans, it wonld be invidinus He was told that
one man who had lived five years in the United
States was just as good as another, and just as
much entitled to exercise the elective franchise
in The United States. He was told you must
look, not 10 distinctions made by residence or
lime, but to those distinctions made BY morals.
And what next That it was very difficult to
detect or enforce distinctions depending upon
morals. And all this amounted 10 what? To
the fact that, whilst all were ready 10 admit that
the most nelarious abuses (and we had Just as
we'll undertake TO deny that the Sun shines, as
to deny this) had occurred al the last Presidcn-
tal election, nevertheless, there was no dslinc-
ton to be made between native born citizens and
and those who we're from foreign land.
Let him tell the Senate and the country that
such anticipaions were not going to be realized.
Ifthe members OF this and the other body did not
take the matter into their hands, the people of
the country would take il into their own hands,
and adopt more efiectual guard against these
frauds than any which had been proposed here
for the redress of this public grievance. He
moved the reference ithe memorial TO the Com
miitee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. BREESE, on leave, Introduced bill de-
claring the assent Of Congress 10 the State Of Hi
nois TO impose tax on all lands hereafter sold
in that Stale BY The United States from and after
The time of such sale; which was read twice and
referred 10 the Committee on the Public Lands.
NATURALIZATION LAWS
Mr.. BARROW submitted the following reso
lutions which, under The rule, lie one day on the
table, viz:
Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be in
sructed 10 inquire whether naturalization papers
have been granted TO foreigners BY any Federal or
State Court in violation of the provisions OF the
laws Of Congress; and that said committee be au-
thorized TO send for persons and papers
Rcwlped, That said committee be instructed to
INQUIRE into the expcdiencyofa law empowering
The District Courts of the United States 10 cancel
and declare null all naturalization papers which
may be found, upon judicial investigation, 10
have been granted in violation or fraud Of the
laws of Congress.
Mr.. FOSTER of New York, on leave, intro
duced bill TO authorize the Secretary Of the Trea
sury TO make arrangements or compromise with
any of the sureties on bonds given By Samuel
Swarwout, late collector Of the port Of N. York;
which was read twice. and, with the petitions and
papers ON the files on the subject referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
ELECTIONS OF ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT.
The bill from the House regulating the time
for electing the Electors of President and Vice
President Of the United States, was read twice,
and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. ARCHER presented memorial from
Brown, Graves & Co. and others OF the citizens
Of New York, praying that the bill introduced
into the House on the 7th of June last, entitled "a
bill 10 refund the duties collected on coffee i'm
ported from the Netherlands and 10 repeal the
discrimination made on this article BY the Tariff
Act of 1912, so far as the Netherlands are con-
cerne3 may he nassed into a law with as little