Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-12-05
From the National Intclligencer.
NEW YORK CORRESPONDING
Nav YoRK, Nov. 21. lSiA.

here is, that they ought TO preserve their upiIv
and integrity as party, forming no new combi-
na'iohs' ana moving not step from the old plat.
form on which they have hitherto ba,tled so no
ply. Stiii, 1t cannot be denied that there is A
deep and settled feeling upon the subject of those
ABUSES oil the naturalization system TO which we
may undoubtedly attribute our recent defeat
o.nei causes co-operated in bringing about the
Iesei', Is not denied but this cause was of it.
sell more than sufficient to render null the hon
es''y expressed will Of large majority Of the
legal voters of our State. We were overwhelm-
ed In all our large towns and on our northern
frontier, by the fraudulent votes of persons who
pretended to be naturalized. In MANY instances
they voted under assumed names and with bor-
rowed papers: But i'm the greater number of Gu
without having really fnlhled the reouistions
OF the law. 1t is melancholy to witness the lax,
nasty, and illegal manner in which the natu,ali
zation process is conducted i'm our courts. An
adopted citizen brings up his friend, and makes
oa'l' mat the candidate for naturalza alton de-
oia,ee MS intention two years since to become
d c!tiIen, and that he has known him to be n
resident OF the country five years; whereupon
ahe papers are made out without further scru,i-
NY sometimes an obstacle is thrown in the
way when the candidate is supposed to be ON the
wrong side in politics; but in general the pro-
cess is what have described. In this way men
who have not been ten days in tho country are
admitted to VOTE wv
Another Infamous abuse 10 which we are sub
3ected by our opponents in this city is that of
multiplied voting on the part of Individuals
Inc wings sirove to check it by establishing a
registry law-and most unexcep,onable law it
was--commodious, equitable, and efficient in its
operation. similar law has long existed i'm
massachusetts, where it is found to work most
satisfactorily. AS an instance of the simplicity
II introduces, may remark that at the recent e.
ieciion In Boston the entire vote of the city was
made public fifteen minutes after the polls had
closed I'm the various wards. But what did our
adversaries do the moment they recovered their
ascendancy in this State !! Almost their first act
was to abolish the registry law. Can any one
ASK alter this which party it is that have profit
ed, and expect TO profit, by the corruption of the
DaiiolDoN AT The time of the establishment of
me registry law there were only seventeen places
Tor voting in this city, That law increased the
number 10 seventy-fve; and there was no obiec-
uoh 10 me increase under the system of registra-
lion. But our opponents, in aboshing the repis-
Try feature OF the law, cunningly retained that
cause winch gave us sevonty-fve voting places.
ny this dlsnterested liberaliiy they have auu-
mented the opportunities for fraud in the ratio of
seventeen to seventy-fve.
mere VIII be an attempt made by the Ameri-
can Republicans at the coming session of our Lee
gislature to restore the registry system. But Lo-
'coiocoism profits too largely by existing abuses
10 consent to any change. So of the naturaliza-
ton process. Our opponents are Obliged to ma.
nuiacture some three thousand voters annually
out oil foreign materiel in order 10 keen up their
maJorltles in this city alone. The number of
persons naturalized during the last six months in
inns state is twice as large as the whole majority
Tor Mr. Polk. OF these persons probable moi
one-twentieth voted for MIR. Clay. These are
facts which cannot be winked out Of sight in re-
viewing the causes of our late defeat
The friends of Mr.. Polk are quite FESTIVE under
.ne eally developments which are presented of
the paraiyzng influence of his election upon the
enterprise and activity of the country. Thev
charge upon the Wings disposition to pet ND a
1aise panic, and to exaggerate the effects of the
prospect OF the reinstatement of the Iocofoco dv-
nasty. To all this we can only saw, would chat
the panic were false and the effects exapperated !
we near on all sides instances of enterprises
stopped, labor thrown cut of EMPLOYMENT. and
the prices of domestic produce depressed. How
could we expect different state of things The
eXultation of South Carolina warns us that our
protective duties will be reduced. Mr. Folks
own assurances convince us that an attempt will
be made to annex Texas at all hazards. How
then can 1t be otherwise under these menacino
contingencies, than that capital should grow eau
nous and reluctant TO engage in new enterprsesl
III is true that stocks have recovered little from
their fall during the last few days; the news of
me abundance OF money in England will proba-
ply operate to increase still further the good feel
ing In our stock market; but there can be- no sta
approximations entertained in regard to the policy
OF the Government exist.
ball is to be given at Tammany Hall on the
25th instant the anniversary of the evacuation of
New York by the British, in honor of the Presi-
dent of the Empire Club. The list of subscri-
bers is headed by tho name of Robert II. Morris,
our late Mayor and soon after it occurs the name
OF U. L. Van Ness, Collector of the Port of
New \ ork. The accounts which have appeared
In the Wing journals in relation to the character
OF this Club and its officers have been perfectly
accurate. The whole truth, however, has not
been told, and, were it told, it would hardly be
credited.
The subject of change in the naturalization
laws Is claiming large share of the public at
ten,on. perceive that the Albany Argus dis
tlnctiy maintains the principle that the power be-
longs 10 the States alone of prescribing the quail
hcatlons OF voters. 1t adopts the view that ma
turaiznton law can have no effect on the election
OF members OF the House of Representatives, or
OF electors of President and Vice President, ex-
cept in so far as the States choose to make citi-
zenshp qualification for voting. ''If the period
OF residence before naturalization should be ex-
tended to twenty-one years." says the writer in
the Argus, s'any State might. Notwithstanding,
allow an alien to vote after residence of six
months, or any other time" This is not new
view Of the naturalization question. 1t has been
before upheld, and, in one instance, by a distn-
gulshed Wing. If sound, it shows the utter fu-
Unity Oh any attempt to amend the naturalization
laws by any action of Congress. 1t shows, jim
fact. that the clause in the Federal Constitution
which authorizes Congress TO establish a uniform
rule OF naturalization is not Of any binding eff
cacy as regards the States, and is therefore. inn
pertinent and supernuous. If it depends upop
State action alone to fix the qualifications Of
voters, what possible use or potency can there
hp in lafio al,