American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-11-22
TFor the American Republican. !

,NesSYS. Editors: -Knowing that the columns
of your paper are open to every true lover of
his country, who may, through its medium, de-
sire to offer few suggestions to his fcllow-cit-
zens, hope yoa will indulge me by the inscr-
ton Of these few lines. 1t is very evident by
the election returns, that gross frauds have been
practised on the ballot box, in the late elections
held in the different States. Something must
be done to remedy this growing evh Ir look
ing over your paper of the Goth inst, per-
ceived 4 communication, in which an opinion
is expressed by the writer with regard to the
proprety of imposing an impost duty on all
emgrants coming to our country; 4 sort of re-
striction, amounting nearly to prohibition,
which he thinks would effectually prevent the
poorer class of cmgrants from landing on our
shores. In this opinion agree with the wri-
ter, but beg leave to offer a suggestion, which
no correspondent has as yet offered to your
readers. 1t is we'll known, believe, that both
parties, Wing and Democratic, have been in
the practice of paying for the getting out Of
the naturalization papers of those foreigners
whose term of residence has reached the peri
cd designated by law upon the condition that
their votes should be cast for that party by
whom their rights Of citizenship were obtained
Now if the law should be so framed, as to Of
fer no Inducements to politicians of either par
ty TO 90 to the expense and trouble of procuring
these papers, "a great portion Of the foreigners
being either too ignorant to appreciate the val
ne of the privilege of voting, OF too careless to
enjoy that privilege, it would, | Think have a
most etfcctual tendency to prevent foreign
ers from exercising any injurious influence over
our elections; and those foreigners who sufti-
GENTLY esteemed the greatest privilege Of free
men, (that of choosing their own rulers, to
I
come as true Americans in feeling as the ma
tive born citizen Of the United States. My
suggestion is this: Instead of permitting for
cgners to vote as soon as they are naturalized
the law should prevent them from voting until
the term of three years after the period Of their
obtaining their papers of naturalization Were
this law, and the law IN full effect, politicians
would never be so very anxious about our for
eign emigrants becoming citizens; and there is
no doubt that such law as this, substituted
for the existing laws, would, as | have said,
prevent much Illegal voting and fraud, so de-
moralzing in their effects. Would the wards
in organizing the American Republican Party
endeavor with all their forts to place the par
ty upon a broad and substantial basis there
is no doubt that all true Americans would 90
hand in hand for the repeal of the present nat
urallzation laws, and for the substitution of
Others less liable to abuse by political dema-
gogues. 1t is worse than folly to say that no
remedy is needed, for any person who reads the
public prints must be aware, that the present
laws are terribly abused, The American Repub.
Hcan Party is, and must be, the paItyof every
honest man who wishes to preserve pure, that in.
strument of freedom, the ballot box No dis
tinction should be made; we want every one
who goes for his country, whether Wing OF
| Democrat, native or naturalized. Let them
all unite as band of brothers for one noble
and patriotic end, and that end must and ,cit
be attained.
A TRUE AMERICAN OF THE lrH WARD