The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-09
NATIVE AMERICANISM.

Our readers are aware that new party mas
sprang into existence in Of eastern cities,
who call themselves Native Americans or Amer
lean Republicans. The object Of this party is to
procure an alteration of our naturalization Laws, so
that foreigners must reside in the United States,
twenty one years before they can be entitled TO
vote The first political move was made by this
party the last charter election in the city OF New
York. By the Wings desertng their own candi-
dates and voting for those nominated by theNatives
the Native candidates were elected.
On the 7lh Of June last, Mr.. ARcHER,a Whig
Senator from Virginia, presented a petition from
sundfy citizens of the city of Philadelphia, praying
for such an alteration Of our naturalization laws, as
to preclude foreigners from voting until 81 years
after they had filed declaration Of their intention
to become citizens. When Mr. Archer presented
this memorial he observed:
"That, in two or three instances recently the
gentlemen who presented similar memorials from
the same quarter, accompanied them with the ey-
preston of their own sentiments upon the subject
Although it Was quite an unusual thing for him on
the occasion of presenting memorial, to Indulge
ia any observations, he should now 50 far depart:
from this course, as TO remark in opposition 70 the
dissent expressed by those gentlemen, that he en-
trey concurred with the memDralists in the pray
er of their memorial This was subject which
he was sorry TO saw had not as yet sufficiently at
tracted the attention OF the people of the United
States There was, he thought, growing COM
bination of circumstances, which furnished ample
ground for the conclusion, that the great mass of
uneducated foreigners, wholly ignorant of the ma
ture and value ofour Institutions, annually pouring
into the country, could not, within the short peri
cd oftive years, fixed by the presentlaw, become
fit to exercise with due sense of their value and
responsibility the rights and privileges OF native
born citizens. The premature exercise of such
rights had grown To an evil of great magnitude, OF
which there had, happily, but recently, been pain
ful demonstration. IF NO OTHER PERSON
IN THE NATIONAL COUNCILS SHOULD
TAKE UP THIS SUBJECT, HE WOULD
HIMSELF IN THE PROPER TlME-WHEN
THAT PARTY SHOULD COME INTO POW
Err WHICH WOULD GIVE EFFECT TO
VIEWS OF SOUND POLICY - INTRO
DICE SOME MEASURE SUCH AS THE
MEMORIALISTS JUSTLY CONCLUDE
HAD NOW BECOME NECESSARY"
We suppose Mr.. Archer meant that the whig
party would be in power, when he says "that he
would introduce some measure. such as the mem
oriasts justly conclude had now become neceS-
SdTy, WHeH ulht parry Fhouiu So"'e NV Po"S'
which would give effect to views of SQUAD policy"
If such be the vewes of the whig party, (and
we know they are hostile TO foreigners, for the rea-
son that they support democratic measures,) we
should think that the adopted citizen will ponder
well this matter before he casts his vote for the
whis candidates.
When the elder Adams was president ofthe U.
States, law was passed requiring residence of
IA years TO entitle foreigner to citizenship. The
democracy with Jefferson at their head protested
against this measure, and som after Mr.. Jefferson
was elected President the law was again altered to
five years In his first annual message 10 1901,
Mr.. Jefferson says:
Il cannot omit recommending revisal Of the
laws on the subject of naturalization. Consider
ing the ordinary chances ofhunan life, denial of
citizenship undera residence of fourteen years is
a denial to great proportion Of those who ask it;
and controls policy pursued from the 6rst setle-
ment by many Of these States, and still believed OF
consequence otheir posterity.
sAnd shall we refuse the unhappy fugitive from
distress that hospitality which the savages Of the
wilderness extended TO our fathers arriving in this
land' Shall oppressed humanity find no asylum
on this Globe1 ~
Z II would appear then, that there is party now
striving to restore the law Of Adams adminissra-