Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-17
Native Amerieanism.
LETTER OF WIN. GEO. READ, ESQ
TO GEN. ANDREW JACKSON.

no GEN. ANDREW JACKSON.
Sir: Ii is not unusual with writers of lit
tie note 20 address their lucubratiOns 10 per
sonagcs whose intellectual or moral emincnce
may reflect them to the bosons of their fell
low men, as the frs, rays of the morning.
which gllncing from below the horizon scarce
tint the night fog, when 'gtinted back from
mountain peak or spire, starle the stumble
rcrs in the plain aud arouse them TO the du-
ties the day.
might fad in this Practice suffi lent
apology for placing the most exllted name
of our age and country at the head of this
letter.
1t cannot have escaped you that a new
political combination is organizing in these
United States, on The principal of establish
ing a broad and practically impossible line
between the native portion of our population
and those Of foreign birth; nor it less appl-
rent that there will be an attempt to merge
the very name of one of the parties which AT
present divide our fellow citizens into that
of NATIVE Americans" 50 soon as the pre-
sent Presidential and Congressional canvass
is over. Against this danger would appeal
through YOU. Sir. to the intelligence OF the
American people; and should it occur 10 any
one to ask. who thus ntrudes on your homo
red rcpose with SO exciting topic! can
answer, that it is one whose birth-right dates
farther back than that of ninety-nine hun
drcdths of these modern exclusives; every
drop If whose blood has distilled through
native hearts for long upwards of a century
The position assumed by such members
of this new association as profess TO be actu-
aied by motives worthy of statesmen, is that
the foreign language, ideas and habits, tie
illncracy and UNDERSTANDINGS TO selfgo-
vernment of vast numbers of foreigners who
are annually landed on our shores, disquaify
them for that participation in state aud ma
iionai affairs TO which, under the present ma
turalization laws, they are admissible; and
that much longer probation is requisite. 10
enable them 10 in'ermcddle discreeily and
understandingly; he remedy proposed being
an extension of the term of previous resi-
dence 10 that of the minority of natives, or
81 years. These propositions shall attempt
to reiute; but. TO do So Systematically. will
first review our past legislation, looking sole
ly to its leading provisions, and intentionally
emitting all minor details.
BY the first act at Congress on the sub
ject, approved by Washington. March &c h,
1890, a residence of two years within the H.
mits and under the jurisdiction of the United
States. entitled aliens To citizenship
This was repealed by The act of Jan. 29h
1895, which prescribed residence of five
years within The L. S. and declaration in
Court of the intention 10 become citizen.
three years previously tn the application.
These liberal terms were abrogated, in
what are known as the high toned Federal
times, by the act of June 18Th. l7!S; which
extended the probationary term of residence
to Is wears. and appointed that the decllya-
ton of intent 10 apply for naturalization
should precede the application by FIVE years.
The accession of The Democratic party to
power was sgnallzed, as early as April l4ih
Is01. bv the restoration of the rule OF 1898.
and bv he act of Nav 26th. 1921, the p"r-
cd for which the declaration ot intent was o
precede the application. was narrowed down
10 two wears; all the legislation. since loG,
with single exception in the seanlsn's act
of March Sd, 1913. which requires the resi-