The New York herald., 1844-12-18

the ist proposition of the Senator from Louisiana
for extending the term Of naturalization required
He would say further that a. this question was be
referred te one Of the ablest commitfees Of the
Senate, he hoped that they would embody their
Iutioa, Ia a clear and definite report, that the
Senate m sht see their whole scope and tendency.
Mr.. AEcHsR exprrsst himself as exiremelysl4d
at the inr"ducion nt this subject at this time be-
fore the Senate. Whichever merit or d~merit there
might be IN his propositions OF smsndmenf, one
fact was certain, Thar there was ldig. degree Of
the people of the United States. Had not this
motion been made by somes other gentleman, he
had himself intended 10 move in the matter. The
subject OF amending the naturalization laws was oi
OF the Congress OF the United States. In its i'm
porance II was not only transcendental, but CON-
pretended every other Issue involved in the govern
ment He hoped that the chairman TO whom this
subject would be committed, would make an early
report, for there was no subject OF greater i'm
porance TO the people and the government OF the
United States
Mr. RIvEs concured in the necessity of providing
in some mode or Other the essential safeguards
against all abuses and nfracfi0ns of the naiural-
z ,tion laws. He would concur with the Senator
from Louisiana, so Far as 10 submit, without any
SORT OF hrsitancy, his support the simple propos
tons Of inquiry From what had iallen from The
Senator from louisiana, Congress were bound to
make some inquiry into the evils complained OF,
aud 10 provide Inc remedy. That there had been
evil, abuses, and ma-practices, Mr. r had not
dount The universal voice Of the country bore
testimony 20 ihe fact, and 10 this tesumony, even
II WE would, we cannot turn deaf ear. The vast
Operating as a new and powerful element IN our
social and political system. He would not exclude
this element from political action; but would NOT
on the contrary, hesitate, after they shall have
duly conormsd to the existing laws, " hen they
shalt have become in TACT, rs we'll AZ in name,
Amrrlcanlx-d, to give them fair propor.,on OF po
lrical iLflu-nce. All lessons oi history teach
the Necessity this subject Ot and prudent,
Of eau ou- aud salntdry regulations
M. Rivrs, tor one, said he would not disturb the
seiird policy ot our ancestors until time and ex
perlenc- had demonstrated the necessity Of change
The pr, sent system had been in iorce for ski,
years. during one Ps. sldentia. lu=trum. and lha
rather an inauspicious one Looking at its origin
upon the statute book he believed it laid in
law. but 10 its practical operation was to be
rscribed all The abuses of which the Senator from
Louisiana had complained. The law had been
regarded as an idle form 10 be gone through with,
mere mockery, trick al slight of.hand, or leger
demt,n-a pant mime, and The r.cipeni had been
discharged a fa grown American. Foreigners
thus marched up 10 the Courts in patoons
by twsn'iss, and thirfirs, and fifnee and withoui
understand nR the Language, and without c. gnl.
ztnce II their ignorance on the part If the judgr,
c-rain unmeanlng murmery WAS passe d over
aud questions answered which they did aol compr-
h-nd, aud they went forth dubbed American citl
z-ns Mr. Rives then rScited the history ut the Law
of Naturalization, and lh- details Of It's requisitats
under Mr.. Jrf-rson's administration; and III. n
prnc-rded to exhibit the increasing ltxlty its
minissrati n I'm that "era ot go d feeling" the
Presidency Of Mr. Munroe. All that could nov
do provide eff crnt checks and sal. guards u
The prompt enforcement OF the existing law. Neither
and this wac all that Mr. X. believed necessary
from the tenor at bis argument, and the extent to
which he would CO.
Mr. MsRRicK was still more explicit. His opin-
xUa fhtf IN tpp Ypc andc and ahxvsoc
for~ianers implicated were less to blame than tn.
natives charged with the administration of the
laws Much excitement had grown out Of these
complaints, and much injury, and much Injustice
had been done them in consequence. Let the evil
said hs be cted where il exists and suffer moi
these innocent people 10 be denounced uniusty
and fierce and unnatural excitement provoked
against them. Nothing but evil could attend
any attempt 10 prejudice The native born agains,
the foreign population He expressed himself In
conclusion, as opposed to a term of twenty-one
years residence Tor citizenship, or against any ex
tension 1T the term whatever.
Mr. DICKINSON denied that the laws had been
loosely or corruptly administered in the natuFaliza
ton OF toreignersl IN New York city, as aeg, d by
the Senator from Louisiana. The charges made
by the Senators from Virginia and Louisiana (Mr
Johnson and Mr.. Rives,) were certainly, if true,
we'll worthy OF consideration; but that had yet To
be established. The proposition Of the Senator
from Louisiana, however, mainly was TO extend
the time. so that the foreign emierant might be as
sima't d TO our institutions, Mr. d supposed az
vegetables are perfected by the rains, The lght
and heat. and dews oi heaven. He concluded by
decided expression If opinion against any amend.
ment of the existing laws.
Mr. BgRRIEN, Of the Judiciary Committee, said
that he could not promise an early report.
Mr. FOSTER, OF New York. ably vindicated, and
indignantly, TOO. The city OF New York and the Of
II ,efs OF justice from the charges Of Me.srs John
son and Rives, and accounted from very natural
reasons tor the number Daiuralized on The eve OF
the late elections 1t was simply because they had
postponed their last step in natural zation until
could be deferred M longer. IL was the easies,
thlog IN the world to make charges, but il was an
other matter 10 bring the proof He firmly stood
out tor The present law, and for the rights of The
,relgner who had made our country matter of
choice, while the native was a mere citizen from
accident.
The resolution as modified was agreed to and
adopted
Several communications were presented from
the Treasury Department, including the Secretary 3
annual report. and that Of the Commissioner of G~-
era l. md Office.
Mr.. pHRLps' resolution requiring of the Presi-
dent the condition and extent aud details Of the
dcbt OF Texas, came up, and was amended so as
10 Include the lex,an Issues OF scrip oil all kinds,
on motion OF Mr.. Phelps. when, after some ohjec.
tion on the part Of Mr. Tappan TO the resoluiisn
unes, The United States intended 10 pay the Texan
deh', The resolution was adopted
After some acting upOn few private bills, the
Senate, On Mr.. MERRicK's motion, went into
executive session, and shortly thereafter adjourned