American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-02
For the American Republican. |

[For the American Republican,
The time has come for all those who profess
a love for our country, our government, anC
the welfare of this people, to arouse from thei
long continued slumbers, and commence ar
examination Of the present state of our nation.
al existence. Nevef before have the patriotic
citizens of the United States been compelled ia
witness such high degree of corruption in our
body polite. Never before did the American
citizen know what it was to have the cherished
institutions of his country, his sacred liberty,
hispoltical confidence, and all the happy privi-
leges of the Republican form of government
recklessly snatched from his grasp by the i'm
Pious arm of foreign interference; and oraught
that we can tell at this time, forever deprived
of them in the future. The blessings of our
Constitution have been shamefully perverted,
and they now present to our country the char
acter rather of curse. The true American
spirit therefore, should be keenly alive to the
unlallowed Influences which are now flooding
our country to corrupt to dishonor, and to de-
strOy it.
| refer to the alarming developments of the
late political campaign Are not the facts de-
monstratcd by its unvarnlshed history sufficient
OF themselves to strike terror into every heart
which truly loves the soil of America? Can
any one doubt the sinister intentions of Great
Britain? And does any true-helrted American
longer hesitate as TO his course upon this sub
ject in the future? hope not, A most terri
bic warning has already been given us; and let
us not, therefore, fellow citizens of America
wait for farther advances from this ambitious
enemy to our sacred rights and privileges
They are in a situation iminently dangerous, at
this time. Another advance-and it may be
too late.
The venerable trainers of the American Con-
stitution, when they gave to Congress the pow
er "to establish a uniform rule of naturaliza-
tion," designed, in the words of Chief Justice
Story, that our Congress should adopt such "a
system, obligatory upon all the States, which
shall secure them against any dangerous results
arising from the indlscrminate admission of for
eigncrs to the rights of citizenship upon their
landing on our shores" Our country of late,
however, has been daily experiencing the most
dangerous results' from this very calamitous
source. The crisis has come. What before
had been anticipation only, is now stern and
an alarming reality. The late presidential
canvass has fully convinced the more honest
portion of the citizens Of America, of both po-
lltical parties, that our present naturalization
laws are wholly inadequate to the attainment
OF the patriotic object above expressed by the
great Chief Justice. Thousands upon thous-
ands of foreigners, in the States of New York
and Pennsylvania, with their apparel still
tumed with the stencil of foreign prisons and
almhouses, have been conveyed to this country
with the rapdty of steam, and brought to ex-
ercise the great American privilege of the
elective franchise. How humiliatng is the
thought to the pride of every honest citizen of
America, whether adopted or native. How
momentous is the fact to the great interests of
this country How fatal to our national exist
ence may be its continuance.
The only alternative left to the American
citizen by the liberal Constitution of his coun-
try, seems to be, a revision of the naturaliza-
ton law, and making such change in its
character as will lengthen the time required for
foreigners to become citizens of the United
States, and to exercise the grand Constitution
al privilege Of the elective franchise. The |
trainers of the present naturalization law like
those of the Constitution itself, never anticpa- !
ted such monstrous frauds upon the purity of
our elections as have been perpetratod of late
through foreign influence; and therefore, very |
properly adopted system consistent with the
then honesty and national situation of the Anne
rican people. In the progress of years, how
ever, we have found it vastly insufficient for
the increasing political vices of the present
time. Thus it becomes the duty of the pre-
sent generation to give it such a revision as
will suit the nature of the case. Hence the
origin of party In this country tor the attain
ment of this measure. A party to which Chow
ever opposed he may be to popular associations
in general, man, honest in his hopes for the
welfare Of this country, and guided by the light
Of ali intelligent conscience, cannot consistent
y refuse his consent, his approval, and his as
'istance. 1t lis party, American in its origin;
American in its feelings American in its OBJ
jects; and American in its means of perform
lnce. 1t is composed alike of both the great
political parties combined for the first time, nj
Tailor, for the sake of America, per Sc, and IN
the Constitution of which the cause of Ameri-
ca is the sole source of its success and its last
ng continuance
It is this cause which is fast enlisting the
'ympathies of this growing and happy people.
The great cause OF American rights. The
young America stands at issue against the uni
ed dominions of the Old World. Foreign
powers, with naughty England at their head,
ire determined to corrupt-now they have
ound that they can never conquer-the infant
Republic of these United States. They are
determined to Illustrate (f possible the here
ofore successful attempt in these States to solve
he great political problem of mans capacity
Or selfgovernment. Veal they have already
it. The purity of our elections, the
'ery foundation of all the nestimable blessings
# the Republican form of government, has
een made the object of their villanous attack
Nothing, fellow citizens, will be spared in order
o carry their point in the future. Shall they
ucceed' Shall such sacriligeous assault up i,
N the most sacred of cherished institutions be f
ermitted to pass without prompt and deci-
i've rebuke? Have the sons of America so
arly lost the spirit of their sres? Must ,
Dung America bend the knee once more at
he foot Of the British throne2 If so, it will be l