The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-11-07
NATURALIZED CITIZENS.

There is so much to approve of in the follow
ing dispassionatc article from the Alexandria
Gazette of yesterday. upon subject which s now
| attracting general attention throughout our
| country, that we ask for it the calm considera-
ton of every An,erioan--natve or adopted:
"The American people have seen with regret,
for some time past, the Naturalized Citizens Of
the Country appealed to by certain order of po-
litcians distinct class of citizens, and array
ed together as Foreigners; and, they have seen
with still deeper regret these citizens brought up
to the polls, and encouraged to vote, in mass, az
Foreigners. They have also seen with sorrow
| tho emgrants to this country, from the various
kingdoms and principalities OF Europe, taken un-
der the special care and control of the leaders of
one of the political parties into which our coun-
try is divided, and their political action moulded
and directed by these leaders. And in pursuance
of the political system thus adopted, it has also
been seen, that religious prejudlces are encour-
aged. and new and dangerous influences, hitherto
unknown among US, brought into the considera-
ton of our public affairs What has been the
consequence! We adopt the words Of conem
porary and say, by acting as Foreigners, and
| claiming consideration as such, and BY loaning
| themselves to INSCRIPTIONS politicians in the
country. they force on tho rejecting portion Of
sequences which may ensue hereafter from The
extension of the elective franchise TO thousands
and tens of thousand of emigrants, no, with hon.
est intentions, but in ignorance of the true cha.
racter OF our institutions, may be induced to act
together, not as Americans, but as Foreigners,
entitled to take part in the Government Of the
country of their ADOPTION
I'm these feelings the Wing party has fully
shared, and the expression of the opinion of the
Wing party Throughout the country will soon be-
come universal and almost unanimous on the SUBJ
ject. They do not seek to alter or abridge the
just rights or privileges of foreigners now in the
country and especially of foreign naturalized cit-
zens, who by law have these rights and priv.
leges now extended to them But they are op.
posed, and they will, hereafter. on all proper &C.
casons, show their opposition to the influence Of
foreigners, az sepzrats and distinct class, with
the government and control Of the country, and
TO aid them in efccting this great object, they
will generally 60 for such an alteration of the
present naturalization lava as will require a
longer term for foreigners to reside in the coun-
try before they can, by their votes, control all its
interests, and direct all its movements In this
determination, they know they will receive the
cordial support and assistance of most of the in
telligent naturalzed citizens themselves, and of
the reasonable and wel-informed emigranls. The
principle contcnded for Is too just and reasonable
in itself to be successfully resisted. No harm,
by it, is done to any human creature, but an act
OF great justice is done to our country. Most
justly, it has been remarked, has our country been
denominated the asylum of the oppressed from
every quarter of the Globe, and with Gods bless
ing, we trust it may ever remain But, even
for the sake of those who may seek it as place
of refuge, for their security, and for it's own per-
manence and prosperity. it ought to be governed
by its own citizens, and be, in reality, what it
processes to be-, an AMERICAN Republic"