Democratic banner., 1845-03-08

periods when conquest fetiered The
persons, and superstition weighed
down the minds OF men. 1t bc-
longs not TO this enlightened age, and
Ill becomes those who are So FORUM
ate rs Il live in the Nineteenth cen
! tury 10 take rs their model such a
rule OF action in matters, of internal
t!onal law, or to draw their principles
Of Zee government from SO dark and
polluted a source. If we must con-
salt the pages Of antiquity, and inn
tate the example of ages gone by.
much better would il become us 30
follow III the light Of those fee re-
pubIicS where birth alone neither de-
,crmincd the qualification ior Poli;i-
cal staten, nor conferred the priv
lcge of citizenship. Tie policy OF
both Greece and Rome VAS alike
wise and liberal on the subject 81
naturalization and allegiance -mal-
ing no invidiou5 distinction between
the citizen ~ birth and the citizen
by adoption. WthUut intending IL
consult the constitutions 81 modern
Europe. II IS deemed not amlSs to
have reference f. that of France "I
1891, So celebrated for lis adoption OF
free principles. and so generally The
subject of admiratIon.
"IIard terms Of admission 20 the
rights Of citizenship las was senslh!y
remarked hy one who participated
in the d, bate on the passage OF Tie
first act on the suhject) MY exclude
god men. but will noi keep out the
I, vicious: they will cotne IN various
iornis. and care little at"ut citizen.
ship" Ii is believed a reasonable
; PERIOD. 10 enable the alien 70 decide,
lii the first place, as to his wish II
tccome 4 citizen. aud Il shu!t time
alter his declaration OF intention, Is
less likely Ia fill The country with IN
! idle and corrupt foreign population
Than such Il period as shall exclude
all raiI"na! hope Of ever enjoying
the civil ard political rights and priv.
| Ileges % treeneT. The period o
tvtniy-uue years would. In all III
mau probability. eXc,ude The !uFeirf.
e. from the honors q The natiUna
: legislature. even If lac should tie 81
fortunate as Ia live to enjoy the pIIv
liegeS uf an c!ec;or. j. there any
? thing IN tie past or present coIdItloI
nf the country which calls for SIcI
! an exclusion? "Sha'l oppressed hu
mahIty I'm tie eloquent iangHoC'
OF President Jeherson) find no asy
Ium on this ~gIobe!" 1t is believe,
"ot a single Congress has exisie,
since the foundation o! our govern
! ncni IN which the naturalized cit
zen has not been found among it
most useful aud faithful members
| And It is an extraordinary fac; III rh
past administration of the e~xecutiv,
: branch Of the government. that tn
first and highest financial officer TN
der President Washington was b,
! birth Il foreigner. so the same oI
flee, alter the great civil revolution
: OF 1900, was again filed by Il iu
reiencr. And what is still more re
: markable, at 4 hi-lly cmbarraSsin.
state offs financial affairs, and wh"l
: the country was engaged IN aetna
! war, the virtuous Madison called &
the same important trust. for tn
third time, another distinguished Cit
zen, bv birth Il iurcigner-ihc farhe
; oi him who has so recently been call
cd by the voice o! the people to 10
I second office under the government
: The able manner IN which these Il
. Iustrious men discharged the big.
trust reposed IN them. fully iustiGe
: the beautiful culogy called forth b.
the services of one of them. whel
: serving as a representative from III.
. state TO which the petitioners CLAIM
10 belong.
"Nir,uc and genius tsay tlc letter
I by Curtius) are not peculiar to Amer
Ica. They have nourished in ever,
country AID in every age. Tn
merits Of men are not to be ascertain
: : eo by geographical boundaries
! The mind has no country but tn
universe. Patriotism is not a mar
row and ilIlheral prejudice, in favo
of the soil npon which we happen II
, be born. 1t is Il rational and mob,
! attachment 10 the country which
gives US protection and secures u
our happiness. 1t is not incompali
I bic with universal philanthropy; OF
; the contrary, it is Il modification o
: benevolence, softened BY societ,
and strengthened by altitude"
II there be nothing IN the past, i