Holly Springs gazette., 1845-01-03

al length at this day given rise % 'ne naive a
merican question. ne are at once sir lex with the
amount or various, and multiplied matter OF de-
fence which at every step stands in bold reiiei 10
support, and irrefutably to sustain the policy oil
those who advocate change OF our rule OF Nat
uralization Under Art L. Of the Constitution,
Sec. s, and in the fourth clause the power to en-
act Naturalization laws is granted TO Congress
in these words: "The Congress shall have pow
er to establish an uniform rule of Naiuraliza-
ton. Pursuant 10 this grant of authority, the
frst Congress proceeded at its second session
Gin 1870 10 enact rule OF Naturalization, pla-
cling the period OF residence in this country oil
foreigners, 10 entitle them to the rights Of native
citizens, at | think, tsyo years. Other enactments
during the Administration of Washington, and
ADAMS were made en- the subject. all having for
their main object the encouragemen OF foreign
emigration. The celebrated Acts, however, u
sually known as the Alien, ard Sedtion laws,
passed during the administration of the elder
Adams, had no reference whatever 10 the gene
raj policy of Naturalization. Il was not till Is
% that the act, which repealed all previous acts
on the same subject, and which now forms the
substance of our present code Of NATURALIZATION
trsu une same course resulting IRON TIE necessi-
tous, and uDdeveoped condition of The country,
you'd operate,to to make the encouragement OF fon
eign emigration the principal feature of our Nat
uraiization system, with almost as much. if not
equal force in 1902, as in 1870. With a popula-
tion not exceeding four millions, the country
had not recovered from mat paralyzed, and al
most helpless condition in which it had been
left at the successful termination Of the Ions
and ruinously expensive war Of the Revolution
With vast and fertile territory capable OF sup
porting in af1nence hundreds of millions. we
had scarcely made an impression upon that i'm
mense wilderness, which We have since caused
to blossom as the rose. The exhauStless min
eraI resources of the Country were yet untouch-
ed. Cities were to be built, rivers were to be
navigated, agriculture, and the mechanic arts
were te be fostered, manufactures were to be es-
tablished and carried on, Commerce had yet to
spread her wings upon the seas and moreover
that great national debt which was incurred du,
ring The war and which entered into and con
trcl'ed SO much OF the legislative policy Of them
times, was to be paid. AL these circumstances
rendered it absolutely imperative that c ongress
should encourage emigration from other Coan-
tries to the utmost possible extent, and any one
who viii examine the discussions of that period
both in, and out of Congress, will perceive that
keen sense of the imperativeness of this duty
was entertained by all. The consequence was
that in framing the Rule of Naturalization they
favored emigration, extent Unprecedented
in the history of any nation in the world. In
stead ofvesling the power Of Naturalization in
the hig hest legislature, as is usual in other
Countries, or even in the higher courts of judi
cature, they conferred it the lowest judicial
tribunals in the land. Then, they proceeded to
place the period of probation at .t5ve gears and
there it still stands notwithstanding all he cir
cumstances of overruling necessity enumerated
above, have long since passed away.
II II Ust be evident TO every unprejndiced mind
hat, as ii was the general neceSsitous condition
ofthe country which impelled cur torefathers 10
favor emigration so signaly, so they must have
expected, as this necessity vanished-as the con-
iition Of the country improved-aS our territory
became more, and more densely populated-as
all our diversified resources of soil, and climate
5ress would proceed gradually 10 diminish The
of emigration, to lengthen the
period Of probation, and to close up the door for
he admission Of so much foreign influence, and |
20 much danger to the perpetuity Of our free in
,titutions. That this was what the trainers Of
he act Of 1902 looked forward 10, [ say no one I
acquainted with history, can for an instant /
ioubt deny. Foreign emigration never was
before with the exception Of a single instance in
,ur own history, so literally encouraged, and 4
'ur conduct as nation this respect is with :
,ut parallel in the annals OF the world Great
Britain, whose policy, however Objectionable in !
,lher points, is at least this subject worthy of
Ill imitation, by those nations which have attain /
ID the rank OF real independence -Grea; Britain I
.onfers naturalization only by act of Parliament.
Dur legislators, however. in obeyine the call
made By the whole Union to hold out the most
iberai inducements to foreign emierants. very
ve! knew the causes which gave rise 10 that
ALL and were doubtless well aware that whom
hese causes disappeared common sense and the
instinct OF self-defence, against the Introduction
If foreign influence, if left uncontrolled bv fac
ious considerations, and the arts ofdemaSogue-
sm. would dictate to future legislation the prop
r course TO be pursued Undoubtedly that
course was, gradually to Us sen the eacouraoe
nent 10 foreign aigratioa-graduany to make
be process OF naturalization more. and more
lIfficult, and gradually, with the gradual march
If the country to wealth and prosperity, to close
up those avenues for the insinuation of forejon