Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-10
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The extension of The term oil PROBATION - ~
re;en.rs 10 twenty-one years before cohieiiiI9
mon them the privileges Of citizenship, ~c.
Mr.. Dromgoole replied in vein oil huu,Oi
which elected the general merriment OF lne eoi4
miltee, oil which, also, al present. we give w
points only. ,,,;s,,ken
the foundation OF this Government-lne Dect', ,hs
lion of INDEPENDENCE and the Constitution Of .he
Ifn;,e1 states Here, in this American country,
where all are either foreigners or the descendants
nj foreienere he came 70 preach up The doc.fihe'
NJ Naive Amcricani>m. He had better 60 10 inc
savaoes and preach The doctrine OF Indian riSh.s
n ,bis couutry and demand Of us TO prefer sa
vaoeism 10 civilization. The gentleman mao
made very eloquent speech. There were Two
ideas in il; although Mr.. D. knew tnat ne oe.
longed 10 the party which protested 10 have ou'
one idea. ~,
eress Mr.. d. commended that the Constitution IN
conterrine upon Congress the power 10 pass uni
form laws of naturalization, did notnterfere with
The rights OF the States in regulating suffrage, as
the two subjects were totally distinct from each
other.
The gentleman had also forgot one thing
namely that one great ground oil complaint
against the king OF Great Britain in the Declara-
ton of lndependence-was, that he had obslruct-
ed emigration 10 this country. Yet the gentle
man was here TO revive the obsolete idea more
"obsolele" than that OF a bank of The United
States, in direct conlravenlion 10 this complaint
oil our forefathers.
The next question was that OF policy Mr.. ID.
opposed on this ground the proposition of the
gentleman and his party 10 refuse 10 admit aliens
10 the rights OF citizenship until they have been
in This country 81 years. By SO doing he con-
tended that we would parcel them off for 81
years, giving them no rights, and melting them
TO disturbance and 10 combinations IN order 10
gain the rights of freemen. The best way when
they had left their own country and adopted this
as their home, with which they identified their
feelings and interests, was TO incorporate them as
speedily as could be into our family, as bone of
our bone and flesh Of our flesh, and not 10 keep
them distinct class Of prescribed men. he re-
ferred 10 The reinyigoraiins influences of emigra-
ton upon The Roman republic, and maintained
its beneficial effects upon our country, as ac-
knowledged and sustained By The declaration OF
independence, as we'll as by The constitution Of
the United States-direclly contrary TO both
which were the sentleman's arguments.
[Some conversation took place between MIR.
Woodward and MIR. Dromgoole, as 10 the power
of the States TO confer suffrage, and upon other
points
Mr. Dromgooe considered so clear The wan,
oil power in Congress 10 interfere with The right
of suffrage OF the States, as 10 wonder that any
body ever could have dreamed 10 Inc contrary.
He referred 10 a case which arose in The Stale
Of Illinois, in which The question had been SET.
tied BIZ the Supreme Cour, of The United States.
The power to pass uniform naturalization laws,
and regulating The right of suffrage, were en-
tirely distinc-lhc latter belonging TO the States
as clearly as the former 10 The General Govern
nent.
e. L.. ~ hot, fba oil sh
Constitution and onr own was, that while they
discouraged and laid checks and restraints upon
foreigners going there we opened the door 10
them. He would like 10 have the gentleman Mr..
Levin explain, il his principle had been adopt
ed, hoW our revolutionary war ever would have
been fought, and how VIC, any oil US, would nave
become citizens Of this glorious Republic?
MIR. Levin repeated what he had said; that his
principles were in accordance with The order given
by Gen. Washington a; Cambridge
Mr.. Dromgoole-Did Gen. Washington ever
advocate the principle by which every alien should
be excluded from The army
Further conversation took place on this point
between Messrs Levin Dromgoole, and Camp
bell.
Mr.. Dromsoole resumng said, all Inc gentle
men had read from Washington was mere let
Ter, sdmonilory 10 his officers IL select men in
whom they could confde7 This touched merely
the point Of discretion, with reference 10 the Sc
lection Of worthy officers and did mol look 10 The
entire exclusion OF foreigners. he alluded 10 The
valuable services rendered us BY foreigners du-
ring the Revolutionary War; and mentioned, in
terms Of high encomium, the names of Laiay-
etre Kosciusko, De Kalb, &c. Among all the
foreigners who had served in Our army, who had
come here 10 make il their home, and identify
heir fortunes with Us. he defed Them 10 point 70
one foreigner who had proved tlaiicr. He
could point, (ani lie did il with sorrow.) 10 ihe
traitor OF the Revolution, and al the last War
. Benedict Arnold and Hull, boh Of whom were
BON in this county He said not that foreign
ers are more trustworthy than natives; he main
tanned no such doctrine; but he said lei the dis
erection OF selection b. left 10 our commanders
both military and naval.
Some conversation passed between Mr.. Levin
and Mr. Dromgoo!e, as 10 the place OF Arnoj's
nativity; MIR. l.. stating his impression that ne
was an Englishman, and Mr.. D. reading from
biographical work, Ito substan,ia,e his previous
statement that he was born in Connecticut
Mr. D. was proceeding in this conversation,
when his remarks were terminated BY The eIpira-
ton of his hour.
The Committee then rose and reported, and The
House adjourned.