Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-07-27
The Observation-Disclosures,

Ky reference to the proceedings Of the,
Convention, published in cur paper Of
Saturday last, and continued to day, it will
be perceived that warm and animated
debate has taken place on the subiec. of
the right of foreigners, (naturalized citi-
zens.) to hold Office under the new consti-
tuition. The debate arose upon 8 Sec
ton in the article reported by the com.
mttee on The Executive Department,
which excluded from the office OF Cover
nor every person except"a natural horn
citizen, or citizen of the United States,
at TIE time of the adoption of this consti.
tuition.
In the course of the debate we were
surpristd to hear honorable delegates
declare their opposition to any men of
foreign birth holding Office at all. We
were astonished to hear them declare.
that WASHINGTON had said that men of
foreign birth should not be placed in of.
fee; that they were dangerous to the re-.
pGblic. We were astonished to hear
them-and lawyers too-declare serious
ly, that the provisions in the United States
constitution, which makes none but a ma
tive bora citizen Of the U. s. eligible to
the Office Of President or Wee President,
should be adopted by our State, and every
other State or Conederacy; and that too
for the reason that the same principle
which established that provision in tho
Federal constitution, was lilly applicable
to the State Governments. Now, let US
endeavor TO separate from the pyofusioh
of chaff with which these positions were
proclaimed, what little amount of wheat,
there is, and then ascertain whether 1t is
any more than the shFiveled grain, which,
has been niPped by the biting frosts of a
political winter. What are the reasons
given that naturalizgd citizens should not
be eligible to Office? Because, say these
gentlemen, they come to our land with a
knowledge ofmonarchy!--they come here
with the recollection OF the scenes oftheir
school boy days. and it is but natural that
they should feel an anxiety tor the welfare
of their countrymen at home. These are
the reasons given 10y those who propose
to exclude them from Office. What emf.
grant 10 our soil will, for a single moment
hesitate in pronouncing that it was the
knowledge ofthe policy of the European
governments towards their subjects that
induced him to turn his eyes toward that
home in the west, where peace and pros
perity were secured by the ''policy ofihe
government" Again, ''he has Eemem-
brance of The scenes of his childhood, and
is anxious for the welfare Of his country
men''--two of the safest guarantees thai
could be devised, that he will be good
American citizen. Every American en-,
igrant has a recollection ofthe scenes Of
school-boy days, and TOO often a fearful
one. He can recollect the time when tho
school where he wasimbibing the rudi-
ments, was closed by the minions ofth
law, because 1t was not the 'policy of his
government" to suffer the class in which
he moved to be educated. He has seen
the ministers Of his religion hunted from
mountain steep to rocky dell, because they
taught the holy truths ofreligion without
confirming, BY seryile hypocrisy, TO the
policy of the government. He has seen
his fathers, brothers, friends and kindred.
torn from their homes and made, in far off
chimes, the murderers of unoffending ra-
ces, who obstinately refused to receive
Christianity from the bayonets point
He has seen and felt the peculiar evils OF
a distinct, privileged and titled Glass;
whose policy it Is too keep down In ighor'