The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-15
ASTOUNDING POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS.
General Scott ON the NaturaIiza-
ton Laws.
HIGHLY INTERESTING DOCUMENTS,
Sc, &C., SO.
rBH LETTER OF NOVEMBER, 1871

letter of tho 9Th instant written rs you are pleased
to add, in behalf of several hundred native Ameri
can republicans of Phladelphi
Not confidently, but not for publication, ! have
already replied to o letter from David M. Stone,
Esq, Of your city, on the same subject. will write
to you in Like manner, and in haste. This is the
West with me-leaving scarcely time for sleep or
exercise. must not, however, wholly neglect your
communication.
Should any considerable number of my fellow
countrymen assign me, or desire to give me, a pro-
minent position before the public shall take time
to methodist my views on the great questions you
have proposed. Those views have their origin in
the stormy elections Of the spring of 1885, and were
confirmed IN the week that the Harrison electors
were chosen in New York. On both occasions was
in that city, and heard in the streets, "Down with
the natives" 1t was heard in almost every group
OF foreigners, as the signal for ralying and out
Fired with indignation, two friends sat down with
me in my parlor ut the Aston House (November,
1901 to draw up an address-designed to rally an
American party.
The day after the election set out for the South
and have never known precisely why our appeal was
not published. Probably the election Of General
Harrison rendered the publication at that time
necessary in the opinion of my two friends.
now hesitate between extending the period Of
residence before naturalization, and total repeal
Of all acts Of Congress on the subject-my mind in
clines to the latter
Concur,ing fully in the principles of the Phila-
delphia movement, / should prefer assuming the
name.of American republican, as in New York, or
democratic Americans, as should respectfully sug-
gest Brought up in the principles Of the rcvolu-
tion-of jefferson Madison, &c.-under whom. in
youth, commenced life, have always been called,
have ever professed myself, republican, whig,
which with me was the same thing. Democratic
Americans would include all good native citizens
devoted to our country and institutions; would not
drive from us naturalized citizens, who, by long
sidence, have become identified with us in feeling
and interest.
T hncr 20 ~, In J.J,J IL, -
american, that religion is to be excluded party
element. Staunch Protestant as am, both by birth
and conviction, shall never consent to party or
State religion. Religion is too sacred to be mingled
with either. 1t should always be kept between
each individual and his God, ecccpt in the way of
reason and gentle persuasion-as in family churches
and other occasions of voluntary attendance (after
years of diseretion,) or reciprocal consent.
Wishing success to the great work which you and
other patriots have happily set on foot, remain,
WIsFIELD SCorr.
To George Washington Reed, Esq, and others,
CEN. scoTr's COMMUNICATION TO THE NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCER.
Tho following communication, written by General
Scott, ia copied from the Washington Intdligcncer,
and is published Is it appeared in that paper
lFro0 the National Intenigencer, Dec IT, lsA.l
COMMUNICATION.
NOTES on THE ADMISSION OF ALIENS TO CITIZEN
SHIP.
THE Congress shall have the power" !" to establish
uniform rule Of naturalization ~ Constitution IT, S.
articIe !, section g. clause ~
On this power, or on all citizens who may be
adopted under any established rule made pursuant
to tho power, the constitution ITSELF in other parts
imposes four limitations or restrictions:-
1.-"No person shall be Representative who shall
rot have been seven years citizen of the United
hullk IA ~rvySn eboVI,,
lxc been nine years citizen Of the United states"-
<.artiese /, secfisa 3, elsuss 81
tizen Of the United States at the time Of the adoption Of
this constitution shall be eligible to the Office Of Pres
dent. article H. section /, clause 81 And.
A." No person constitutionay ineligible to the Office
President shau be eligible to that of Vice President Of
section 81
Under the power and the restrictions here seve-
rally quoted, Congress may legslate on this subject
in the shape Of q uniform rule-that is, q rule the
same, fol- the time being, throughout tho whole
Union and its territories.
1t is seen them that the constitution ITSELF in re.
spect to foreigners, contemplntes or establishes
many distinct degrees Of citizenship, besides age,
sex, and residence. 1st Congress, under the dele
gated power, might, by uniform rule, confer on all
aliens, Immediately on arrival-instead of at the
end Of FIRE years. as at present-the right of holding
and transmitting property Of every description the
right Of voting for President Vice President, and
members Of Congress the night Of voting and being
voted for, in respect to all State offices and trusts
and the right Of holding all federal offices, with the
exceptions which follow. Yet, as at present, I'd,
No such adopted citizen would be eligible to seat
in the House Of Representatives, nor until seven
years after taking the oath nor, Sd, To seat in
the Senate, until two years more, making nine; nor
4th, Ever to the Presidency or Vice Presidency !;
whilst, 9th, There yet among US some foreigners
~ birth, who having been here prior to the adop-
lion Of the constitution are eligible to the Presi-
dency and Vice Presidency, and enjoying every other
right Of natural born citizens. Behold then, at
this moment, within the bosom of our country,
Foreigners holding, by naturalization, five seve.
raj grades of citizenship; besides, 9th. A host
of other foreigners all personally under the protec
tion Of our laws, with the right to acquire To hold
and to transmit property, including Tin several
States) lands and houses, and all (males) again. in
different stages Of Advancement towards the acaui-
siton of the political rights under the first four
heads above II is, therefore, shown that the con-
stitution, by 9 uniform rule Of naturalization"
did not meon rule under which all rights whatso-
ever of native bo:r .ti4 ns should be conferred on
aliens (snbseqpeitiy arriving in the country at
once, and in lump One right (the second above)
the constitution withholds for seven years after ma
turalization; another (the tbrd) for nine years. and
the fourth forever. we follow strictly etymoogi-
cal meaning, it would be a bull to say that Con-
gress can, by rule Of naturalization, make TO-
reigncr natural born citizen. Naturalization"
isl technical term, borrowed by our constitution
from English law-just as hrying ,car, orat act OF
treason &c., were borrowed by the same instru-
ment from the same source. To find the lega
meaning of either term, we have always been
obliged to look to that fountain rather than
TO dictionaries. Nothing is more natural or
common than such technical reference.
In the English practice Of Naturalization" it Is
exceedingly rare to find that aliens have been adj