Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-25
Senator Adams Bill.


Senator Adams, Of Mississippi, Demo
crat, has introduced into the g. Senate
bill to repeal the present naturalization
laws, and enact in lieu thereof provision
that no foreigner sshall be admitted to be-
come citizen Of the United States unless
he SHALL at the time of his appointment to
be admitted, declare and prove to the sat
islaction OF the court having jurisdiction Of
the case, that he has resided in the United
States 81 years, at least"
We do not mean to enter into an extern
ded discussion of the interests involved in
this proposition. We desire to state that
IN our opinion the enactment of any such
law would be contrary to the lights Of po-
litical wisdom and prudence drawn from
the history Of the country. The great de-
feet in respect to the citizenship Of foreign
ers is not i'll the provision Of the federal
law regulating that question. The time
there required is sufficient, in great ma
jority of instances, in which foreigners can
obtain ample knowledge of our govern.
ment and laws to vote Understandable
The defect lies with the crude legislation
OF some Of the STANDARDIZATION contra
vening the policy designed by the Federal
laws,and rejecting the benefit arising there
from. In Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wis
consin, Iowa, and we believe New York,
aud doubtless other Stales, the State laws
require only six months residence TO quail
Eify foreigner TO vote, without reference
to the Federal provision. Hence, it fire.
quently occurs that men scarcely able to
pronounce the name Of theil chosen eandi
dates are privileged to vote. Presenting
upon this sudden elevation from slayisb va
salage to the immunites of freeman his
ignorance becomes impudence, aud some
times madness, whose inevitable result i.
innumerable rows, such as occur in North
ern and Northwestern States, on election
days. 1t is this which has given impetus,
vitality and power TO the American party !.
Diu tut OtdtC idVS IcIdIlVt 10 the exercise
otthe rights Of citizenship, correspond with
the Federal provision, the result would be
far different. In Virginia, where an cleo
ton broil is never heard and " here adop.
ted citizens vote as quietly and peaceably
as native born citizens, the law regulating
the foreign vote, reads thus:
Gan aliens, being free white persons, natarafi=ea
nnde, the iars Of the UNITED STATES, who NAV be or
become residents of this State shall be deemed cti
zens of this State"
Here, it will be seen, Difference is paid
to the Federal laws, and that there is an
entire harmony between them and the reg
ulation of the State. Let the other States
enact similar restrietions--let the. ,,oa,,v
'''e.. .ams 50 as to tally with the naturali-
cation laws Of the United States, and then
it will be that the great conservative influ-
ence of knowledge and assimilation of ha-
bits and community of interest will diss-
pate election bIoils conflicts and mobs.-
The elective franchise is high preroga-
tiye-the birth-right of a freeman-the en-
envy Of despots-the terror Of crowns-and
should be exercised under lively sense of
the dignity CT the privilege. We do not
believe, however, that i, is necessary to
proper appreciation of this prerogatiye that
a foreigner should remain in this country
twenty one years. As general thing the
law would operate as prohibition.
The subject Of Mr.. Adams resolution
has already been introduced into both
branches Of Congress, and considerable
sprinkling of Know Nothings have made
their appearance. We expect, then. some
action on this bill. The present laws may
be modified, but we have no idea that the
term Of years indicated in the resolution
will be adopted. We, however think the
agitation entirely unnecessary las the States
themselves will give practical effect to the
elective franchise, at least SO far as State
elections are concerned.