Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-06-21

Ma EprroR: Through the medium Of your
widely circulated and valuable sheet, desire
to say afew words to my fellow ci,isens upon
a subject in which their interests are likely to
be injurously affected. It's hardly necessary
for me u remind them that secret organisa.
ton. under the appropriate name Of ''Know.
NothingA" has sprung up in our midst, hav.
ing for its object. as am credibly informed,
the complete overthrow Of the Catholic church
and the entire prescription Of all citizens Of for
eign birth Of parentage. This organisation is.
believe, a nav edition Of the Native American
party Of Philadelphia, whose outrages upon
person and property, few years ago. were ex.
ties. Assuming, then. this to be its character,
(and have noreason to doubt it.) l shall On.
deavor to show, in few words, the fa'lacy
and unconstitu.ionality of its purposes and
aims.
| In the first place. as one Of the prerequisites
| to admission into this organization, they de.
mand a renunciation Of all former party predi
lections. and pledge henceforward to vote,
and by all other means IN their power, to seek
| to proscribeth naturalized citizen. and over
throw the Catholic church! and this, too. IN
the face of that Constitution 10 With We are
all SO devotedly attached. aud which secures
to every man who lives under it the right Of
| free thinking-the right TO worship God &C.
cordng to The dictates Of his own conscience.
How generous, how patriotic. how republican
the appeal 1t is an appeal to which cannot
subscribe. How unreasonable i would be.
even If it were i'm accordance with the spirit
and genius of our institutions, to say that the
man whose father or grandfather happened to
be born in another country, noiwithst andiDg
he had subsc rlbrd to, and Obeyed all the laws
Of the land Of his adoption. should be denied
The privileges guaranteed to every American
citizen. Perhaps it may be said by some Of
"s.. 81 ss sss.
ask, where IS the justice in taxing themy-
Why require them 10 take up arms in defense
Of the country? Why require them to take ou'
naturalization papers. and compel them to de
clare their intention 10 become citizens2 O
what avail isyour naturalization law, II, af
ter they huve r0nOuhced forever the land O
their nativity and sworn allegiance to the U
nited States, they are mol permitted to enjoyths
rights Of citizenship Why, say. enact such
laws, il the foreign. born citizen 10 to be DIS
franchisedS Were they not enacted that thu
fore igner might. by avaiiug himself Of theiI
benefits, become bona .fde citizen? Most as
suredly they were. Again. suppose, for exam
Pile. We have foreigner (apd we have many o
them) among us, who, before We were born
fought for the liberties We now enjoy-a MAJ
who has lived in our midst, for half q century
and has observed all the laws ~ becomes
good citisen, must we deprive him of the righ
Of holding any place of trust or profit amonI
US? How uniust-how anti republican. Vi
on the other hand, must I native citizen sim
ply because might (Which do no. ubscrib
TO the tenets Of the Catholic church. be pro
scribed thereforf 1t is too much to ask Of think
ing aud rejecting met. 1t is an imputatio
upon the intelligence oi the American people |
suppose. for moment. that they will listen I
+, such an absurd appeal When our Iibertie'
) as handed down to us by the patriots Of th
Revolution. are invaded. we should defen
them by all the means in our power. Hav
thcy, let me ask, been invaded? are the
threstenedf The answer must be in the neg'
tive. Then do not let us oppress. in this Ian
/ cry land and every tongue, those who, feelr
the heel Of despotism upon their necks ha,
sought and found home among US Our Ill
9 critics never have. and will not hereafter, suff
! Ly this foreign immigration. The hone
A.. and industrious foreigner, when he lands Vi
! on the shores Of America feels like new ma
His first impulse is to seek some employme
by viii ch he can earn livelihood for himse
e and those dependent upon him for suppol
e Having done this. the next great object he hi
, IL to qualify himself, through the medium
the naturalization laws. for the duties iDcide
: to good citizenship in this land OF adoption.
J. Let me, in conclusion. point the reader
;. the patriots Of foreign birth Of the Revolutit
the times that tried mems souls; did our u
critics suffer by their adhesion 70 causc4
;. respectfully submit they did not. Let us,the
as kepublicahs; ss lovers Of liberty, extend
d them, when they have sworn allegiance to Q
e Constitution and laws, such righ's and pri,
leees as it has pleased an all wise Providen
; to secnre to us.-Corr. Daily Globe.