Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-08

applicant has these qualifications. or
citizenship must not be conferred.
But how does the matter now
stand Two witnesses coming for
ward to testify of the character of
the applicant is sufficient, without
any effort being made to discover
whether those witnesses have any
character at all-whether the appli-
cant can read or has ever had read
to him the Constitution, or is attach
ed to its principles, and is well dis
posed to the order and we'll being of
the United States.
The lecturer would exonerate the
Judiciary from all intention to do
wrong, but the fact is too palpable
for denial, that one of the most i'm
portant of all acts is made but the
emptiest of forms. The Judges
have a reluctance to exercise judic-
ial perogatives, custom is powerful,
many outside influences operate to
prevent due attention to the obvious
meaning OF the law. It is a matter
of just pride that our system refuses
to demand any property qualifica-
ton, but it makes a demand for
something better. 1t demands in
the foreign character an understand
ing of and attachment to the Con-
stitution, and disposition in behalf
of the well being of the country
Tremendous issues as here folded
Court should be satisfied
that these qualifications exist, and
therefore inquiries should be made
by which it may be ascertained
whether the applicant has been a
good citizen at home, whether he
is capable of understanding the Con-
stitution, and what evidence he has
given of being well disposed to good
order in the nation.
The native is born amid influen-
ces favorable to the institutions of
the republic he early learns to
read F; the newspaper is familiar to
him, and he may be supposed to
have become acquainted with the
main scope of the various political
questions of the times, and the en-
tire training he receives is favorable
to the system of our government
But how much of all this can be ta-
ken for granted in the case of
crowds of foreigners, who land upon
our shores, and what can few
years of mere residence do towards
accomplishing in them the fitness
FOR citizenship We have among us
over n million who were born amid
he most abject circumstances; who
nave taken everything from those
hey blindly follow land who are the
subjects of a ,..iesthood which re-
luires complete subsection. Here
IS n force not contemplated by the
genius of the Constitution as taking
)art in the administration of the ma
ions affairs; and hence here is a
Justification for one feature of the
Know Nothing organization--oppo-
iition to the Roman faith. The
ecturer confessed that the greatest
wills TO be apprehended were from
he influence of the Roman faith
1ut the true position Of the political
lction is not opposition to the ROM
IN faith, but a demand for the true
ntents and just administration ofthe
laws.
But the Know-Nothings have
Ugh, to make their appeal against
he peculiar position assumed by the
Roman priesthood towards the
political action of the people. No
lass in this country save the SUBJ
ects of this priesthood, pay defer
ence to their spiritual teachers in
political matters and in any other
portion of the church universal the
pastors would loose their influence
rs spiritual teachers by attempting
such interference in political action.
What are these priests who stand
hus apart from all other spiritual
teachers in the land ! They are the
sworn subjects of foreign power;
and the practical influence of these
Bishops and Priests is well known;
how statesmen have felt it, and how
they have courted it is well UNDER
stood. No objection is made to
these priests for possessing this pow
Or, but the grand objection is to the
system they serve-lts practical in
Iluence against the geniu, of our po-
itical institutions. IL is not ques-
ion with us whether there was any
illness in this system when it was
first organized-whether it did good
in the Dark Ages, or was suited to
The condition of Europe nine hun
ired years ago but whether it is
suited to our age, our country, our
Institutions
As for himself, the lecturer con.
iessed that he did not believe two
such systems as Universal Suffrage
and Romansm could stand together.
Still, it is no part of our political du-
ty to make war against any form of
religious faith, but with faithful
of the naturalization
law, he was willing to leave the
rest, with perfect trust in Divine
The comforting the
light Of citizenship should be a
most solemnly imposing ceremony.
There should be specific days for Il;
names of applicants should be pub
ished for 80 days previous on the