Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-07-20
E1BENsBURG, JUI Y 20, 1861.

ciSHfS, ana SHaJ ne had refused TO pass laws
t. onpuvagc heir migration h;ther.
Ii Sich were considered among the reasons
suii1celt to risk doubtful and bloody war,
OF ho" much greater magnitude are those now
preseFsed for the consideration of all liberal
minddl men. The offence of George III.
was q least on open one lie had refused to
pass Aws to encourage the emigration of for
eigneS. But the new policy is a species of
deception unworthy the American character.
! we AVE our constitution as it is, we make
4 no aaeratlon IN our naturalization laws, we
/ lnyitepn the faIth OF these guarantees, to be
/ seen hd read OF all men, that they should
leave their Homes, renounce allegiance 10
etiye land saiea sy.,ap aIlea;ancc "a ou,.
I own government, when we mean that the IN
ducments thus held out are mere cunning
/ devices intended 10 deceive. For it is not
/ proposed by those who adhere to the strange
/ dogma enunciated by the new Mayor of
/ Philadelphia, to change the settled policy of
/ thislation, by altering the conditions on which
/ the people Of other countrias are to be re-
ceiv,d and adopted as citizens, but much
NOR, dangerous and unjust ground is assumed.
It's PRACTICAL workings are to be retrospective.
1t proposes to take from citizens the civil
rights which they have acquired under the
constitution, by organizing power to sub
vert that instrument. 1t is an attempt to
settle policy not recognized in any law of
this ountry, that hereafter no man born out
of tia country shall hold civil Office under
the aovernment--no matter that he has come
here Gpon the faith of the laws OF the land
no natter how good his character; how eff
iectiIe his abilities; how thorough his edu-
catioe: or how numerous his virtues-no
matte. how devoted his attachments 10 the
constitution; nor how orthodox his religion
no natter though he has suffered and bled
for The adopted country. With such We
to hare Iio political communicative must not
iistent 10 their advice nor employ them In the
pnblii service. The standard OF honesty and
capadty is 10 be overiooled-and the cir
cunssances of birth. and birth alone, mus
decide who shall 81 the Offices of the gov
ernmeiit.
Here is a disfranchisement of the most OBJ
noxiols character. The alien and seditlon
laws Nere passed under the administration OF
the e,,s.er Adams in the height of the inso-
leneeof federal domination. But they were
laws, while here is Il simi!a. policy without the
sanction of law, secret in IT'S operations, an
ty-anncal unjust and cruel in its results
1t is in effect, an administration OF the alien
law Of black cockade fe /, ralisn, without the
coursge 70 place it on the statute booi. 1t
spirit essence and design are the same.
The Constitution of the Unite States ls-
thoriscs Congress to pass uniform laws OF nat
uralization. 1t also provides that Congress
shall male no law respecting an establish
ment Of religion, or prohibiting the free exe.-
else thereof; anI that no religious test shall
ever be required as qualification for any of
hce OF public trust under the United States.
The constitution of Pennsylvania Is even
more emphatic 1t declares that all mon have
natural and indefeasible right to worship
Almighty God according to The dictates o.
their pwn consciences-ihat no man can, ot
right. be compelled 10 attend. erect, or sup
port any place Of worship. o. to maintain any
ll,inIs.rY. against MS conscnt-that NJ human
authority can. n any case whatever, contro.
or iu.orfa~e with the rights Of conscicnce--
that 70 prefarerc &C shall ever be given by law,
to any religious establishments or modes OF
worship, that no person who acHnowl-
edges The Gin of Goi, aul f~.u.c state of
rewards ana yunishmen;s, shall, on account
Of bis religious sentiments, be disqualified 70
hold any Office or place Of trust or profit ul-
der this Commonwealth
Su,h was the fabric of government erected
bv the patriots OF the rcvulutOn, VINO under
5 = ,d wAat liberty, true liberty. meant, and
:;ho periled - them lives, their fortunes, &HG
we to DO away with this noble feature OF our
government by iutiscretion, anu establish a
test not known to our constitution ana laws.
but antag0nisticai to both, and which can only
lead to political and religious Intolerance!
But treating the question one merely OF
policy, without regard to constitutional right,
mas not this liberal feature OF our government
thus early commenced and sanctioned by time,
been attended with the happlest results IN the
development OF the resources and strengthen
inc the arm of the nation? Why should this
liberal policy be now rudely and harshly bro
ken UP and abandoned or why should we
be less generous now when liberal and pro-
gressiye ideas in all other respects are warmly
cherished as peculiarly AmericanT We are
aware that We may be pointed TO the vices ana
excesses of an ignorant and destitute popuia-
ton who come INTO our country unprepared
in some respects for the proper enjoyment OF
It's institutions. We are free to aumlt that
individuals abuse the blessings of our govern
ment, but this is true of all-natiye as well
as foreigu-and surely is no reason for chang
ing the policy Of the government, for mpos-
ing new condItions upon adopted citizens, or
for furnishing the just equally with the un-
just
Indeed it is difficult. when examining this
subject to say who are the most benefited by
an influx OF foreign population. Our own
history would show that much ofour prosper
ty ana rapid advance to national greatness
/ has been accelerated by the talents, energy
/ and productive industry of those OF foreign
birth. The debt of gratitude is at least not
all on their side. Have we forgotten the DIS
tinguished aid of adopted citizens aud foreign
ers, in our revolutionary strugglei Have we
forgotten the chivalrous services OF La fayette
IL L cnSni11snn and nfhnr,