The daily union., 1854-12-15
THE NATURALIZATION LAws.-sENAToR ADAMs's

and legislation. To mind there is wide distinction
between this mode of reforming whatever evils exist in
connexion with these laws and that proposed by the for
of political organizations based upon
broader commendable basis than ianatcal spirit
of religious intolerance and political prescription In the
remarks which about to make We shall treat the
subject proper for legislation without regard the
existence of any excitement growing out OF the asoca
tons seeking TO erect in our country secret depo
strike down the ofuied patriotism and to trans
fer the ofthe government to combination
ca who may chance to float to the uraceu
on the agitation produced by fanatesm and intolerance 1t
be regretted that the subject to be investigated dur
ing the pendency of such combination OF bad influences;
but this circumstance should not deter us from straight
forward discussion of the merits dement's OF any prop
on which coneede 10 be fair subject for legislation
Mr. Adams proposes extend the term for naturalization
from five to twenty-one years, and to give to his bill
prospective operation as to interfere with no right Ct
any foreigner who has already taken up his residence in
country. The amendment of the naturalization laws
of the issues which Mr. Jefferson was first elect
ed to the presidency. When he into power the
fourteen years and in his first annual message he d
reced the attention of Congress TO the sutecs M the fol-
lowing emphatic recommendation: 'Sk
al cannot omit recommending revisa f the laws the
subject Considering the ordinary chances
of human life, denial of citizenship under residence
years denial to great proportion of those who
ask it, and controls policy pursued from their first settle
ment by many of these States and still believed of
quence to their prosperity And shall refuse the unhp
py fugves from distress that hospitality which the avages
of the wilderness extended fathers arriving this
land Shall oppressed humanity find asylum this
globe The constitution indeed has wisely provided that,
for admission certain offices of important trust residence
shall be required sufficient to develop character and design
chs nf
citizen be safely communicated to every mxnifesng
bona de purpose Of embarkng his life and fortunes
neny with with restrictions perhaps to guard against
the fraudulent usupaton ofou agan abuse which brings
embarrassment and loss the genuine citizen and
SO danger the nation of being involved in war; that
endeavor should be spared to detect and suppress it,
In conformity with Mr. Jeersons recommendation and
his reasoning the term reduced to five years. and has
continued for than fifty years Mr. Adams proposes
extend it to tweny-one years. and in expressing our o
position to the proposition, we cannot better maintain onr
position than reiterato the foregoing recommendation
and reasoning of Mr. Jefferson So far the term of pre-
vious residence is concerned good to dis
urb the existing law. Nor do any material differ
ence practically between extending the term wentonc
years and total repeal OF the laws.
! We think Mr.. Adams labors under mistake as to
the efficacy Of the remedy by which he proposes
to correct what he regards great evilthe great
influx of foreigners into country. We are una
3 BILE to see how the influx OF foreigners would be
materially affected by lengthenng the term Of resi-
3 dence prior to naturalization The danger to in
sti,utons from the political influence Of foreign citizens
is neither increased diminished by increasing d.
minishng the term 1t mainly through the ballobox
that foreigners political influence and yet the
elective franchise is bestowed upon them by several Of the
States without regard to the fact whether they have been
naturazed or not Congress is authorized upt
form laws for comforting upon foreigners the rights Of c
zenshp and the right to vote is the most prominent fran
chise thus bestowed But the right vote is granted BY
the States regardless of the question of naturalization
it could be shown that the large emigration attracted
country by the desire TO exercise the elective fran
chse it is evident that diminuon would take place
because the term for naturalization was>extended II
our republican institutions really in danger from
the political influence of foreigners it is apparent that
Mr. Adamss remedy would be inefficient unless he could
show that the several States will abandon the right which
they now claim to confer the elective franchise upon
ualized foreigners We should doubt then whether
the tide of immigration would be materially diminished
We incline to the opinion that the great Of immi
grants TO country for bread than to obtain
the elective franchise As high boon American cit
zenshp is admitted to be- cannot but regard the que
ton of naturalization deprived Of very much of its
I Importance by the powers and rights conferred upon
unnaturalized foreigners by the States It coner
but few franchises and rights which conferred
| by the States upon those who are not citizens Be-
yond the naked title 10 citizenship naturalization but
little more than formal proceeding That this title has
been frequently conferred upon foreigners who
worthy of the grant we do not doubt but this has
suited much from the loose administration of the law
from its imperectons We doubt whether foreigners will
years residence than after FIVE. This latter period
fixed after full deberaou by the democratic fathers
who into power with Mr.. jefferson: and after 6fy
years experience and practice ought not to be extended
unless obvious for the change could be assigned
II the naturalization laws have been abused not
disposed TO doubt il would be wise to ngraf into them
provisions for securing their faithful administration
by the courts Unless intend to exclude foreigners al
together, tand proposes that) deem it better
that those who hopd become citizens than that they
should the leading rights of citizens through the
such acass foreigners should apprchend danger
to our institutions than from the men clothed with
the full title Of citizenship. Upon the whole cannot
discover in the bill of Mr. Adams the merits which he
earnestly insists upon and hence deeply regret that he
has taken position which places him in apparent SYM
patty with organization which is war with the vital
/ PRINCIPLES OF religious and civil liberty