The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-09-15

81 ought to inform you that Ireaily hare no
authority to give or refuse permission TO you or
any other foreigner 10 go TO the United States;
the admission and residence of strangeEs in
+ that country being matter that by a late
law, 0he alien law) erciUSirely belongs TO the
President. 1t is true that the government Of
this country, England in the course OF the
last year, in consequence Of my interference,
gave me assurance that a particular description
/ Of persons IN Ireland, who ii teas understood,
aCere going to the United States, should not be
allowed 10 proceed without our consent. This
restraint would doubtless be withdrawn in favor
Of persons against whose emigration 1 should
not object. / am sorry to make the remark, and
I shall stand in need Of your candor in doing sos
I that large portion Of the emigrants from Ire
Land, and especially in the middle states, hare
ayrayed Themselves on the side Of the nlatcoa-
tents, Il. e., the democrats and adherents of Mr..
Jeferson.) Ifthe opinions of the emgrants are
likely To throw them into the class Of macon-
tenl5, democrats, IN plain English, they might
5ecomp disadvantage instead of benefit to
our country"
OF course they would, in the opinion of Mr.
King. Here was denial Of hospitality as cruel
as It was anti-republican. The 5uileringS which
were caused to many Of the patriot lrishmen, by.
this conduct of the federaists. are incalculabe.
GAS to me-" said Mr.. Emmtt in letter TO Mr..
King, ~ should have Brought along with me
my father and his family, including brother,
tthe lamented Robert Emmett whose name per-
haps even you will not read without emotions
ofsympathy and rrspect-and others nearly con-
neCted with me would have become partners IN
my emigration. But all oitbem have been torn
from me. ! have been prevented from saving
a brother, from receiving tile dying blessing OF
father, mother and sister, and from soothing their
last agonieS by my careS-and this, sir, by your
unwarrantabe and unieelng interference"
This is the leaven that has leavened the whole
lump. The democrats and their political OPP
ponents have ever been at issue upon this sub
Iect OF foreign emigration and the laws OF natur-
alIZation. The one constituting as a fundamen-
tai principle oitheir political faith the free and
full extension of the rights and blessings they en-
Joy to all the human family that desired to par
take them, and who sought our shores as a re-
fuge fIom oppression in their native land. The
other party dreadug the expansion otthat spirit
of liberty, and that hatred TO titled digntaries
and various forms Of oppression in monarchcai
governments, that urged continually the tide Of
emigration from Europe, have always adyoca-
tied such restrictions upon citizenship. aud pur-
sued such hostile policy TO foreigners, that had
they continued in power, and been enabled TO
carry their views into effect, the now flourish
ing and popuous western states of this Union,
would have still been territories, and our nation
al character degraded and dsgfaced, instead Of
having great name and power and glory a
mong the nations OF the earth.
The first naturalization law, passed in 1890, Only
required a residence of two years 10 become cItl-
zen. The act OF l79J extended the time 10 hve
wears. But the federalIsfs discovering that when
foreigners naturaZed they generally voted the
republican ticket, conceived the idea ol pnnshng
them for their coHtumacy, and accordingly the time
of probation stl further extended by the act of
lane Is 1888, 10 fourteen years. aud declaration OF
intention fac years before the admission OF the ap-
picants 10 the rights of citizenship II sa remarkable
fact that this act passed the 18th June, l79s,
the alien law The 25th OF June, aud the sedtion
law the lith July, OF the same year. IT would
seem If the whole energies of federalism were
reused TO one tremendous exerton 10 crush the spr-
il OF the people, and destroy the liberties OF the coun
try. All these acts repealed on Mr. JetteTson's
accession 10 the presidency, and the time OF resi-
dence necessary for foreigner 30 become a citizen
brought back TO five years. at winch II has ever since
remained.
Nearly every civilized nation has adopted liberal
naturalization laws, particularly where they have
been situated with sparse population. and
extensive regions, millions of acres OF uncultvated
lands II is policy TO draw the power and pro-
ductve industry o;her nations TO ourselves. France,
Holland, Russia and even England have all in turn
pursued this policy 10 great advantage, at different
periods of their history. In the time OF the Ed
wards, the Henrys and in the reign Of Elizabeth,
alien citizens and manufacturers were invited TO
England and naturaized without any previous resi-
dence, or even an oath Of allegiance.
But the miserable Know -Nothiugs Of the present
day, have refined upon the cruelty and tyranny of
the federalism of '9S-for they wond repeal all
turaliZaton laws, and prevent foreigners from be-
coming citizens al all. The would also add Teifgi-
ous to political intolerance. They would not only
enact laws by which those not born on Ameri-
can soil would be shorn of all the attributes OF free
dom, but they Would deprive native well for
eign born of the blessed privilege of worShippng
God according TO the dictates of their own con-
sciences. The comparison Is manltestly IN favor OF
the black cockade federalism of the reign OF terror,
in the time of the elder Adams.
The democracy respect all religions, and IN the
spirit of our institutions tolerate all This the
spirit OF our revolutionary fathers. They prosecuted
neither protestant catholic neither purltan nor
quaker, but extended the broad agis of the funda-
mental law of the land them, for their protec
ton. In December 1887, General Washington wrote
to the Roman Catholics. of the United States as
follows:
ssAs mankind becomes liberal, they will be
more apt to allow that all those who conduct them
+ selves as worthy members OF the community, are
equally entitled TO the protection OF civil govern
ment I hope 10 Amerca among tie tore-
nations eraacpteS Of 5astfce and liberty And
presume that your fellow-citIzens will not forget
the patriotic part you took in the accomplishment of
their revelation, and the establishment of their gov
ernment of the important assistance received from
nation in which the catholic religion is professed
When, therefore, fellow-citizens, find that
consolidated government, love for exclusive pri-
vileges and monied corporations, desire 10 draw
implied powers from the constitution, and exercise
Iii 4. IL
restriction 10 citizenship constitute the favorite
dogmas of political adversaries, it is reasonable