The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-26
TO THE DEMOCRATIC CITIZENS OF PENNsYL-
WANNA.

The first is on the recent attempts to make distinction
between native and naturalized Americans.
OF all the party distinctions yet introduced among
should regard this the most fatal should il spread
to any considerable extent be likely TO take in the
land IL would lead to conflict of races This is the very
of all discussions that can alct country, the
history mankind in all ages proves II is kind Of dis
senson TO produce eternal quarres and civil war
I'll at last side or the other is entirely subdued or
tirpated.
is this state of things that any of you would wish
TO see in our once happy land cannot believe it, No
prudent can think of it but with alarm. No good
man can contemplate its reality but with horror.
am a native American and confess that in that ca
paciy am mortified TO think that the day should ever
have when party would be formed with any view
to protect in any of my rights privileges political
or other give any special advantages at elections
or in any other conceivable way. Ii implies seakness
nerioriy in native Americans 1t holds out to the world
that something required TO support themsome organ
lied association with banners, badges and name
give them strength and consequence in their country
This is novelty and n puzzle to me- 1t bewilders my
Judgment and strikes at pride thought that
strong enough support ourselves had imagined
that and my family and the millions in the predic
ament, in any danger from newcomers. thought
that the country that our name was legion that
our strength resstless, if could think Of
exerng upon the weak that need be afraid of moth
ing and least of all of being kind and hopbe and gem
to the strangers who come matter how many OF
them cast their lot upon shores; and again say
that feel mortified to think it should laerly be
reputed otherwise never could have dreamed of II.
] am Roman citizen am Roman citizen! These
are words we have all heard quoted thousand times. Did
any body hear of the exclamation 81 naiu Roman
citizen a natpe-Roman citizenP How such words
wound the classic ear They would have implied
over birth in Rome, its neighborhood whereas
citizen of Rome by the laws of Rome had the full
shield Of that mighty thrown over him. matter
where born.
Suppose person born in Philadelphia to be cruelty
treated abroad and while suffering under his orments
cry out 81 am natioe- American am nattoeAmeri-
can a natiue- Americana The very thought seems
ludcrous 1t bettes the whole subject Never ought
there be but the one simple apowerfu description of
himself AN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Perhaps all of you may not at the moment remember the
origin of this prejudice against paturazed citizens
country, and | viii therefore briefly explain it:
After revolution had been accomplished and the fed
era constitution gone into operation Europeans attracted
by liberal form of government and the equal rights it
secured to ALL in great numbers to shores The
generally republicans; and it fell out
that whenever they voted after being naurazed they al
always voted the republican, rather than the federal
ticket in the United States The ederiss slow
in discovering this to be the fact They then began raise
a clamor against them and during the administration of
the elder Adams they passed the famous alien law and
naturalization law The former gave ae President
very high-handed power alensuaconsiitutionay
as the republicans thought and the latter extended the
term Of naturalization in the of all foreigners four
years previous residence in country when only five
years had before been required AT first only
CURED You may thus that hostility to foreigners is
federal in its origin and you will perhaps hardly credit it
when tell you that such the illustriou father
your distinguished and beloved Dallas, of whose great
abilities and services to the democratic you
all must have heard you all knoW of the kindred abil
ties and services in the may hardly believe me-
but it is nevertheless true when tell you that such
was again and again denounced that id foreigner
The venerable Albert Gaatin, who still lives among us,
was also denounced if possible still more-Gaatin the
pupil of Muller and classmate of DumontGallan whom
enlightened and republican America afterwards no
more afraid place at the head of her finances than
France had been to place Necker at the head Of hers
though each alike of foreign birth TO the land which
each served with much ability and purity In fact all
foreigners naurazed not less denounced
in the lump the English excepted Stephen Girard came
in for his share the learned and excellent Duponceau
for his because both born in France and both
ocrats. Very likely John Jacob Astor of New York. had
his share though do not know the fact but he born
in Germany and believe democrat; that great
and munificent merchant Of Baltimore Robert Oliver was
born in Ireland 1t seemed to be forgotten all this while
how freely the blood of foreign patriots had been shed
armies for the establishment of independence
The denuncatons of little avail however, in the end
for 1900 Mr. jefferson trumphantly elected Presi-
dent the of whose principles Mr. Polk is
believe he will also be his successor in the presidential
Chair
When Mr. Jefferson in, the naturalization law re-
curing fourteen years previous residence repealed and
the reduced again to five years. had been under
General Washngtons administration, and as it now
stands.
The wisdom mankind has invariably been in favor of
the easy naturalization of foreigners in countries crcum
stanced all like ours and for the part in favor of
in countries far fully peopled That this great fact
should have been struck from the memory of the deras
only shows how far temporary passions will sometimes
carry men in opposition TO permanent truth They forgot
that human life and human industry the best of all
imports into country They forgot that France in Ca
tonnes time (ess than century back invited to her
shores, popuous she then compared to the United
States in reference the territory feachnved strangers
to her shores from all Christian nations allowing them the
privileges they enjoyed their native country and
granting Them for limited time, immunity from all duties
the importation Of materials used er manufactures and
ezemping them and their corknen from the payment Of all
tare They forgot that Holland in the days of her power
and grandeur the days when her people lent out to their
government and to foreigners three hundred millions
of pounds sterling and when their country as an able
writer has said~ exhibited accumulation of in
habants the space than known in any other
part of Europe of more industry in the population
than found in gay other country, and of
wealth in the hands of the Ration than possessed
elsewhere by the number of menthe federalists
forgot that in that Holland distinction made
between natives and foreigners whether regarded the
privileges of trade political privileges and that these ad
vanages open to all who chose TO settle there how
short time They forgot that Russia in Catharnes
time in order to draw foreigners her borders besides
comforting upon them at the rights of her subjects
granted them an exemption from all duties to the Crown
for six years they forgot the advantages which Russia
thence derived from the Germans the French and the
English who there in shoals carrying industry and
art and money with them, and multiplying each among
the Russians All of these things and many of like
instructive nature in this great field of policy they forgot
1t convenient forget them when they pursuing
party objects Strangest Of ALL they pursuing
them at that time in daily cooperation with foreigner
An Engishman-who set up press in Philadelphia, and
the out-andou advocate of monarchy, with Church
and State into the bargain and who ndturazd
mean Cobbett.
America afraid of foreigners Why we are constantly
getting instructive works of the mind from Europe
import reprint their books philosophy on the me
chanic arts in all the fields of literature and SCIENCE we
drink in these their rich intellectual fountains nj every
arrival and eagerly watch for fresh arrivals yet fear
trust among from the same skiesl The Chinese
and japanese more consistent They exclude from
their celestial dominions from all other nations and
desDse their books alike of barbarian oripn In