The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-01
BISHOP HOPKINS
%. IN. x.,~r.n..u.- ,-.~.


scriP' gives the following comf'ehoa''sc
report Of an ,aicrcstias, api IN cconcc
ton with the signs Of ,hc times" im.
por,ani lecture, by the Rieh, Rcvcrrad
Bshop norKiSs, Of Vermont -
PnuAprtruA, Pa. Nov IS
Las, evening the Episcopal Bishop Of
Vermont opcnol onolher coursr By
Lecture on--"rhe true AdmInisIra. ion
Of the Law In the Naturalization Of
fore,gners Bishop Hopkins is Irish
by birth, and ths, fact gave peculiar ia
tcrcsi To his treatment Of this imPor,anl
subject --onc that Is OF such popular ia
,erest, that propose to sketch an out
line Of il.
lie opened by alludins to the secret
organization of the Know Nolhings, and
maintained that there must 6c at The
root Of the popularity and power Of this
body some truth The truth was, the
abuses TO which we, ~ q nation, had
been subjected 10y the admission TO ciii-
sensbip of masses Of unworthy foreign
ers As remedy, the abolition Of nll
naturalization laws had been proposed,
but that was unnecessary aud imPrac-
ticablc. The law Of naturalization, he
contended. was wise aud just, but the
evils complaiuod of had arisen from the
uurighteons mode in which Il had been
administered.
Universal Suffrage Is the grand eX-
ponent Of the genius Of our nation, but
in its application competent degree OF
virtue and intelligence ia the people
was assumed by the trainers of the con
siluiion. The Statesmen Of the Old
World have no faith in the praticahility
of our national principles, because they
have no faith in the sullicieuoy Of the
virtue and intelligence Of the people -
but every friend of the constitution den
les that low estimate Of the capabiliy OF
the popular mind, and demands from
Society the means Of its true develppe-
menl for wise political action But yet
il is well TO consider the facts Of our his
tory and our condition, that the present,
question may be wisely met
The lecturer spoke of the character
Of the coloiis,s, and that they brought
what was better than wealth OF the sword
or both united, for the well being OF the
Stale--virtue and intelligence ----and
here had been built up a government
whose ioundaiDn-priuciple hotors the
capacities OF our great race. but
the sixty years Of our existence, we ARE
reminded, is but brief period in the
history of nation, aud already are we
hearing complaints from every quarter
Of the land, that our institutions are in
danger, aud the eclipse Of glory Is ap-
preaching. With these fears the speak
er did not sympaihze at all. All the
evils complained of came from another
class of errors than those Of principles
or laws. II il not that principle touch
ing the elective franchise Is wrong or
impracticabc, but the power involved
has been lightly conferred on a large
class of low foreigners. The law is good
enough, but the people are not the same,
they are not Of the character contem-
plated by the law which provided for
their admiiiance TO the administrative
power Of the country, Here. then, was
the great evil charge must be pre-
ferred agains, il,e Judiciary Of the coun-
try--serious as the aci Of making such
a charge is. The Naturalization Law
demands certain qualifications, and the
Court must be satisfied that the sppli.
cant has these qualifications, or citizen
ship mnst not be conferred.
Bot how does the matter at present
stand Two witnesses coming forward
TO testify Of the character of the nppli.
cant is sufficient, without any effort be.
ing nude 10 discover whether these viii
nesses have any character at all--wheih,
er the applicant can read. or ever has
had read TO him the constitution. or il
attached 10 iis principles, and Is well
disposed 10 the order and we'll being oi
the Uuiied States.
The lecturer would exhoserale the
judiciary from all inlenlion 10 do wrong
but the fact !. TOO palpable for denial
thai one Of the most important VI all
acts ia made bal the empuesl ol forms
Tho Judge. have a relncinnoe 10 eEer.
else Judicial prerogaiises, custom y. pow
erfal. many outside influences operate {,
prevent due attention TO The obyioui
view Of the law. II is a matter Of jus
PRIDE that our system refuses 70 demsne
any property qualification, bat Il make
a demand for something better. IL de
mands IN the foreign character an un
dersiaading o. and attachment 10 Ga,
Constitution, and a disposition IN behalf
of the ~ bsins Of the couairy. Ire
mendo1s i.snes Are hers folded uP--ihs
Court shouid be satisfied that shrss qgal
iGcalions exist. and therefore inquiries
should be made by which II may b. as
eenaiaed wbesher The applicant ba'
been good citizen At hons, whether hs
/. eapal.l,, Of uaaerstaadias the cossii-
tuiion. and wha, evidences be- has gisea
Of being wsli duPosei 10 good order ia
de nation.
The nasiss is born smd innusnesi
favorable 70 The institutions u The
pablie--he eady learns % fesi--ii''