The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-29


".The United States proffer to immigrants
the noblest moral and political education
and he who rejects il, who proudly considers
himself above Il, who trusts more to luck
than to prudence and sagacity, who thinks
to become rich without sxertion, or perhaps
to renovnte and revolutionize mature Ame-
rica with superficial theories-wili soon and
rightly find himself deceived in his foolish
anticiPations.
The laws respecting the naturalization
OF Immigrants, are not quite the same in all
the American States: rs general rule, the
remuneration of titles of nobility and a
blameless residence of five years, are suffi.
cient to make one n citizen OF the Union.
In several States, however, shorter period
of settlement (e. g. in Vermont year, in
Connecticut SIX mon;hs,) suffices to acquire
the citizenship Of the place and State.
Every new conner is Mt once permitted to
purchase real estate.
In recent times party has been formed,
chiefly in some of the sea>port towns, which
takes to itself the name Of Native Ameri-
cans. Their object is tn throw difficulties
in the way of immigration, and they wish
to prevent naturalization until after n resi-
dence of twenty-five years; because, as they
say. no Immigrant can acquire the necessary
knowledge in shorter time, and too early
dermlnes the rights of native citizens.
Even granting the truth of the loudly
pros laimed and probably too well founded
censure, that these views and doctrines pro-
ceed mostly from business jealousy, and re-
llgious intolerance, towards the Irish
Catholcs,) they still require satisfactory
investigation, and the movement might more
properly be termed European than n truly
American one. When even in the danpe-
r"us times of the French revolu ion, the
Alien Law was rejected Us imprudent, un-
Just, and un-Aruerican, how can IL now be
sought, in quieter times and on weaker
grounds, not merely to revive It, but TO rem
der 1t more severe! In comparison with
the immense number Of native votes, those
of the foreigners annually admitted to the
rank OF citizens are wholly insignificant and
lndecisve; besides which most & 1 them are
divided amongst the different political par.
ties. Again, if some few venture to vote,
rs it is complained they do, before the expi.
ration Of the tiILe prescribed, the fault lies,
not in the perfectly clear and satisfactory
laws, but in the fact that the natives and
magistrates are afraid to apply the laws, or
wink at abuses in order to bring the majoii.
~ OF votes on their side. Let the natives
bind and engage themselves 10 support
these admirable laws but let them not for
that purpose surrender all the principles of
American liberty, and in pretended PATRIOTS
songs, (as in Philadclphia,) proclaim fire
and sword against foreigners, and then put
their own exhOrtutions into effect.
Time is not the only measure or the
only source of citizens understanding and
knowledge; many n newcomer stands at
once on par with the natives as regards
these qualifications, and what ks will not
learn in five years he will probably never
learn at all. Moreover il is not intended, or
at least is not possible, that every American
citizen should fully comprehe d the most
difficult questions of political science; con-
iidcnce in the leading men Of the country,
Is always necessary, and 1t seems more CON-
mendable 10 exhibit this In elections, than
for each individual to thrust himself for.
ward with his imperfect knowledge and tr,
to decide all for himself"