The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-01-23


such, should be opposed every ctezen should
earnestly Withstand the intrigues of those who
would pervert the church to political purposes,
and should protest against tire union ofchurch
and state, or tho subordination Of tho stutc to
the church. The state should protect all
churches, and not one church control, or at
tempt to control, tho state. Spiritual desposm
is antagonis,ic to tho principle Of indiyidunl
and public liberty. An alien may forswoar
his allegiance 10 the foreign potentate, and
may take the oath ofallegiance to his adopted
country; but when he has been taught that
spiritual obligation overridcs mere temporal
and civil obligation, that bis duty to his church
is higher than his duty to the stae the danger
and probabilities are, that he will use tho prlvi-
leges of voter not primarily for the benefit of
the state which granted them, bnt of the chu-
rch, which in his judgment is supreme above
| the state.
Tho present European immigration is deeply
prejudicial to the fair remuneration of Americ-
an labor Tho mechanic, the artisan, the agric-
| ulturist, daily suffer from its influence. There
is no statement in political ethics mere palpa
| BILE on fundamental than tnat honest industry
should receive its duo reward. Those who ho-
ury feel the depressing competition of alien
labor, deprecated under the taskmasters ofthe
old world and schooed in tho self-denials and
L
ly believe that their own as well as the interests
of the Republic demand that their elective fran
ehise should be exercised for the protection of
American labor.
| Our remedy is not so much in legislature en-
actments and tariffs, as in cultivation a feeling
of patriotic nationality, and an united determi
nation to encourage the skill and industry of
the American laborer. by consuming the home
products of the shop, the factory and the field
in preieren nee to imported fabricks and foreign
productions, which result must be the inevita-
bic sequence OF a truly American sentiment
lprevading our nation.
Massachusetts, since the days of the Revolu-
| tion, has peen accustomed 10 be among tho
foremost in all measures of rational progress
She is once more permitted to take the lead
In that legislation believed necessary to perpet-
uae religious and civil privileges, both initia.
ted within her boundaries, the one on Plymo-
nth Rock, and the other upon the battle field
| of Lexington.
| recommend, then, to tho careful considera
ton of the Legislature, the following measures:
l. That amendment to the Constitution, viii.
ch last year passed one stage of enactment,
prohibiting the diversion of the educational
funds of the SIalo TO the establishment or
support of sectaran schools
| 2. The power TO repeal or modify the na'u-
ralization laws is confined alone 10 tho Con-
gress of the Unitod States; but while Congress
| naturazes. each State for itself prescribes the
qualifications of all voters within its limits, for
National us well as State officers. l recon-
mend, therefore, an amendment to our Con
stitution, prohibiting tho exercise of the elec-
tive franchise to all of oiion birth, qualified by
naturalization, till they have resided within the
| United States twenty-One years.
| 3. AS common school education, or its
equivalent, is necessary to rightly understand
tho duties, and TO be compaent to properly APP
preciate the privileges of a freeman, receom-
| mend n further onstituiional provisions, to
the ofcct that no person shall be permitted to
vote who cannot read and write tho English
language. - M
/ 4 recommend an amendment to the Con
slituti)n, 81 tha' no person shall b eligible 10
any Office in the gift of tho people who shall
not be a legal voter in accordance with the
previous Suggestions.
| 8. The honorof the American Flag should
! be confined only to those who are born on tho
7 oil hallowed by its protection; they alone can
justly be required TO vindicate its rights. One
Of my earliest official act then will De, if sane
toned, as the laws require. by the advice and
consent of the Executive Council, whom YOU
will select, to distand all military companies
composed of persons of foreign birlh
g. recommend to yonr consideration tho
expediency ofexempting all alien citizens from
military duty II, in your wisdom, this should
be deemed insufficient TO meet the. designed
object, recommend forbddiog by law payment
OF the State bounty to any military company
which has enrolled among its members persons
of foreign birth. = @
T. IL has already been stated that two thou-
sand paupers. OF alien origin, are this day in
tho State Almshouses, aud eight hundred for
eign idiots and .unaiics arc occupants of Tho
SlnIe Iusane Asylums. or supported by the
Counties at the exponso of the Commonwealth.
Every kindness that our common humanity
and Christian precepts dictate, should bc shown
these poor untortunates. AT tho samo time, it
is clearly our du,y to protect ourselves against
the custom, hardly TO be credited were 1t not
proved to be systematically adopted by foreiga
authorities, which empties upon our shores the
warehouses; and hospitals OF tho old world
Proyiden nee seems to ordain that we should
provide tor those who, capable of self-support,
immigrate voluntarily. but meet with mis!or-
tune or calamity here. Those, however, whom
cold-heorted cruelty or misery calculation
ships here, should, without exception, be retur-
ned with humanity to their own country. M
s. The Board OF Alien Comniss toner's now
consists of the Alien Passenger Agent, tho Au-
| ditor, and one member ofiho Executive Coun-
ell. and its annual gross receipts are about hfty
thousand dollars Practically its duties fall on
the first named. Thoy are too .onerous and
too responsible to be intrnsted to any one mans
hands. A reorganization OF this Boart is re-
commended, causing it to bo composed of per-
sons soely devo'ed to it duties, and aching as
a check on one another. o sY.,
g. The questions as 10 tho best method of
caring for our alien paupers is one of great
moment. Until May last, all panpers unable to
labor. and having no settlement within the
State. were taken charge of by the various
towns where they happened TO bc, which towns
receive from tho Commonwealth forty y-nino
cents per week Tor adults. twenty-eight cents
for children, and an additional discretionary
remuneration for lunntics and those sick with
contagious diseases Three years ago tho
Legislature decided to change the system. and
to erect State Almshouscs where oil alien pau
pers should be sent and provided for at the
cost of the Commonwealth. In Nav, 1864,
the buildings, four In number, Gro ready for