The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-05-26
COM ANDERBIL

Com. Vanderbllt, one OF the most intelligent
and public spirited as well as wealthy citizen
merchants Of NewYork, has recently been
talked of in connection with the Presidency,
and certain members Of the New Jersey Legis-
lature have recently addressed him a letter
touching the politics Of the day, to which he
replied lengthily. We extract the following
relative to the Naturalization laws, remarking
that his sentiments accord with those of every
true lover of his, country: m.
A question Of domestic policy has of late
arisen, and attracted, to q great degree, the at
%tention Of our people. I refer to the subject
Of our Naturalization laws. 1t is well known
that our existing regulations upon the subject
OF naturalization were enacted at a period
when emigration was inconsiderable, and when
no public Inconvenience was to be anticipated
from undue liberality in the extension Of the
privileges of citizenship. 1t is also true that
the immense tide Of emigration now flowing in
upon our shores has invested the subject with o
difficulty and Importance which it has not here
tofore assumed. 1t has been suggested that our
regulations upon this subject require such re-
vision as shall better accomplish the purpose of
preserving American nationality, and Of guard
ing against the danger Of some of the most SC
rious descriptions Of conflict which our ~institu-
tions may be forced to encounter. l have
never as yet, met with q single adopted citizen
OF intelligence or education, who has hesitated
to express the opinion that the facility with
which we permit the rights of citizenship to be
acquired, had a tendency to lessen the public
estimation of their value.
Neither have I ever met with a native born
citizen, SO unjust as to be unwilling freely to
acknowledge the very great benefits which the
American people have derived from the settle
ment among us, of the very many foreign born,
who, by their enterprise and labor, have largely
added to the stock Of our national wealth. No
one can doubt but it is the true policy Of the
country, to encourage wholesome emigration
and venture to assert that no native born
citizen can be found, who would deny to the
emigrant from foreign lands, the Inequalities
and the freedom which the generous spirit Of
America offers to the oppressed and impover-
ished Of every cline. To attempt to drive from
our shores that large Industrial class of emf
grants, whose predecessors have done so much
to accomplish our national ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
by developing our resources and subiecting to
the use Of mankind, a vast domain, which a
century ago was the roaming ground of the
savage, would be a rcproach to the intelligence
OF our people. To seek to deprive our adopted
citizens Of any social or political privileges
which they have acquired under existing laws,
would be a measure of wrong as ignominious
to ourselves as unjust to them. 1t cannot be
questioned, but that it is the right Of every ma
ton to prescribe the terms and conditions upon
which political rights shall be conferred upon
those not born wiaA. its dominions nor can it
be doubted that the American people shoulds
so ordain their system Of naturalization, that,t
for oil time to come, American nationality,
and the principles upon which its foundations3
rest, shall stand mistaken. We W this dutyi
to ourselves, and we owe it equally to. those,
who seek their new homes upon our territory.
1t is my conviction that the term in which,
under our existing laws, the rights Of citizen
ship may be acquired, is too short for the &C.
complishment Of the wise and necessary pur-
poses for which it is prescribed.
1t is. insufficient for the requirement of that
knowledge Of our peculiar American c~onstitu-
tions which will enable the stranger, who has
to learn through the medium of q new system.
so many lessons of liberty, regulated by law, to
protect his right of suffrage against the assail-
ments Of political roguery in its various forms.
10 pervert the great right of suffrage to the
- Hia:a aaAf-''1.;''s of those principles Of civil
anu io'igio"s hberty which its unrestrained
freedom is designed to secure, would be to take
a step backward in the moral, social and polit-
ical progress of the human race.
Our national legislature should, with promp-
titude, and by such enactments as shall secure
us against all the dangers which from this
source menace our political safety, settle the
question before it can ripen into o subject of
serious controversy. l feel well assured that
this. and every other evil which threatens our
political fabric, will be speedily averted !; and
That our future is destined to be as glorious as
our past.
Two SCoTCHMEN PAYING THEIR RErPHcrs TO
THE PREsIDEST.-The Washington Star, of
Friday last, says: