Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-01-19

the agriculturalisi, daily suffer from its inhu.
encc There is no statement in political
ethics more palpable or fundamental than
that honest industry should receive its due
reward. Those who hourly feel the oppres-
sing competition Of alien labor, deprecated
under the taskmasters of the old world. and
schoolcd 10 the sclf-denas and modes of cx.
isiencc there so universal properly believe
that their own as well as the interests Of the
republic demand that their elective franchise
should be exercised for the protection Of A.
mercan labor.
In the series of privileges and duties
granted legislator, none is more important
than the opportunity TO dignity and ennoble
labor.-none either more frequently over
looked The corner stones of the American
republic are, the birthright of suffrage, uni
versal education, religious freedom and pro.
lection 10 labor
The report of the secretary Of the treasu-
~, recently transmitted t. Congress, shows
that our imports during the past year have
exceed our exports twenty-six millions of
dollars. The profits on our exports and
lreights during that period have reduced, in
trltling degree only, this enormous balance
Of Indebtedness. Thirty eight millions Of
dollars in gold over nine ienihs of all our
receipts from California during the year. as
officially reported have simply passed thro'
/ the country, IN transitn, and have been ship
ped away to pay for imported products Of
/ European labor and the interest on our En-
ropcan debt. This vast sum should have
been kept here as a basis of healthy bust
ness, and az n more general substitute for
small bank notes, our present circulating
medium.
Had this golden gift Of Providence been
retained Mt home to enrich the American ar
tizan and tller Of the soil, instead of having
been squindered to purchase foreign luxu-
rics and the products Of alien labor, we
should this day, rs a nation, doubtless have
enjoyed prosperity in every branch Of indus.
! try. instead of the threatened depression and
distress which now alarm the community.
/ Our remedy is not SO much in legislative
enactmens and Tariffs as in cultlvatinn
feeling Of patriotic nationality, and an united
determination TO encourage the skill and in.
dusiry of the American laborer, by consum-
ing the home products of the shop, the fac
toy and the field. in preference TO imported
fIbncs and foreign productions, which result
must be the inevitable sequence of truly
American sentiment peryading our nation.
The taxpayer, when called upon to con-
tribute from his well-meritod earnings for
the support OF suffering pauperisn and crime.
will, and Of right should investigate Their
causes. When he finds our state almshous-
es now contain two thousand foreign pau
pers, our state and county unqtic asyiums
eight hundred alien insane. our state prison.
jails and houses of correction over six thou-
sand five hundred foreign inmates per an
mum, as shown by the returns and estimates
OF 1853, large proportion of whom we're
shipped here at the expense of foreign au.
thonucs, to relieve their native countries
from their support, or from their crimes. and
that this vast alien army is supported BY
Massachusetts at an ANIMAL expense Of three
hundred thousand dollars, he will scarcely
believe his honest desires TO correct these
gigantic evils are occasioned by prejudice,
are unauthorized or unjust.
1t has been stated that many of the evils
and dangers referred to are within the exclu-
sse province of national legislation. 9th
ers, however, can be aycrtcd through the
agency Of state government II this duty
Is lett uniuliled, or but partially accom-
plished we neglect a great responsibility
entrusted 10 US"
I" recommend, then, TO the careful con-
slderalion of the legislature, the following
measures:
!. The amendment to the constitution.
which last year passed one stage of enact I
mcnt, prohibiting the diversion OF the educa-
tlonal funds Of the state TO the establishment
or support of sectarian schools.
The power to repeal or modify the
naturalization laws is conided alone TO the
Congress of tho United States; but while
Congress nstu-eli..~-, - - b. -
H.. al. r
within its limits for national as well as state
officers. | recommend, therefore, an amend
ment TO our constitution, prohibiting the
exercise of the elective franchise TO all OF
alien birth, qualified by naturalization, I'LL
they had resided within the United States
twenty one years.
3. As a common school education, or its
equivalent is necessary rightly TO under
stand the duties, and to be competent to
/ properly appreciate the privileges Of free
man, recommend further constitutional
provision, to the effect that no person shall
be permitted to vote who cannot read and
write the English language.
4. ] recommend an amendment 10 the
constitution, so that no person shall be eigi-
bic TO any Office in the gift ofthe people who
shall not be a legal voter in accordance with
the previous suggestions.
5. The honor Of the American flag should
be conhded only to those who are born on
the soil hallowed by It's protection; they
alone can justly be required 10 vindlcate its
rights. One of my eares, official acts then
will be, if sanctioned as the laws require,
by the advice and consent of the executive
council, whom you will select, to dlsband all
military companies composed of persons of
foreign birth.
4. ! recommend to your consideration the |
expedency of exemp,lng all alien citizens |
from military duty. H. IN your wisdom, this I
should be deemed insufficient to meet the
designed object, | recommend forbiddlnr by
law payment OF the state bounty TO any mi
itary company which has enrolled among It's
members persons of foreign birth
7. II has already been stated that two
thousand paupers, Of alien origin, are this
day IN the state almshouses and eight hun
dred foreign idiots and unaiics are occu-
pants of the state insane asylums, or sup
ported by the counties, at the expense of the
commonwealth. Every kindness that our
common humanity and Christian preceots
dictate, should be shown these poor unfor-
tunates. AT the same time, It is clearly our
duty TO protect ourselves against the custom,
hardly TO be credited, were 1t not proved TO
be systema ticslly adopted by foreign author
tiles, which emptIes upon our shores the
warehouses; aud hospitals of the old world.
Providence seems 10 ordain that we should
provide for those, who, capable of self-sup-
port, immigrate voluntarily, but meet with
misfortune or calamity hire. ThOsu, l,u~-
ever, whom cold hearted cruelty or misery
calculation ships here, should, without ex-
cepton, be returned with humanity to their
own country.
Your judicious but decided action on the
important subjects thus briefly stated will
necessarily be felt beyond the limits of Mass.
aehuse,ts IL will affect the legislation of
other states, and to some extent, probably.
influence the proceedings Of congress itself
We wish our army AmerlcaLized. our navy
na,ionalized. We wish the restriction as 10
birth, now applicable 10 the Office of president
extended TO members of the cabinet and Of
IN tho ta1,,o. o. k. |