The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-07-21
The Naturalization Laws.

ct.afi nI
which we think cannot be successfully compat'co ny
the opposition. far'o'.
There may be amendments necessary to our ha'u-
roization laws but to extend the time OF proDa'ioh
Is not one Of them Five years was the time hxed
upon by Congress at first. This was considered TOO
long and Il was altered to two years. Under the
administration of the elder Adams, there was hucn
excitement gotten up against foreigners, ana the
Federal party being in power extended the time 70
fourteen years This was so manifestly wrong IN
self and 40 Diet rimenta to the growth and prosperi-
ty of the country, that II was repealed under the
administration of Mr.. Jefferson when the democrats
came into power. fr..z+..-z..
This great statesman, in his first annual message
made the following impressive allsion to the sub
lject. H HL |
| II cannot omit recommending revisal OF the
| lows on the subject of naturalization. Considering
the ordinary chances OF human life. denial OF citi
zenship under residence OF fourteen years, rs de-
NAL TO great proportion OF those who ask ", ana
controls policy pursued from their first settlement
by many of these states and still believed OF con-
sequence to their prosperity. And shall We refuse
the unhappy fugves from distress that hospitality
which the savages of the wilderness extended to our
fathers arriving in this land Shall oppressed hui
mainly find no asylum on this gobe?' h
Prior to the formation of the constitution each
state regulated the laws for the naturalization of
foreigners to suit ITSELF Great irrcgulariy was the
consequence and hence the necessity of that clause
in the constitution providing for uniform systen
of naturalization. We have had nearly seventy
years experience, under the government, OF admit
ting foreigners to become naturalizcd citizens and
not single instance of injury to the country has
resulted but great and permanent good as every one
must Sec who has the power to trace the effect to its
cause. @ -
In some instances, no doubt the naturalization
laws have been abused, and foreigners have voted
before they were naturalized This we oil know to
be wrong, but will extending the time from five to
fifteen years remedy the evil? On the contrary will
1t not be the of greater temptations to dsre-
gard the laws, when the privilege is SO long with
held Certainly if they disregard them now, they
would disregard them, when the time was extended
to greater length The foreigner who votes before
he is entitled under the law is not much to blame
as those Native Americans, who, to promote their
own selfish purposes, seek to induce him to do So
II is the abuse of the naturalization laws and not
the provisions of the laws themselves, their spr-
it, of which any have right to complain
Genl. Winfield Scott says there was but single
alteration that he would make and that would be,
81 to make every foreigner citizen, at once, who
had served year. in the land naval service in
time of war"
According to the last census, the number OF for
eign horn inhabitants in this country, about TIVE
millions, two hundred and ten thousand, against
Y nearly eighteen millions of native born. This two
: millions Of foreign born are made up of all ages
: from the hoary headed father and mother down to
the sucking infant dispersed the entire union
. There may be two hundred and fifty or three hun
dred thousand votes among them. possible that
@ this number of votes scattered the different
states, so act as to endanger our liberties de-
stroy our institutions even If they had the will
which am sure they have not, and never will have
J. Our forcfathers in making provision for foreign
to become citizens, acted wisely generously and
{ justly and adopted policy to which we owe much
Of present greatness, prosperity and power as
nation. In giving them the rights of other citizens
allowing them to vote, acquire property, and hole
public office, the surcs way to make them friends
and feel an interest in the government, under which
they had chosen to cast their lot. They feel at once
v that American liberty was their cause, and hence
4 subsequent events have most signay demonstrated
that in the hour of danger and need they have beer
. among the foremost, to uphold the flag of coun
try, on every occasion when duty and patriotism
y fought side by side, with native born sons,
o every battle field, and mingled their blood will
. ours, in every contest, from Lexington to Che
pultapec. They have never stood back when dut,
called them to arms.
The trainers of the constitution adopted no tempo
rizing policy, to be thrown aside at will but lookin,
to the present and future, established plan for thu
naturalization of foreigners, commensurate with it
.. national Importance The congress that perfected
: that plan, by cnacting laws whose provisions ar
based upon justice, liberality, and wise forecast
and comprchcnding the past ipresent, and future
our great country, constituted of the wisest
best men of the nation, and many Of them had been
members of the Convention, and assisted in framing
n the constitution itself
Shall plan thus wisely gotten up, for nation
benefit be thrust aside to appease the ire of fey
:, disappointed politicians, who trace all their misfor
q tunes to the foreign vote in our elections? Shall
= hue and cry raised for party ends, and kept up fo
party purposes, have the effect to destroy and
"a throw q system of laws that has succeeded s.
a we'll in strengthening this nation, and developing
its resources, If 1t were not for party, We SHOULD
l. hear nothing Of all this threatened danger to GU
Isl--s f.. q