New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-09
NATURALIZATION.


leader on Nstsism and our Naturalization Laws,
celebrating the following propositions:
I. TIE United States Law Of Naturalization
should be repealed, and Naturalization henceforth
be at an end
. Secret, osth-bound Societies are wrong sad
ought to be abandoned;
3. A one idea party 10 smother bluuder, and q
party based ebly on Natisisn is sure to come to
nothirg;
4. The anti NsturaliziDg sentiment should be
made to operate upon or through one or both OF
the great existing parties so as t. permit the
election to important stations Of no candidate
who does not arov himself devoiee OF NahVism.
Now We srs ireconcilsbly opposed to Ma
tivism. or the denial Of citizenship to all immi-
grants from the Old World, yet We cannot doubt
that, il i. should ever triumph at all, it will De
through such mems and measures as The Cos.
re, proposes In this spirit We have always pro-
tested agsisst the formation Of distinctive
Temperance or Mane-Lsw party, knowing that
the copsummation desired csaI not be attained
through such an organization. IL u sometimes
necessary for Temperance rlen to make sep
arste nominations; but this is resort which
they should always avoid If practicable, acting
upon and through existing parties rather thao
setting up party of their own. In this way, if
n any, the repeal Of our Naturalization Laws
will be effected.
That We are opposed to such repeal. funda-
mentally, cur readers already know; but VS. far
Their object to it that amount to very little if &C
complished II has been sbundantly settled that
no State lie controlled by the L. S laws ofNasu-
ralzsiicn in profering or Withholding Political
Franchises. Several States have admitted alien
imni grants to vote upon much shorter proba-
ton than the laws of the United States require
as prerequisite TO citizenship; other Ststes-our
own among them-withhold the Right of Suffrage
from some immigrants fully aaturalized uuder
tns laws Of the United States. Now, let Con-
gress abolish all Naturalization tomorrow, and
airy State would nevertheless be at liberty to en-
trust the Right of Suffrage to immigr auss just
landed aud elect them TO her highest local trusts.
So long as a single State adhered to the moro
liberal policy. the exclusion of in migrants from
Political responsibilities would be incom 2lete.
the Right OF Suffrage rests with the States rs-
speciively, and there We are content to leave IT,
We feel the most entire ASSURANCE that our
laws of Naiarslz alton will never be repealed,
and we do DOT believe the term of probation, now
required Of Candidates for citizenship, will ever
be extended We cannot doubt that the honest,
industrious, moral, intelligent native Of Europe,
who comes among as to find home for himself
aud bis children I. in equity ard BY virtue of tle
Fundamental principles of Repubicsnism, entitled
10 y voce in choosing his lfW makers aud rulers
q, much as be is entitled to air to breathe, water
to drink, and justice at the hands of our judges
aud juries. For this class, we consider five years
probation quite lorg enough II enable them to
become acquainted with the workings of our po-
Hticsl :, stem, and prepared to discharge the re-
sponsibiiities of ffeemen. And if ignorance, or
sice or any other sbOrt-comios, is to be made
grorud of exclusion from the Franchise, then We
mist that such exclusion shall not apply to inui
grants only, but be made general. If sn "igno.
"rsnt foreigner is unqualified to vote, so Is an
ignorant native, who has generally far less excuse
for his deficiency. Lot the rights of minoiities
be carefully suarded-those Of Dsorites will
take care of Themselves.
There have been great abuses precticed in nat
urazation and in voting-thoussuds have been
paturazed who were not entitled TO be, and tens
OF tboussrds have voted who were not citizens.
A good Registry Law is more wanted in our State
snd would correct more abuses than any number
of restrictions on Naturalization; and la VS. which
would require Of applicants for citizenship proof
that they had borne COED characters ia their cid
homes and had not sullied them since they caue
noDg US nigh! prove salutary. We should like
10 see every applicant for citizenship required to
swear that he would allow no man or committee
to pay the costs Of TIE process, and that he had
not been prompted TO seek naturalization Dy any
one, nor By any hope Of personal gain or advant-
age from his vote in the coming election. In
short, we should like to see our present sys-
tenn of Daturalizng administered according to
ito spirit and true intent, and we believe laws cal
culsted TO reform existing abuses would, il urged
in a proper temper. be supported by no class
more generally or heartily than BY our Adopted
Citizens. But We fully agree with The Courier
on this poiDt-thst, for any proper and sslatary
reforms IN our system OF Naturalization, q seps-
rate party whether public or secret, is entirely
needless.
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.