The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-07-25

rallied by one act all who were residents,
at the time of its establishment
"That the obligation is mutual, on the
State to naturalize, and on the well-dis-
posed settler to be naturalized, is appa-
rent, only from the fundamental law, but
from the invariable practice of the coun-
try, up to the present day. In the con-
vention by which the constitution was
moulded into shape, this question occa-
stoned very interesting discussions. In
that of the 9th Of August 1889, Mr..
Governeur Morris moved that IA years
citizenship, instead of four years Gas pro-
posed by the committee who drafted the
constitution,) should be THE QUAIL
IFICATION FOR U. S. SENATOR
Messrs. Pinckney, Mason and Butler, fa-
vored the motion, while Franklin, Madi-
son, Hancock and Ellsworth, opposed it.
Franklin, among other things, said: 1--WE
found, in the course of the Revolution,
that many strangers served us faithfully,
and that many natives took part against
their country. When foreigners, after
looking about for some other country in
which they can obtain more happiness,
give preference to ours, it is proof of
attachment which ought to excite our con-
fdence and affection"
Madison opposed it,
because it will put ont of the
power of the National Legislature, even
by special acts of naturalization, to con-
fer the full rank of citizens upon merito-
rious strangers, and because it will dis
pie from emigrating to the United States.
Should the proposed Constitution have
the effect of giving stability and reputa-
ton to our government, great numbers of
respectable Europeans who love
liberty, and wish to partake of its bles-
sings,-will be ready to transfer their for
tunes hither. All such would feel the
modification of being marked with sus-
Epicious interpretations, though they should
not covet the public honors."
Ellsworth
"-was opposed to the motion as
discouraging meritorious aliens from emf
grating to this country"
Hamilton said
! "On the other side, the advantage OF
encouraging foreigners was obvious and
admitted. Persons in Europe, of mod
| 70 e., L. -
here, where they will be on level with
the citizens. He moved that the section
be so altered as to require merely citizen
ship and inhabitancy-the right of deter
mining the rule of naturalization will then
leave discretion to the Legislature on this
subject which will answer every purpose. .
/ "Mr Madison seconded the motion
He wishes to maintain the character o1
4 liberality which had been professed in all
the Constitutions and publications oi
America. He wishes to ievite foreigners
of merit and republican principles among
US. America was indebted to emigra-
tion for her settlement and prosperity
That part of America which had eneour-
aged them most had advanced most rap.
idly in population, agriculture, and the
arts"
/ Washington in his Farewell Address
thus speaks Citizens, by birth or choice
of common country, that country has Q
right to concentrate your affections"
President Jefferson in his Annual Mes.
sage to Congress suggests:
"I cannot omit recommending reyi-
sal of the laws on the subject of naturali-
zation. Considering the ordinary chances
of human life; denial of Citizenship
under residence of fourteen years is a
denial to great proportion of those who
ask it, and controls policy pursued, from
their first settlement, by many Of these
States, and still believed of consequence
to their prosperity"
"To what we have already said, we
might easily add other proofs, showing
how the public faith has been hitherto
formally pledged to emigrants; we might
show Ohio sending direct to Germany for
settlers or ceding townships to them; we
might show the laws of Territories, placing
on u smooth level of equality emigrants
from Massachusetts,, and emigrants from
Ireland: we might cite our orators, jour-
nails, and the older emigrants- acting
in good faith, and all, with the Continen-
tai Congress of 1915, inviting Europeans
to come here, 'and enjoy that liberty
which is denied to them at home.'"
"On this head, enough, perhaps, has
been said. If we are right, naturalization
has not hitherto been boon, bnt a con-
tract, requiring conditions precedent as
well as subsequent, and binding the State
which cenfers as we'll as the stranger who
assumes its citizenship"
During the war of the revolution and
war of 1912, and late war with Mexico,
natives and foreigners, Protestants and
Catholics, stood side by side and shoulder
to shoulder in face of the enemies of our
country. No question of foreign birth, or
religion, or Know Nothingism were called
in question; their blood mingled and run
in the same trench, and those that expired