The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-26

OPINIONS OF j. C. CALHouE.-The views Of
all our great men whose prominence placed
them above the smaller lights that surrounded
them, run in the same channel, in regard to the
danger Of foreigners obtaining controlling in
fluenee in this government Mr.. Calhoun was
of the same opinion with those other illustrous
men whose high authority has heretofore been
produced. His views. as given in the extract
below, distinctly foreshadews the necessity Of
such alterations in the naturalization laws rs
will guard the institutions of this country from
the dangers SO forcibly alluded to. The Ame-
+. rican party believe that aliens ought not to be
/ allowed to vote in the state or territories, and
that the laws, by whatever authority enacted
I which permit it, are violation of the constitu
ton, and must in the end subvert the liberties
of the country So thought Mr.. Calhoun
when Michigan applied for admission into the
Union. We think our opponents?
I'm comforting the power topass uniform laws
naturalization" says Mr. Calhoun, "the fra
mers of the constitution must have had two OBJ
jects in view: One to prevent competition be-
tween the states in holding out inducements
for the emigration of foreigners, and the other
to prevent their improper influence over the
general government, through such states as
might naturalize foreigners; and could confer
on them the right of exercising the elective
4 franchise before they could be sufficiently in
formed of the nature of our institutions. or
l were interested in their preservation. Both of
these objects would be defeated if the states
may confer on aliens the right of voting and
the other privileges belonging to citizens. On
that supposlton, it would be almost impossible
to conceive what good could be obtained, or
evil prevented, by comforting the power on
congress. The power would be perfectly nugs-
tory. A state might hold out every improper
: inducement to emigration, as freely as If the
power did not exist, and might confer ON the
alien all the political privileges belonging to
native born etizen--not only to the injury Of
the state government, but of the Union. To
| illustrate what have said, suppose the domi
nant party in New York, finding political power
about to depart from them, should, to maintain
} their ascendency, extend the right of suffrage
to the thousands of aliens Of every language
and from portion of the world, that annually
pourinto her porium--how deeply might the
5 destiny of the whole Union be affected by such
, a measure? In might in fact place the control
) over the general government in the hands Of
those who know nothing of our institutions, and
are Indifferent to the interests of our country
New York gives about one-sixth of the electo-
raj votes in the choice of president and vice
president, and it is well known that her political
, institutions keep the state nearly equally divi
, ded into the great political parties. The addi-
7 ton of few thousand votes either way might
turn the result of the election. The electors
} might owe their election, on the supposition, to
the votes of unnaturalized foreigners The
presidential election might depend on the cleo
toral vote of state. and president be chosen
in reality by them-that is, they might give US
a king" 0a5 1 ~
e Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.-The masters Of
: steamboats, under contract with the depart
ment are required to deliver into the post-of-
o fees, FOR to the local agent of the department.
, if there be any, at the places at which they
: arrive, all letters received by them, or by any
e person employed in their boats at any point
it along the route. Masters and managers of all
o other steamboats, are required by law under a
e penalty Of thirty dollars, to deliver all letters
;. brought by them, within their care or pow
a err addressed to, or destined for, the places at
= which they arrive, to the postmaster, except
S letters relating to some part of the CARGO
' Postage is charged on all letters not addressed
q to persons to whom the cargo, or any part of
b it, is consigned. All letters conveyed by steam
boats, packets or other vessels, relating 10 the
e cargo, are required to be left unsealed. II
sealed they must be delivered at the post-office
: to be charged with postage. If, on being OPEN
Z: ed IN the presence of the postmaster, they are
e found to relate to the cargo the postage may
e be remitted. The law relating to this subiecs
. Is often violated. Postmasters are required TO
prosecute fer the penalty in all cases where
e they can obtain testimony. .s1 .
3 Exp PosTMAsTERs. The instructions OF the
postmaster-general require that a postmaster
who collects postage on newspapers, &c, in
advance, and goes out of Office before the term
OF such payment has expired, ''shall leave in
the office record of all such payments As
these instructions are frequently disregarded,
it may be we'll for delinquents to understand
that neglect or refusal to comply with theE,
renders both themselves and their sureties la.
BILE to prosecution on their official bonds
: The postmaster-gene has issued regula-
ton order, to the effect that whenever a con-
tractor fails to perform his duty in carrying the
: mails to their destination, postmasers at the
ends OF the route where such failure exist, are
authorised Immediately to report to the contract
Office, at Washington, the name of the person
: who will agree to have the mails carried to
the last point Of destination. Postmasters can
not effect any payment, when the time of con-
Tracts up, without expressly directed SO to do
by the department, and until the postmaster
general has concluded whether to enter upon
new contracts 3or discontinue the Office.
w.. ,"J .' - ~>->-~~~~~>-+~<~~-~~~~~---1
The siege works erected by the allies are said
to be of the most astonishing magnitude The
extent of their front as five English miles long.
and their whole development amounts to forty
three and half mi1es-the greatest part cut in,
to the rock. A European paper says that the
position Of the Russians is also extremely strong.
and that this had impressed many of the allied
generals with the necessity of a complete in
vestment, so that possibly, instead of attacking
the Malakof, an attempt would be made to is
solate the garrison before venturng upon tho
assault. ..... .. ...... : ; ..
: Of all the parties engaged in the contest.
poor Turkey is represented to be in the most
deplofable condition. A state Of things bor-
dering on complete and unmittigated anarchy
prevails in every part of her dominons except