The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-05

words do for this association believe i. will work
IL has wrought in the Of the New
York council already quoted abundant harvest Vi H
nnny, deceit and perjury, The order enpAoss raore
secrecy IN single night than ussd preparing and con-
daclng both the National Conventions of the wings and
democrats How, then, this terrible poison fail to
work its natural eject of corruption them Perhaps
on the principle that one poison sometimes neutrAlis
auothtr The prescription and int0luAuCe which they
TO practise antdots the secrecy which Is foud
necessary accomplishing their purp0s@
The first asowed purpose Of tho order which shall dis
cnss Is inc exclusion OF Foreigners from ocss The pledge
Of the member on entering the order w. thai be win not
vote or give his influences ioF amy man for any oacc in
The giit OF the people unless hs be Americanborn c
zen Jadicious man, 1t seelas 10 aA will hardly deny
that i Is equally criminal 10 do ty iDdircetiou IS q do
openly that which we forbidden andss the consu-
ton. That instrument provides chat no man shal bo
senator in Congress who shall have attained 10 the
age OF thirty years. aud been nine years citissn f ,hs
United States, &c thai shall he representative
who shall not have attained 10 the Ass q twenty-five
years. aud been years citizen Of tAe United SAtss
SC ArL l. Sec and Thass claxses VI the conssta~
aon confer on aiien-born citizens complete eghlstv To
seats IN the House of Representatives and Senate when the
respective periods Of age and citizenship have been
pleted upon uatiyeborn citizens No will deny that
Congress possesses no to add by law the age
period of citizenship liked by the constitution and such
law would be unconstitutional aud void Any attempt
TO do SO would be assault upon a right which the
Trainers OF the constitution thought Of sufficient Importance
to guard by special provision and distinc
ton IN justice between attempting to rob them of the rights
by law and by secret association The first 10 the bold
er and manlier way of assault The who do the in
Jury IN that case are known and responsble they hold
themselves amenable to criticism to discussion and the
public Judgment They plant themselves upon the merit
OF their action and not upon the force of numbers and the
chances OF escape from detection All admire candor
aud sincerity In political well other conduct Until
all Americans despsed political associations
midnight juggling and the hatred that would strike and
yet fear TO ayow the blow.
There is no obligation, in my Judgment for aor-
egner to any office more than for any other citizen but
there is obligation form combination against
him by which he is al IN thp
enjoyment Of any constitutional right
fit be true that foreigners less fit for Office than
tive citizens it is gross dsrust of the national COM
mon sense to suppose that the people will upon it
and poor commentary upon public spirit that special
oaths and the errors Of secret nquison needed to
urge them up to the discharge Of obvious duty
but believe that true policy and justice are this case
nonous These foreigners in midst; they have
come under our invitation and have trusted to the be-
raj spirit OF the age and the generous provisions of
laws and constitution and purpose should be- by act
ing TO the full of good faith to encourage them
to the highest standard of republican citizenship They
ARE citizens with the right to vote and policy dictates that
they should be treated nationalize them
that the pecuiaries of their BIRTH education language
and ideas may be lost in the character OF people
There Is safety IN course that excludes them from any
right which is theirs by the constitution and and
which induces them from wounded PRIDE pepetuate
the distinctions which separate them from the nativeborn
citizens
To foreigner of just serespect the equality implied in
voting and the right to be elected eusry Office even
though he may desire any, the strongest ties
that bind him in love and interest the fortunes OF the
republic And it, at any time it becomes necessary dis
franchise him of either in the OF manhood and JUS
uce and repubcanism let it be done in the open light of
Heaven let it be done with the FORMS the sanction and
the solemniy Of national act and Let him feel him
self tho victim Of nameess persecution tried condemned
and punished unhear in the hateful Of the nqu
sion, by those who blush to their connection with
the deed Justice would teach that foreigners should
receive share of offices proportoned to their number if
the subject becomes matter uf mathematical division ;
but it would be fortunate for the peace of the
try If the question OF nativity and religion raised
and selections to office made according Mr. JEFF
tersons strong questions answered. lis he honest Is
he competent Is he faithful to the constitution
Second. The extension of the term of naturalization
tweny-one years or some other period longer than five
years
When our country weak, and there was apprehen-
sion that we might be attacked by foreign powers anxiety
was felt to secure an influx OF immigration The time for
that apprehension is past |, sir individual, have
never cherished expressed the anxiety which have wit
messed in Others to country goaded into premature
growth and population; though | have rejoced to see
those who came here, either from choice escape OPP
presson sitting, III due time at the national board, and
sharing equally the abundance Of unstnted hospita
y The vision of splendid government which has such
fascination for many, to me is without charm know
that its magnihcence the pomp Of its officials the number
and equipment of its fleets and armies, but much
wrung from the scanty subsistence of labor Wherever
witness the reckless pageanty of wealth. know that the
gaunt shadow of poverty is near by doubt il rapid
increase in numbers in wealth. and power however graft
tying to our pride have been attended with proportion
ate increase OF those robust and homely virtues which
alone national greatness founded effect
oil great ana sudden prosperity to disturb the ordinary
ton OF the public mind and to introduce false and deceptive
standards OF conduct. The whole nature Of runs
wild in variety of excesses and this nundaon prosper
ty sweeps away many of the established and respected
Seasons such these try the national char
acter than whole years of calamity This has pro-
duced that exuberance of intellectual movement that
which distinguish country to-day At such times
to honored and established principles Is the
most wholesome regimen for the public mind.
believe sir 1t had been better for if had
received since Independence foreigners than
could be readily assimated to the general condition and
character of our naye-born population do question
that the ntermngng Of here is potent element
OF our growth aud Those nations have been
most in the worlds history hose characters have been the
amagam OF the greatest variety Of the best OF the
earth constant emigration of enough produce var
ETY., but not to perpetuae diversity, would believe
tribute to preserve and increase ygor But wish
see no foreign settlements in country papers,
schools and scboolbooks in foreign tongue regions
Of country in which traveller might fancy himself the
banks OF the Rhine the green sward Of Ireland desire
cur people be homogeneous IN language and nstituons
would have the FIRST generation Of foreigners 10 be the
last their children would have American in tongue in
education principle, and in Law. sE
Is said that this extension rendered necessary by the
abuses of the present system.
These abuses chiefly through false naturalization
pers and false swearing They exist, inclined to
through the defect in their entoscemens The of ase
naturalization papers, Illegal voting aud the perjury
tendant upon both offences against the laws Of the
State where they committed and it is to the State
bunas that the citizens must look for redress and the vim
dcaton of their rights There ID no ground none what