The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-07-07
Immigration.

The cry of danger to our American institutions,
from the emigration of foreigners to this country,
is SO very absurd that 1t scarcely needs refutation
The whole history of the settlement and progress of
this country, abounds with the most ample proof of
its utter falacy. The tide Of emigration has been
pouring in, and settling up this country, and devel-
oping its national resources, from the day the pill
grms landed on Plymouth rock, up to the present
moment, and yet detrment, but real good, result
ed from 1t. We were but three millions when we
gained our independence. We are over twenty-five
millions now. Our progress in every thing else
bears like proportion. In arts, in arms,-in every
thing that makes nation great respectable among
the powers Of the earth, we have outstrpped every
other, and now stand forth, unsurpassed. as great
and free people, and an everything example, that
man is capable of self-government.
What would have been our present condition, had
the blind policy of prescription, and intolerance, Of
the selfsyed American party, been adopted when the
Constitution was first promulgated? by simple arith
metic demonstrate, that our population would
not be one third of what II now is. Our revenues,
would be less than enough to dcfray the current ex
penses of the government, and our national debt
contracted during the revolutionary war, would still
be hanging over us; parts of our country would be
unsettled, and the many great and truly national
improvements which exist in our land and afford SO
mnch convenience and pleasure to our people would
not now be known.
immigration has been the greatest source of our
national prosperity and development, Of any other
Any man who, study the facts and come to any other
conclusion, must, to our mind, be blind indeed.
In Louisiana, the brighted names that adorn the
history Of its pages, were emigrants large por-
ton of its present population, are the immediate
descendants of immigrants and every interest in the
State is in way directly connected with, has
grown out of emigration. Our agricultural, COM
mercial, and mechanical prosperity owe much to the
same source. How many persons Of gigantic intel
lect in this state of foreign birth, are we proud
to number among those, who stand forth, as champi
ons Of every thing that is right and proper in soci
ETY., and just and honorable among men. Where is
Roselius, soule, Benjamin, Rost, and others! What
names have most adorned the Supreme bench of our
state in its past history Does not the mind revert at
once to the names Of Workman, Martin, Porter, and
Matthews Are their decisions less American, less
wise, because they were foreigners by birth! Judge
Martin was native of France, and the other three
of Ireland. Judge Workman, made, and left fine
estate, to the poor of New Orleans, and his library
to the state of Louisiana an example worthy to be
followed by the best native American that lives.
Those who oppose emigration, and seek to abridge
the rights of foreign born citizens by invidlous
distinctions, are warpng the best interests of the
country, and of the greatest Of its past
prosperity.
SODA WArER.-Those fond of glass of pure iced