The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-03-14
Dangers OF Emigration with
ont Naturalization.

One OF the strongest arguments against
American slavery, aside from the question Of
morals involved, is, that by its existence,
nearly three millions of persons are living
in our midst. deprived of citizenship, and
whose interests are antagonistic to our own.
This snecessarially weakens the government.
The same serious objection may be urged
against the project advocated by many, OF
depriving foreigners and Catholics Of the
rights of citizenship until after residence
Of twenty-one years. To the most Of them,
this Is obsoute disfranchisement.
1t will be remembered that Know Moth
ingism does not seek to prohibit foreigners
and Catholics from coming to this Country,
but only deprives them of citizenship after
they get here. They may come; they may
dig and delve.to promote our good; they may
cultivate our lands, increase our wealth, bear
burthens for the support of our goverement
and be made subject to its laws; but at the
same time, must be deprived of voice in
the management of our political concerns.
This is the kind Of repubicanism which our
opponents advocate. How liberal!
Thousands of emigrants from England,
ireland, Germany and the States Of Europe,
are annually coming to our shores. They
are of all religions, both catholic, and pro-
testant, To prohibit them from citizenship
will be to allow nation of people to grow
up in our very midst, increasing in numbers
and power, who are "aUih US, but not of us"
If there is danger from emigration, that
danger is increased ten-fold, by adopting
illiberal measures towards them. 1t is nat
ural to love those who do US a kindness, and
to dislike those who do US injury. A gener-
Gus policy towards foreigners will bind them
to this country by ties of interest and friend
ship; an opposite course will estrange them;
it will render their allegiance to law, but
cold and unwilling compliance, and in case
of war, or internal difficulty, this nation oi
disfranchised and prescribed people, will
prove an enemy to rise up against US in the
hour of peril.
The institutions of Europe have ever ten
ded to elevate the few, and enslave and i'm
poverish the many. Millions of her people
tired and heart sick and weary with thei
serfdom, are looking with anxiety and hop'
to q land where man is allowed the right
of manhood, and where honest toll can pur-
chase the comforts and conveniences Of life
They are already republican in sentiment
Here, where we have an almost unlimited
public domain, where the wilderness be-
comes a garden, where orchards and grain
fields and smiling homes rise up like en-
chantment under the careful hand Of indus
try, let us invite them to come and enjoy ir
common with ourselves, the blessings which
nature and government confer. Let them
come! Aye, they UiH come; we might s'
we'll try to stop the ebbing and flowing o
the tide, as to check the current of emigra
tion to America.
Our true policy is to treat them as men
and equals-possessing rights and PRIVILEGE
in common with ourselves. This will iden'
tify their interests with ours. Their sym
pathies and prejudcies, will be Vah us, and
for US. Their support Of the government
will be hearty and unreserved. Their wealth
and strength will be our wealth and
strength.