The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-11-10
For the Journal.
Naturalization.


would divest them of the rights and privi-
leges provided for them by our organic law,
but only that they ought not to prostitute
and abuse them.
But the question arises cannot these evils
be avoided without proceeding to the extreme
length proposed by the Know Nothings? Mr..
Seward was undoubtedly correct when he
suggested that time and education would
cure them all but the remedy, under pres
ent circumstances, is too slow in its opera
ton 10 satisfy the demands of the public
mind. And withal, during the remedial
process, the sore upon the body polite would
still continue to corrode and irritate as thou
sands succeeded thousands TO our shore. But
cannot the violence of the disease be miti-
gated while the cure is being effected? |
think so. The prescription would propose
is simple. vet its effects. | believe, would b.
highly salutary. Simple remedies, if ade-
quate, are ever to be preferred to the more
powerful nostrums. All who have watched
the course of partisan action, are full aware
that the wholesale manufacture of voters
always takes place upon the eve of warm
" contested election. 1t is then, when the
hopes and fears OF candidates and their
friends are stimulated to the highest degree.
that no means which may promote success
are lelt Nllrltu. IL Is lHtlI, Nuel uIcil ,
passions are nAamed almost to frenzy, that
they commit acts from which they would
involuntarily shrink in their cooler moments.
1t is then that fraud, detraction and perjury
are practiced without thought and without
conjunction. 1t is then that foreigners are
led or driven to the court room, in droves of
hundreds, 10 receive their naturalization pa
pers upon testimony provided for the occa-
sion. 1t is then that perjury rules the day,
and partisan officials wink at it. 1t was
averred a few years since, that some 5000
certificates of naturalization were issued by
a single udge, in a small back room, up
stairs. in the city of New York, during the
week preceding election. The amount of
corruption practiced a. such times no man
can estimate,
Such scenes are never witnessed six or
eight months before elections. A few, it is
true, are naturalized at almost every session
Of court, but not enough TO attract attention
Now what would suggest is, that our
naturalization laws be so amended that our
adopted citizens be ineligible TO vote until
six lrenths after they receive their final pa.
pers. This would leave all their rights and
privileges in regard to real estate as they now
are, and need seldom extend their probation
in the matter OF voting.
What would be the result Of this enact
ment? Foreigners are usually domiciled in
the suburbs of our larger towns, or found
along the lines of our public works Upon
the eve of an election they are visited, col
lected together, taken TO the court house
their papers obtained for them, and all their
expenses paid. Under the proposed amend
ment, neither the candidates or their friends
would be disposed to incur the expense.
trouble and loss of time above indicated
when their proteges might be in some dis
tant locality before the next ensuing election
Thus all the villainy and perjury now attend.
ing the naturalization of foreigners, would
be cut off at single blow. Aliens would
then become citizens whenever their person.
al interests demanded it, or enlightened un-
derstandings enabled them to appreciate the
honor and dignity of American freemen
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