The true Democrat., 1855-10-16
The Naturalized Citizen May Vote
 by Running the Gauntlet.

l Will agree, With respect to emIgrantS vet to t0 come, that those already here haUe c ,lgM to prescribe the terms upon which they shall come into the co-partnership. We may decide that they the actual emigrants shall take no part in c0ntrollng its affairs at all; but the policy of such a decision Is the question. 1 look upon this question as 1 do upon all others Consult ing my own interests, as d citizen of these Uni ted States ask how will 1t effect my happi- ness, and the happiness ofmy posterity? In the first place consider, that human nature Is the same everywhere and that the principles of selt-interest and self-preservation are powerful influences that control the conduct of naturali zed citizens, as much 50 as native citizens of emigrants now as much so, as of emigrants a hundred years ago-of eUeJy one of one hun dred thousand emigrants much so as every one of twenty emigrants; and in this country this sel-interest is in an especial degree, the greatest security we can have, or that the poli- teal system provides, for the conduct of any individual.
 There are certain conservative principles in human nature, that inspires every sane mind with confidence, with regard to the conduct of his fellow men in the essential intercOurSes of social life. Their force and efficacy are recog- nized here more than in any other country It is the great basis upon which our superstruc- ture stands. And it is only in the worst despo- tisms, or in communities, as once in France when the public mind has become deranged, that this great prmative confidence between men are destroyed. I have heard of particular instances, where individuals had quit all social intercourse with man, because they had become afraid of society. 1 have known of other men who were afraid to allow another to carry a gun behind them; of others who were afraid to sleep in a room with strangers, for fear they may get up in the night and murder them- This is the kind of insanity the know nothings seem to be striving to work the popular mind up to. 1 have heard know nothing wise acres eXclaim that there were several millions of for eigners in the United States and then most sa- piently ask their audience if, in case of war they may not go over to the enemy? People, they say, who can feel but little interest in this country And 1 would ask why not the natives turn over to the enemy; that too is possible, and as probable as the other event. Why not ?- l Because his home-the institutions of his coun- | try-his all is at stake here ? Is it not so with the naturalzed American? He loves his home and his family as much as the native does The institutions of the country, are as valuable to him as to the native Patriotism here is re- duced to very simple but powerful principle It requires man to act only for his own wei tarc-tor his own defense. It is know nothings Nho wish to confound the force and simplicity of this principle, by making it one of more complexity. In Europe, patriotism consists il hghing for the King, and leaves the subject tc find out, as best he can how the operation inures 10 his benefit Here the citizen can see very easi ly that it consists in fighting for himself; but our know nothings are trying to manage things | thot ;lo, l.
 ty shall have less to stimulate them-less tc love in the country, less to defend, and less tc light for, and all this to make them more patri- otic That cannot be. More useful?-Alore what then ?
 Men of Irish and German birth seem to be most dreaded by the know nothings So fal as war is concerned, we can have no public ene- my, England or France for instance-aganst whom the natives would feel more deadly en- mity than they, whether as merely defenders of their homes, or from historical recollec- tonS.
 It is not merely the practically depriving o naturalized citizens of the right to hold office. etc., that is so oppressive; but the oiiun that must attach to those persons, growing out of the prejudice, that 1t IS necessary to make the na- tiues to teeI against the foreign born population 1 to induce them to consent to this deprivation
 
 of right; t as ttas that makes 1t an unmitigated oppression. know nothing who denies this oppression, must be either fool or knave he must be extremely ignorant, or he must shut his eyes to the plainest operation of cause and effect. What is nine-tenths of the hue and cry against foreigners in the know nothing papers for, but to produce this prejudice in the | popular mlnd-tO induce the natives to agree to any thing against persons of foreign birth, that the know nothing leaders might choose to dictate? Is there any native mind so ubtuse, so incapable of apprecating the force of the divine injunction, "of doing unto others as you would they should do unto you," as to suppose that foreign born persons do not feel the effect of this process most oppressively? Nothing can be done without the sanction of the peo. pie; therfore every thing is charged to produce the effect I have described. Washington and other sages of the revolution, are made to ap- pear as distrustful of foreigners, although at the same time these very sages, so far from be- ing thus distrustful, they were in favor and so decided, that citizens of foreign birth were ei- glble, even to the office of President of the United States. And it is true that Washing tons first choice for that office, was foreigner by birth, and he appointed him secretary of the | treasury-but of this anon.
 In this spirit it is charged that 500 900 foreign paupeu and criminals land upon our shores