The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-20

wealth internal improvements and in everything that rem
ders a nation prosperous and happy rapidly than
known in the history Of any other country They
have been faithful and true There is not battlefield
from commencement OF the revolution 10 the close Of
the war with Mexico which their blood has been
freely shed in cause and in which their energy and
valor has only been equalled by that Of the nativeAme
citizens.
Shall we deny them, their coun,rymen who may
hereafter follow them that freedom of conscience and the
rights we secured by their aid in hour Of distress
Liberty justice, honor and the solemn pledges OF our IA
theirs forbid II.
cannot but believe that the hostility Of this party
against them will be found the fact that, having suf
fered in the countries from which they came rom legs
ton for favored interests and classes by which the labor
of The country oppressed promote the Interests
the capitalists they naturally took sides with that party in
this country which opposed all such legislation here Had
they voted the whg ticket should have heard the
cry that Americans rule America How has hap
pened that we discovered the great danger 10
country from Catholics and ore until this party
sprung up2 You have but look around you TO that
nearly every important Office is and has been filed by
natiyeAmercan citizens the two most important excep
tons within my recollection the appointment OF for
egners to be Secretaries the Treasury by Gen Wash
ington and Thos. Jefferson
The new party proposes change of the naturalization
laws SO require a residence of twenty-one years
The first naturalization law, approved by General Wash
ngton required residence q nee gears and Proc before
Of good moral character and attachment
stuions, before the foreigner could be admitted to ci
zenship. This law changed during the admnisra-
ton of the elder Adams requiring fourteen gears residence
Early in the administration of Jefferson aud upon his
recommendation the latter repealed and the first law
restored it has stood since necessity of
changing this law Whatever abuses have
der it, if any, should he remedied by amendment OF the
law but necessity Of requiring longer residence
than Ave years with the proof Of good moral character
and attachment institutions Many and serious
evils may grow up under the Acknowledgement for twenty
one years even if the law should only be made apply
to those coming hereafter. If immigration continues
heretofore, should have million Of
residents in the heart of the country performing all the
duties of citizens and yet deprived Of the nestmabe right
Of voting aud necessarily discontinued with such cond
tons They would learn the republican MAXIM that
representation and taxation go together. Even your
constitution that deprived free persons Of color of the
right to vote the time exempted them from poll
and the performance Of military duty in time of peace
Conld be justified in placing respectable foreigners on
worse footing than free negroes Could expect
large body of men to remain quiet under such depr-
walton for such period? 1t would be far better to
cude them altogether this is proposed by the
party.
hear another objection occasionally urged, that the
new emigran go into the free States and viii swell the
abolition vote against the South. The posponement of
naturalization for wenty-one years could have no intu-
upon that question If admitted, and they go to the
free States the taking of each they counted
so many Inhabitants ana increase the power Of the free
States according their numbers whether they vote
General Scott thought service in the army for
year should ene them citizenship; why not in the
civil walks of life if accompanied BY good conduct and at
tachment to country am of opinion that the
foreigners of good character be admitted to all the
rights of citizenship after reasonable time for them to be-
acquainted with institutions and laws the better
for them and the country
have briefly stated my opinions Of this party and
their principles leaving the discussion of them TO the
ddaes for office who better qualified than myself to
do them justice. cannot however, conclude this letter
without the expression Of my solemn conviction that If the
rights Of conscience personal security and religious
liberty secured by the constitution TO be inrust
ed to the keeping of candestne lodges under the control
of oathbound political hucksicrs and INSCRIPTIONS dema
gogues boosted right of sel-government, glo-
rious Institutions which have long protected us, and
given much character in the eyes Of other nations
will be no longer worth preserving
Your friend, G. JOHNSON
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