Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-11

tlnually emigraiing to our country are un-
qualified to become American citizens, and
should not be permitted to exercise the priv
iicge Of the elective franchise until after a
residence o. nj least twenty-one years.
Without entering into a lengthy discussion
Of this imporian; subject Of citizenship. we
would premise that the proposed change of
our naturalization laws is based upon a
short-sghted and. as il seems to us. very err
roneous policy. We cannot deny that many
of the foreigners who come TO make their
home in our midst are not by education fitted
to fully understand the spirit of our Rcpub-
lican institutions. But il is equally true that
there are thousands of our ndiire population
who are quite as ignorant OF the real nature
and design Of our government as the Euro
pean just landed upon our shores. We need
but refer to statistics to reveal the lamentable
ignorance of our own couutrymen. By a
reference to the Census Of 1850 the number
of naiire uoters who are unable to read or
write, will be found 10 be equal 10 the whole
sum OF the foreign born voters in the coun-
try. In many Of the larger states the pro-
portion Of ignorant natives to the whole ma
tive population is equal TO- or greater Than,
the same proportion among the foreigners.
Virginia, state which has given blr b TO
four Pres dents. has free naiire population
Of 9 5000, of which the number of free
adults over twenty years Of age who cannot
read or write is $1,000, or ten per cent. OF
the whole tree native population; while
Of her foreign born population which mum
beers 22,t00, but LOO. or per cent, are
put down as ignorant In view Of these
facts, then, is It inst or cNpedient to make
Tins nvldious distinction between our native
and furcign-born citizens : We admit tina,
decided change is damande in regard TO
the granting OF American citizenship; but
we believe that The enjoyment Of the inestl-
mablc privileges of American citizens should
be nude 70 depend upon competency to dis
charge the duties # citizens, and not upon
birthplace, nor length OF residence. We
would have every voter examined IN the ru-
duuenis, at least. of an English education.
Thus would our youth, If capable of sustain
lng such an examination. be permitted to ex.
ercsc the rights of suffrage and It cannot
be denied that the majority of the youth in
onr schools and colleges are far better qlah-
fiel 20 exercise these rights Intelligently than
ihous inds even OF our 'nGtiues' whose only
qualification is the bare fact OF their having
lived twenty one years or more IN ignor-
ance.
We DO not anticipate that such a reform RS
u"s WI" oe u"l'leu'''sy uIouHn' a'nD'' "u'
wa NV commence "iA' u j. l'"""e" upon
"a"ldtiuie pilhoip'ts' ahu thH' Ne'f u "'P'-
ed' tls purify uI our eiecNNe lIAhehise
would be secured. and American citizenship
be purchased at It's true price. that o. merit
ma fuiIihca,l'n' Ohu- such '"au-c Is
Greeted we sbali oppose rs dangerous 70 me
very existence OF our government ms an
Just distinction between haliNe ana lofe'gn-
oo'n chNens. ne results OIL sNch a us
tnclinn are ooVloAs. II VIII serve ID l,sier
a spirit OF haued ana revenge IN our adopt
cd cN'@ rs against 'hose whon thes DelieVe
10 oe deprNlng lhe" ~ 'leH Just rights ;
ana NE need not the voice ni history Ia prove
that - disifanchised men VIII not yield vol
nnlary obedience. BIT II IS urged maj thfre
Is dahgef 70 De app'e 'enheo IRON tnsss ior-
eiGhe's ~ our "''us'' ana we arc 'o'u' '''l'
had they me power 'hey "oul1 uso'9 our
government, anu erect a uloilA'ehie'l UArnhe
upon the runs Oh our iiee ',
r' ', ',, ,e ,n n,'','s ~,
yes,c1 ,,s,e al d,saas.d ,,.,,.,,,,,,,,.,i. q
,norbi1 se,,,;,,ar,.l;s,s 81, ,,,e 49, =,
NH r.,J, -, ,,,.. - ~
an,cr,con oeonio a., IN, ,ha, s,,,.l, -,
.Nmcllean Peop,e 10 th'hR ihat such noilon
arc entertained py 'le mass OF our eniight
eHeu coun'fyWeh' would De me biackes
ln9la''uue, Such insra'itode a. history no
""''' 'e0oius' ""u %il'uh - . ihJusuce 70
""''au nS'u,e 10 ".'e'e UNI "'e "ea', :" p
H''" 'Vu'H 0Ue'iS,' i'' 'u'7c WHO u''e ie''
R,nnbiic. whore they mioht emmy that nh.
s'! "n'oh Il every "heIs e'se ua'nf'eu uu'
us' lo'l' % oe su.'y ol lne pase a',u .,eas-
@"aole purposes 'nut are attributed 20 t.le'li.
l'''' uDo"i '''o 'o'' "s,s Vo,ie' """ Ie. v''
county, le00si'@''s .ne suo'l,V p'lno' pleS
OF Ohi'e'''l Di"'"ci "ooui "uu 'et s3hpa-
i''os ,u' ma" no '"'sc' 'u0u u! u'e
.'''l', a''o"s vi o.tl' 0oi'l' o' oolu't'o'' "a
,ohu oN1r u'e'i We ulo'a 9sS u "si P'o-
lec'ns care eS'"a,u ele 0'sr o. E'n>
pure 'A"Ss It's way anu rom NeurasNa
mus a"u '''e sunny p'aihs ol Nalisas is hea'u
toaay aNo,ce eahihg upon an 9' every race
ana every laho, VINO io's ifeeno.n ana lo'e