The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-08-28
From the Wilmington Herald.


We are surprised to hear that intelligent
foreigners who have settled down and become
citizens amongus, entertain or affect to enter.
tain the idea that the American party seeks to
deprive them of their vested rights. The Ameri.
can party undertakes no such thing. 1t does
not aim to deprive them Of the privileges that
are theirs by virtue of naturalization. or to lnp
of any right which, BY the Constitution, they
are entitled to enjoy. The same laws that
protect the native, IN like manner protect the
citizen by adoption. They ore his beyond
recall they cannot be taken from him. They
throw their shield over him the Cons stituton
awards it, and the Courts decree it. He can
worship God as lie pleases settle where his
inrnations lead him live under his own vine
and fig tree wherever his lot may be cast in
this favored land There is great deal of
mi>concepton on this point in the American
creed.
The party is opposed not to the influx of
foreigners in the mass, but to the outcasts and
beggars Of alien lands and jails. 1t does not
wish to preveut the emigration OF the worthy
but Of the unworthy. To the former class it
interposes no obstacle, but to the latter the
most determined Beggars and criminals Of
all grades and degrees of crime have systemati-
cally sough our shores from abroad, until it
has become nuisance and an outrage that
requires correction. 1t seeks to prevent this
tn get rid of the evil of the country's beconi-
ing what 1t has already almost becoming the
grand receptacle Of the living filth and garbage
of the old world. 1t does not think that this
invored land will be benefited by this refuse
class Of population that it is not the stuff
whereof 20 make good citizens. But, to the
honest, worthy ell. grant, the road j, free he is
welcome to enjoy our beneficial laws and in.
stiluti"ns, subject only to such restrictions as
an enlightened patriotism may provide.
The American party, in view Of the abuses
of naturalization, the easy and corrupt modes
by which the rights of citizenship can nova.
days be Obtained. and the demoralizing effect
this fact exercises in our political contests,
seeks to amend the naturalization laws, by
requiring at the hands Of the emigrsnt longer
residence and deeper knowledge Of the work.
ings of our institutions before he can exercise
the rights of a citizen, 1t Supposed to offering
Whereas the native can vote only after twenty
one years residence, it does not recognise the
Justice of the law which enables foreigners to
vote after residence of five years only Is
not this right But, under the Kansas Nebas.
ka Act, us it now stands, even this FIVE years
residence is not required. For, the emigrant
who has reached Kansas from the old world
after travel OF, say three weeks, by simply
fliny his declaration Of intention to become n
citizen, could vote the next day against the
Constitution of that Territory were the polls
this mnns,rousl And remember that these
foreigners that fill up our Western, lands are t
heart Ablolitionists They are so by nature
aud inclination. Is it not an outrage that such
things should be tolerated. Truly, American
citizenship is cheap, when it can be got on
such very remarkable low terms Hence it is
that the Anrriccn party seeks to abate this
nuisance. 1t wishes t. make the privilege Of
beromins n citizen of the great Republic some
thing whereof TO be proud. 1t seeks to throw
greater safeguard over our treasures.
But, it does not interfere with those who
have already become citizens They can enjoy
their rights to the fullest extent. They can
vote for whom they please and as long as they
please. 1t does not aim to interfere in any of
their vested rights, these are guaranteed them
by the laws. 1t says to them and all worthy
men who come from abroad, "Here is favor.
ed country that you can reside in; these
are our laws and privileges, and they are in
great measure yours. But, We think that we
ought to be permitted to govern our own coun.
try. Americans should rule America.