The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-30

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citizens of this mighty Republic, as member
of the great Democratic party, as men for iht
sake of mankind at large, we call upon yor
10 resist this sacrilese aud rebuke these con
spirators against the honor and dignity o
our Constitution and laws.
After The adoption of The Constitution, and
during the administration of the elder Ad
ans, Congress enacted two Statutes, one
concerning aliens; and the other entitled an
ac. for The punishment of certain crimes
against The Uniled States, known as the
Alien and Sed,lion Laws. Immediately up
on the enactment of these statutes, the
States Of Kentucky and Virginia passed GER
tain resolutions, condemning lhem as viola
lion and reproba,ing them as gross attempts
| 10 establish arbitrary authority and as sub
versive OF the liberties of the people. The
Kentucky resolutions were written by Mr..
Jefferson, ard those of Virginia were written
by Mr.. Madison, and both of these were ad-
dressed TO the Legislatures of the several
States, inviting their cooperation 10 resist
| these Statutes. Some of the Legislatures re.
fused 10 cooperate with Virginia and Ken
lucky and pronounced these resolutions 10
be oi a dangerous tendency, and therefore
not fit subject for further consideration
To these refusals the Commonwealth of VII
ginia replied in the form of Report drawn
BY Mr.. Madison, and adopted by the Lesis-
lature OF the State in 1893. The object of
the Alien law was exposed in these resolu-
lions and in that Report, and the mischievous
consequences Of lis adoption we're fully ex-
| planned and demonstrated in these mastery
papers. In them il was proclaimed TO be in
hunian, impollic, illegal and irrational for
Congress 10 restrain the current of emigra-
tion that was setting in towards our shores,
caused by the high tides of civil convulsions
and public dscord that were raging in Eu-
iope. Mr. Jefferson there said lha, the Alien
law will furnish new calumnes against re-
publican governments, aud new prelexls for
! those who wish it 10 be believed that man
cannot be governed but by rod of iron, and
that a very Numerous and valuable descrlp-
lion Of the nha bi,au:s of these States would,
| by this precedent, be reduced as ''oullaws,"
and that ''lhe mild spirit of our country and
lis laws had pledged hospitality and protec-
ton 10 the friendless strangers" 1t was de-
nounced by Mr.. Madison in his report, as
tyrannical in its spirit and comforting des-
polic power upon the President, to Danish
J tEar nlipp IRON, intn xxhich ba n al
been invited as the asylum must auspicious
10 his happiness, a country where he may
have formed the moa tender connections,
and where he may have invested his entire
properly"
The law thus resisted, and nullfied, and
defeated, never assumed TO do more than ex-
etcise restraining power over Aliens; and
harsh as il was, had no relation 10 naturaliza-
! lion, and no man among the hardest of its
supporters al tha, day, dared 10 propose the
disffanchisement of emignnts or 10 the abo-
lilion of the naturalization laws. The public
tha. was indignant at The lyranncal spirit OF
that statute, would have burst out in one shout
of condemnation at any attempt 10 outlaw
freemen and reduce them 10 the condition OF
slaves, because they were born in another
county and were of anolher people. Upon
the resistance to the Alien aud Sedi,ion Laws,
aud in support of the principles announced
in those resolutions and that Report of '99,
was Mr.. Jefferson elected and the Democrat
10 party established as an organized element
of political action of this country. From that
day to This, has II been s,eadlast in its integ-
riiy and purity, upholding and vindicating the
liberties of the country.
| Our Constitution was moi wrested from the
reluctant hands Of lawess kings. 1t was tho
free compact of free sovereiguties Of freemen
made with each other for their own domestic
advantage in the common cause of human
| freedom, and for The perpeiuation of human
rights Our commercial and public necessi
ties, and our political principles, all prompt
ed us 10 encourage emigration, and by lis
heallhful influence have We prospered as
people. We have multiplied in our inhabi-
tanis. We have increased in our wealth, and
grown mighty with population that has
been driven to us for shelter aud 10 whom we
are pledged before the world 10 secure The
rights oil civil and religious liberty, and upon
whom we are all likewise pledged as Demo-
Gratis, 10 confer the right of citizenship as the
! inalienable right of their manhood. In the
making of the laws that govern them they as
freeihen have right TO participate. To re-
fuse them that right would be impoli;c, ille-
gal and inhuman. BY adopting them we
have secured the s>rvices of men skilled in
all the mysteries of the mechanic arls, and
we have despoiled Europe, and European
Mona.chies OF greater sources of national and
personal property, individual happiness and
public renown, than if we had conquered in
hundred fights. Treat them as aliens, dis
qualify them by statute, aud we have IN our
midst body of oppressed unhappy and DIS
satisfied men, who would feel their degreda-
dalion among freemen aud sink to its level.
There is not an evil complained of in The