The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-09

4 aHu oUO,OUU per aV1nm. The foreign In
vasion of armies of voters baame alarming.
"Was there any probability Of its decrease !
No. 1t was true that it had filen off u little
in the past year, but when the war which was
now swallowing up the snrpluspopulation OF
! Europe closed, we should be aqain inundated
with the worthless desperadocs It has made.
"Ihe like of such an emigration the world
never saw. When the chidren of Israel
quilted Egypt they were not more in number
than this annual migration.
"iour forests are now subdued, and your
country made labitable, and th,N now come
to share it with you. Your lreainsttuions
have be:ome light 20 the void, and they
are attracted by it.
"The grave question is, are these foreign.
ers to be entrusted with the preservation of
our liberties. He would not boast, but he
did not believe there was another 'ace of Gods
men on earth, that could have formed the
free institutions made by our fathers. Since
the worlds history commenced, Washing.
ton had never arisen in any courtry but ours.
1t required nll our vigiianc, to preserve
this government. Foreigner, could not do
it. They did not love it as we did. lie did
not blame them. Every man lWed his native
land better than any other.
"As long MS we could be safely generous,
we were so ; and we say to them, even now,
come and share our liberties, our BLESSINGS ::
we make only one single reservation, and that
for your good MS well as ours. We are out
the trustees of God, who has given us these
blessings, and we dare not commit them To
strangers.
"lle wished n change in the naturalization
laws-an extension of the time so aa to give
foreigners II better oPpprtunity to become ac-
qnaintod with our Institutions and to fit
themselves for taking part in our government.
No man was to ie upbrnided for wishing to
take the best possible care of his liberties, or
Tor refusing to share tn. ont until the little
residue was no. woT,h Keeping. These men
came from monarches, where they had
been accustomed, not to governing, but to
being governed. Were they ever called on
to vote there! Why, the doctrine of trans.
subs'antiation was not greater mystery to
them us the elective franchise!
"lf the term of naturalization was extend.
ed, or the law entirely repealed, it would
make no difference in the immigration. For
eigners did not come here TO vote. They
know nothing about the elective franchise
until they learned it on our soil. He did not
object to their coming. On the contrary, he
would say, come one, come all. We will re-.
ceive and entertain them but the right of
governing we must reserve TO ourselves, and
repeI every encroachment upon it, and we
would call on our adopted citizens to help
us. II these foreigners come with cartridges,
we would call on them to assist in repeling
them; but cartridges in their hands would
not be half as dangerous to the brave Amer
lean people rs ballots.
Foreigners already formed third estate
giving preponderance to either party, as
they cast influence with it, They had become
an object for parties to pay court to, and they
were wooed to one side and the othe. by
every sort Of promise and mannuvrc.
"They feel their influence, and are cllin.
ing their share in the Offices of the country !;
not as Americans, but as foreigners; ior they
keep up separate political organization, and
are AS much foreigners here us in the heart of
Germany.
"They favor us with their views in regard
to improvements in our government. A iel.
low had hardly shaken the dust of the Black
Forest off his feet but he was suggesting
amendments to the Constitution and some
of the things they proposed to give us in cx.
change for our liberties were curious enough.
They would abolish the President and the
Senate, and have II single popular branch Of
legislation, whose nh bers could be recalled
at pleasure. lh24 I'd give US their Ger
man drea21