American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-08-23

by the American party, that AmericGns
in thought and feeling, by birth and
F., education, are best fitted to carry on
our government, is distinctly recogniz-
ed in our Constitution, and the trainers
( of the Constitution evidently expected
and intended to secure to Americans
born the control of the government
In addition to the express stipulations
excluding foreigners from certain de-
partmonts and fixing definite terms of
probation rs necessary qualifications
! for their eligibility to other depart
mcnts, an unlimited power was given
to Congress in regard to establishing
naturalization laws, so that at any time,
when it might become necessary to pro-
tect our institutions from that danger
ous foreign influence, against which
Washington, in his Farewell Address,
so pointedly warned his countrymen,
the term Of probation might be extend
ed even to the absolute exclusion of
foreigners from the rights of American
, citizenship.
At the time of the adoption of the
Constitution, and for many years after
ward, the foreign immigration to this
country was very small, only few
thousand per year. The immigrants,
upon their arrival, were dispersed a
mong the American citizens, they soon
became acquainted with our language,
our customs, our principles, and were
indeed often thoroughly imbued with
American feeling. The population Of
our vast extent of country was sparse,
and these immigrants were scattered
among it, and became fused with and
incorporated into the general mass of
American citizens. The whole number
Of foreign immigrants during period
of tsgcnty years, from 1890 to 1910,
was but 100, 600; from 1910 to 1880,
it Was but $4,000; but in the ten
years from 1880 to 1910, the number
was increased to nearly 100000, and
in the ten years from 1910 to 1850 it
again increased to nearly 100000.
The most alarming and unprecedented
| increase has been since 1850; in the
single gear of 1854 the number of for
eign immigrants exceeded 500,O00.-
Thus, we find, in single year, a for
eign population poured in upon us lar
ger than the whole population of many
of our States. Neither New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Con
nccticut, Delaware, Texas, Florida,
Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan, or Wscon-
sin have at presenta population so large
as the present annual influx Of foreign
ers into our country. Thus foreign
population more than sufficient for a
whole State is actually added every
year to the number of foreigners al
ready among us; every year there is
an increase of our foreign population
more than sufficient to elect five new
members Of Congress. AT this rate,
probably in less than ten years, GER
tainly in less than fifteen, the foreign
born will really outnumber the native
born population.
| The character of this immigration
| is as different from, as it's number is
greater than what it was in the earlier
periods of our government. Then it
nolit;col and relio;ons tvrannv nr;,os
| for the cause of human libcrfy snoL
mo an asvlnm in echo land &c IL 900
and the home Of the brave " now iano1
rant and unprinciplcd advonturers, idle,
reckless nnscrnnnlous fnrtnne h,,ntors
and even the fltby contents of the
pr;sons and noor bouses and bosn;tals
of Euronc reekino with nannerism and
disease and crime, are emntied mon
our shores and claim 70 be clothed w;th
all the RIGHTS and nrivileoes Of 4 mer;
can c;tizcnsbin and 70 he n,acod mon
q social and nojitical eoualitv with M.