Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-02-12
Footprints of Americanism.

Within few days, the following amendment to
the Constitution Of this Commonwealth have been
introduced to the Senate
mo person of foreign birth shall be entitled to
vote in this Commonwealth, unless he shall have
been resident within the jurisdiction of the United
States twenty-one years, and legally naturalized.
No person shall be eligible to Office under the
Constitution of this Commonwealth, unless he shall
have been born within the jurisdiction Of the United
States Of America, or unless heshal have been the
child of an American citizen born during the tenn
porary absence of one or both parents from the
United States"
We look upon this movement as an suspicious
one--as footprints in the grand progress of Amer
icanism. The right of suffrage, the right to hold
Office or in other words, to vote and to be voted
for, are matters of the first moment 1t has been
topic of discussion for years as to the number of
years person of foreign birth should reside in
country before he shall be permitted to exercise
the great privilege and right of suffrage.
In fact, this subject occupied the earnest atten-
ton of our statesmen in the days of Washington.
The term of twenty-one years has been commonly
stated that which would be the best to limit the
time before allowing this right. While we are not
sure this period Is not too extended, 1t Is quite
certain that the present term is altogether to-
short As things now are, it Is matter of the ut
most facility to make the foreigner las good as a
native" very shortly alter arriving upon our shores
Here in Boston--and it is the same elsewhere in
the whole country we have no doubt-naturaliza-
ton papers can be got out under existing laws,
for the immigrant fresh from the Dogs of Ireland
or the hillsdes of Germany.
So FIR as influence and power at the polls 20,
these freshly imported foreigners at once take
part with the oldest citizen and taxpayer. We
think such state Of things is manfestly unjust !;
and it is one among the numerous objects Of the
81 e. 4
This it will effect- not to-day or this year, then
tomorrow or next. Its determination his that
strength and frmness which can only end in an
accomplished reality 1t is the conviction, we
think, of all candid and thoughtful persons in our
country that far stringent naturalization laws
are demanded. Those at present in vogue are
little more or less than urlesques-absurdites At
all events they are scandalously violated every
day, and are no better, if indeed they are not
worse, than no laws at all
In relation to the eligibility to Office, we think il
should be limited to the natives of country, ex-
cePt set forth in the above second amendment.
A law like this is just to all and unjust to none.
If an American goes. abroad, and becomes a resi-
dent Of another country, he is quite contented If
he is protected in person and property; If he has
social position and privilege; if the institutions of
the country swing wide their every door for his
admittance. If he should ask for more than this,
he would be guilty of degree Of mpertinence
amounting to insult and which should very pro-
perly bring down upon bis head penalty for the
violation of common justice, common right, and
common serse. That nation which contdes the
care of its government exclusively to the native
born citizen, viii inevitably be well governed, pros
porous, and happy, aud at the same time command
tho respect and admiration of other nations.
Let our Legislators, with wisdom only equalled
to their patriotism, carry forward the noble work
they have commenced. The people are with them
heart and hcad--Boston Bee
WIN. A. Moncure, ESQ, has resigned his seat in