Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-08-08

4 II A
the happiness OF my countrymen, and no man can
claim that he is entitled to it as right II ] per-
ceiye two great parties In the country 80 nearly
divided in strength, as to enable the foreign popu-
ation TO decide the issues of elections and dictate
to the native freemen of the country their Cover
nors and their laws, and should feel II my duty to
endeavor to uni.e my countrymen in the purpose
OF restoring the control of public affairs to the ma
tiye-born, would not my object be approved by
every sentiment OF patriotismp To accomplish
this object it becomes necessary to remove the
temptations to barter the rights Of freemen for the
votes OF the foreign population, and for the time
being to contne my suffrage and political patron
age to my native-born countrymen, until ia truth
| and In fact as well as in name and appearance
America shall be ruled by Americans There is
no injustice done to the foreign resident citizen by
this policy. He is protected in the rights OF per-
son and property, and his industry rewarded by
competency and the esteem of those who know
him-can he or ought he to ask mores He is
not excluded from office because of any personal
hatred or prejudice; but because the number of
immigrants from the Old World, who are unac-
quanted with the nature of institutions, is so
great, and the disposition of parties heretofore has
been 80 prone to obtain their suffrage by means
calculated to sap the foundation of our institutions
and instead OF public virtue for their support sub
| sttute the will Of a multitude Of strangers to our
Constitution and laws, that this policy has become
absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of
free government, and transmit them az an inber-
itance alike to the natve-born children of the for
elgner and the Amer lean citizen--no right which
naturaztd citizens now enjoy or possess under
the Constitution, will be disturbed or impaired by
the American party.
My colleague says there is no necessity for
awakening this home-sentimcnt Of protection to
American rights. That the States have the right
to establish the qualifications of voters; and that
if the Federal Government should prolong the
term OF probation for the alien before he can be
naturalized, the States might admit him to vote at
shorter period, and thus defeat the whole political
policy OF the naturalization laws do not intend
now TO enter upon constitutional argument. But
will say, that, as understand the Constitu ion.
wherever any power is exclusively conferred on
Congress, when Congress shall choose to exercise
it that exercise of jurisdiction divests the States
from the right to exercise the same power in con-
travention oftAe acts of Congress The States have
all agreed, by the Constitution that Congress shall
have power to pass uniform laws on the subject of
naturalization-so that no alien can become cit
izrn Of the United States, except in the mode
provided by Congress. The question then arises
whether State can confer political privileges and
the right OF suffrage upon foreigner not a cti- |
zen OF the United States and not qualified for
naturalization under the laws of Congress. Nv
opinion is, that State has no such powers--at
least 80 far as the right to elect officers of the
Federal Government is concerned. But, sir, there |
Is no force In this position of my colleague The |
General Government is constituted by and operates
upon the same people which constitute the objects
OF the State governments and if the principles of
the American party are correct and expedient ht |
them be applied both by the Federal and State |
Governments within their own respective jurisdic-
itions. But my friend says, we do not understand
the true intent and meaning Of the existing laws
OF naturalization. He says that after five years
residence we conclude the foreigner is entitled to
citizenship But not so. He has merely the right
to be candidate for citizenship; and that the
court, b3fore whom he appears and demands to be
naturalized, must be satisfied that he is well affect
ed towards the institutions of the country; and
this, my colleague snys, cannot be the case until
he understands the nature and principles of our
Government. There is much force in this posi-
tom and If such Interpretation of the naturaliza-
tion laws should be enforced by the tribunals au-
thorized to grant letters of naturalization it would
more effectually exclude the foreign populat on
from the ballot-box than any measure proposed by
the American party BY this construction of the
law, the courts would not only have to Judge of
the evidence as to time of residence good beha-
viour, and submission to the laws but each ap-
picant would be subjected to an examination
touching his knowledge in the science of civil gov
ernment, and especially the Government of the
vesgation of the greatest and most cultivated in
tellects-and government whose principles are
poorly comprehended even by many in high DO
litical station.
Hmy colleague should press his construction to
its full meaning, it would forever exclude nine
tenths OF the foreigners, who become residents of
the country, from the ballotbox. | prefer pc
rod of time, in justice both to my countrymen and
10 the foreigners, after which his submission to
the laws, and peaceful residence, shall be taken
as sufficient evidence of his republican principles
and qualifications to vote. | prefer it. because of
the vagueness and mpracticability of the rule laid
down by my colleague and because of tn, temp.
tation to partisan judges to evade its meaning.
We know that now, in many places, the only
quallhcation required by the judges, as to being
well affected towards the institutions of the conn
try, is, that the applicant will support the party
to which the judge belongs To the remarks of INV
colleague as to paupers and criminals cast upon
our shores from the Old World saw we should
repel them, with all the power of the State and
Federal Governments, We need not stop to de-
bate the constitutional power Of Congress, until
we see whether we agree as to the expediency of
preventing such immigration to our shores put
the question to my colleague, whether he believes
in the expediency of exercising the power to repel
from our shores paupers and criminals from Eu-
rope, and to prohibit their immigration9
Mr.. JEWETT. III had the time, was pre-
pared to show to my colleague and this committee
that nearly every State in the Union has stringent
and efficient laws upon the subject.
Mr.. COX. That does not answer my question
at ALL nor is it important to me whether he an
swers il or not Whether my colleague agrees
with me or not have not doubt of the duty of
the Federal and State Governments both to use
every constitutional power to prevent our shores
from being flooded with population sent from the
prisons and lazer houses of Europe-persons who
had become nuisances and pests to their native
country-refugees from justice-crimnals pardon.
ed ON condition of transportation--suc as have,