True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-02
Americanism Forty Years Ago.

Those who vituperale American prin-
ciples now, lay charges at the door of al
most every distinguished man who was
active in the former politics of our coun-
try. Many far-seeing statesmen and
patriots, in the early days of the republic,
says the Washinton Organ, foresaw The
evils which would result from the increase
of immigration into the country, and
warned the country TO guard against
those evils before it should be too late.
The Legislatures both of Massachusetts
and Virginia adopted resolutions, more
than fifty years ago, recommending a
change in the Constitution, to prohibit
persons Of foreign birth from holding po-
litical office under our government. Thom-
as Jefferson was the author of PROPOSE
ton even to exclude foreigners from act
ing as jul ors in the courts of Virginia,
and many other prominent statesmen of
his day manifested their fears at the ul-
innate effect of indiscriminate immigra-
ton into the United States, but the policy
of partisan leaders has always, from first
TO last, prevented any decisive action on
this question, until noU the numbers of
(oreign-born citizens in the country con-
troll all political ontests.-There is not
State in this Union in which foreign-born
citizens could not decide political contests
between the old rival parties. AT various
times distinguished statesmen, since the
D the days when Washington and Jefferson
e had, respectively, unbounded influence
il in the nation, have portrayed the evil O
d immigration and sought to mitigate them
d A friend has recently referred us 10
e speech made in the House Of Represen
d tatives, by that distinguished man an
d pure patriot, John Randolph of'Roanoke
e who, though eccentric in his polite;
]. cOu rse in several respects, was nevertht
l. less man Of far-reachng sagacity an
al unquestioned patriotism. The speec
e referred to was made in March, 1915
when the question Of chartering Natior
D. al Bank was before the House, in Con
ye miitec of the Whole; Mr.. RandolT
n, moved TO insert the word natiue in Il
Or clause which limited the choice of u
Directors Of the parent bank 10 "ci
n. zens of the United States," and the m
at ton was agreed without any debat
,ut When the committee reached the clau
es- providing for the appointment Of Directo
he for the branch banks, Mr.. Jewett NOV
ce that the word ndtivs be also inserted
ire that clause. A debate ensued upon. Il
ho proposition OF Mr.. Jewett and it was 10
in. 1t was upon this proposition that Mr.. Ra
me dolph made speech, from which
,es quote as follows, viz:
m "How long the country would end'
he this foreign yoke in its most odious a
~, disgusting form he could not tell, but I
~ he would say, that if we were to be d
tated to, and ruled by foreigners,
Iis- would much rather be ruled by Brit
,al- Parliament than by British subjects he
- Should he be told that these men fou
- in the war of the Revolution, he wo
las answer, that those who did so, were
ses included by him in the class he advert
G!t 10. That was civil war, and they {
:, We were at its commencement alike B
~ - ish subjects. Native Britons, thereto
co. then taking arms on our side, gave th
sti- lhe same rights as those who were b
Of in this country, and his motion could
,rn. easily modified SO as to provide for
m, l.at might be Of this description, but
~ such modification, he was sure, would
osO found necessary, for this plain reai
Va, ~. (to,wit;; =. ..,,,.,. :, ~. Z