Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-29

Principle. aud Policy Of the American Party.

's1' a"Ns
GOV. wIsKs LrrrER skvIrwkp-So. 5.
The boon of citizenship is one OF the highest privileges
which any country can bestow ON the subjects or citizsns
OF another. IL carries With IL rights and duties OF the
grsNest character. IL impose on the person nsturalzed,
the obligation OF obedience 20 the laws. and allegiance to
the government Of his adopted country and IL confers on
on him the right to protection. In his person sad property
by the whole power of the government Il isa privilege
which, in most countries. both ancient and modern, was
midi is, conferred with great caution. Among the Romans
IL was a mark Of great distinction, priced as of the highest
value and the simple announcement by an individual.
81 am a Roman Citizen" was a passport TO respect
throughout the world. Ia our country this privilege has
been granted more freely than in any other. and I think
there is a growing conviction in the public mind tina, it
has been rendered too cheap. l have had neither the
time nor mesns to make a complete investigation Of the
subject OF naturalization by the colonies and States. before
the adoption Of the federal constitution. But l will fur.
nish a few striking incidents.
The AID section of the constitution Of New York. adop.
ted in 1871, conferred power ON the legislature of that
State to naturslEe Foreigners, but with the following re.
striction.
Provided all such OF the persons so to be by them ma
tnraiized,as being born in parts beyond sea. and out Of the
United States of America shall come to settle in, and be-
come subjects OF this State, shall take an oath OF allegiance
To this State and ahJure aud cnouncs all allegiance and
subsection TO al and every foreign king. prince, potentatc
ami state in all matters ecclesiastical as cell as civil
See Kent, com. v. ,, y. 73.
From this clause il will be seen that New York. at that
early day went a bow.shot beyond the American party
she requiring a remuneration OF ecclesiastical and eirii
allegiance. whilst ths Americans demand only a renunci.
alton OF cirii or temporal allegiance.
BY act of l77e Msryllnd required the applicant tor M.
turalilation, to subscribe a declaration of his Ssiisf "a TIE
christian religion, aud TO take, repeat, aud subscribe an
oath OF fidelity, aud that Il do not hold myself bound to
Weld allegiance or obedience to any King or Prince. or
any State or Government"
The first law of the United States on the subject of ma
turaization was approved, 96th March, 1890. The hill
was passed without any opposition in either House OF Con
gross. but a number of members availrd themselves OF the
opportunity to express sentiments which are almost iden.
teal with those OF the American party OF the present day.
James jackson, OF Georgia, said:
He conceived the present subject To be of high impor-
lance To the responsibility and character OF the American
name the venersiion he had for, and re attachment he
had TO this country made him extremely anxious TO preserve
its good fame from injury. He hoped To see the title OF
"A citizen OF America "a highly veneratcd and respected
A. a citizen of old Rome. I dm clearly Of opinion. that
rather than hdrr he common class IF ragraH,s, pdHpers
and ouicdAs Of EwroO-, that 80 had better be a. NJ are. and
trust To the natural increase of our population for inhabi.
tants. II the motion made by the gentleman FROM ;. C.,
should obtain, such people will hud an easy admission In.
deed Ia the rights OF citizenship; much too easy for the
interests Of the people of America. Nav, sir. the terms
required 10y the bill on the table, are, in my mind. too easy.
! think that before a man is admitted 10 cnjoV the Righ
and iRes'imdbie privilege Of a ci.i<ct OF dmericd, that
something more THAI q mere residence among Hs Is Ne.
eeSs"ry. ! "t"A ne ought 10 pass some time IN Il state
Of probation, and al he md Of the tine b, able to bring
t'stHHoEtdls Of Il proper and decent 6,hHrior. No man
who would be a credit to the community would think
such term difficult or indicate If bad men should be
dissatisfied on this account aud should decline TO immi.
CRATE, the regulation will have a beneficial effect, for We
had better keep such out OF the country than admit
them into H."
Theodore SeigWick. of Mass, in the same debate. said.
He was against the iudiscriminatc admission of foreign
ers to the highest rights OF human nature, upon terms So
incompetent To secure the society from being overrun by
the oticasts OF Europe; besides. the policy of Settling the
vacant territory 10y immigration is OF a doubtful nature
The citizens OF America preferred this country,
because IL i TO be- preferred the like principle he wished
might be held Toy every man who came from Europe To re-
side here; but there were at least some grounds to fear to
the contrary their sensations, impreguated with pteju-
dices OF education acquired under monaTchical and aris-
toctatcal governments, may deprive them of that wish
for pure rvpubicAuiSm, which is necessary in order to
taste it, benchceuce with that magnitude which We feel on
the occasion. Some kind of probation as il has been
termed i absolutely requisite to ensble them to feel and
be sensible OF the b~lessing-withOut that probation, We
should he sorry to see them exercise a right which We
have 30 gloriously struggled TO attain"
Michael j. Stone, OF Maryland, said
Il would let the term OF residence be long enough to
accomplish two objects, before | would consent to admit a
foreigner 10 have anything 10 do with the politics Of this
country first. that h. should have an opportunity OF
knowing the circumstances OF our government. and in
consequence thereof, shall have admitted the truth of the
principles We hold second, that he should have acquired
a taste Tor this government, and in order that both things
may take place, in suca a way a. to make him worthy oi
admission into our society, | think a term of four or seven
wears ought IN be required \ foreigner who comes here
i not DESTROYS of Interfering Immediately with our poll
tics, nor i IL proper that he should. His immigration il.
governed by q different principle he i DESTROYS OF Oh
tanning and holding property. | should have no objection
70 his doing this from the fSt moment lie sets his foot on
1907 lA tl''l hA u hIifAS u me iNhl NF oNgtf 10
b. cautious hor RE dtnt foreigners 10 The oher prri-
i.ges of ctiseHship, and that for a reason not vet mem
toned perhaps Il may allude to the next generation
more than TO this the present inhabitants were most OF
them here when engaged in a long and hazardous war
They have been active in rearing up the present govern
ment, aud feel, perhaps, a hudlble vanity in having Ell
fectrd what it, most sIuguiue friends hardly dared to con-
template. There j. no danger OF these people losing what
they 80 greatly esteem bit tie admission Of fDreiyu,rs
70 oil places 81 gorrru"e"f MAY tiHetare Ms system eiM
the dreqs of hcr Jorner habits, and eorrupr rbat g,
betters the most pure Of human i,sitiions."
Herr We have the principles of the American patty, on
this subject, clearly e1pouudcd by patriot. Of the r,tli.r
aud better days OF the Republic. The act of 1890 Was
very short and simple To- it, provisions. The substance OF
it l. embraced in the clause which cuacts
That any alien being a free white person. Who shall
have rc-iied Nithin the limits aud under the Jurisdiction
Of the United States for the term OF two years, may bc
admitted to become a citizen thereof, on application to
any common law court Of record iu any one ut the States
wherein lie shall have resided for the term OF one year at
least, and making proof tn the satisfaction Of such court
that lie j. a person Of good character, end taking the oath
or affirmation prescribed 10y law to support tile Constitu-
ton ct the United States, which oath Or affirmation such
} court shall administer"
This act was passed at a tine when the population OF
the United Stat = was but little more than three millions.
scattered mainly along the sea coast, whore W. had bound
less wastes Of unsettled territory, comparatively unry-
plored, and when, along our whole Western frontier. W.
we're exposed to tie iucursipns Of savage enemies, who re-
quired "a strong force To keep them in check. There was,
then, every motive 10 extend inducements 70 foreigners to
emigute - thi- country, TO strengthen Us against foreign
and domestic enemies, aud 10 subdue aud bring into cul-
tiyation our Wild aud unsettled domain. IL t. not q mat
ter OF surprise, therefore, that the law was 80 loosely
drawn A. not even % require a remuneration hy the dppli.
cant Of his allegiance 10 his native sovereign.
\ very few year., however, su1iced TO show the mis-
take that had been committed. In 1898, citizen Genet.
the representative Of French Democracy, came to this
country aud commenced a series OF intrigues and proceed.
ings, in violation OF our obligations of neutrality, and iu.
tended 20 involve ne in a war with England. By his a-ti-
hces he raised up a strong French party in the country.
and when Gen. Washington aud Mr. Jefferson interfetcd.
10 arrest hs unlawful proceedings, he boldly denounced
them both, add threatened 10 appeal from the President
To the people Much excitement ensued. for foreign in
huence had been brought 70 bear with fearful power on
the minds Of the people, and nothing but the frmuess OF
Washington and the veneaton which was felt Tor his
character could have stayed the angry storm. This seems
20 have opened the Dyes NJ Congress.
In 1895, a much more stringent naturalization law was
passed, which required the applicant to make, lsL A de-.
claraHOu, THREE wears before his admission, that il va