Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-03-15
Ey THE LEo1sLAruRE of the State o

EFT THE LEGISLATURE of the State of
Maryland closed its session on Monday
night at II o'clock and we are now
called upon to look to their proceedings,
to see what of good has been done
what laws have been enacted, by which
the interests of the people are to be pro-
NOTED, and the dignity and credit of the
State maintained.
Looking back to the campaign of last
fall, we are reminded of the great efforts
of those enlisted in the cause of Know
nothingism, to impress the people with
the pressing necessity of an entire change
in the laws regulating the naturalization
of persons who have been oppressed by
the tyranny and despotism of foreign
powers, and who have sought home
and an asylum in this our land of civil
and religious liberty; who, animated by
the true principles of our republican form
of government, had most cordially and
enthusiastically united their interests
with the interests of America and the
fortunes of Americans. These laws, look
ing to the moral elevation and improve
ment of this class of persons, was assailed
as unjust, and not suited to the progress
siveness of Know-nothingism. We had
supposed that this Legislature, composed
as it was of large majority of that
Order, would have gratifed the anxious
desire of the expressed will of their party.
and passed some law by which the purity
of our elections might be preserved from
this alleged foreign vote and foreign in
fuence. This assembly of the potent
and wise of their party did pass resolu-
tions, requesting our representatives in
Congress to take such action on this sub
ject as their judgment might dictate
tacitly admitting that there was no power
in the Legislature to interfere with the
general principles of the naturalization
of foreigners; and now we hope that the
people will understand how many of them
have been swayed in their expressions at
the ballot-box by this false idea that the
Legislature could correct those evils,
which they have imagined to exist, and
which many, in their purity and honesty
of intention, thought could be remedied
by the Legislature, and were accordingly
induced to give their votes where ineli
nation and their preference did not lead
them.
Yet, this principle, that Americans
must rule America" is so attractive and
fascinating sentiment, that no one who
breathes the atmosphere of this great
and prosperous country dare deny or
question the business and correctness of
the principle, and we might say that the
day has never been since the days of the
Revolution, and never can be again,
when any others than Americans can
rule America. And who are Americans?
Those only whom kind Creator has
been pleased to allow to draw their first
breath in this land of liberty, equality
and Justice, and not those who, though
they have been born in a foreign country,
have an ardent desire, burning zeal,
an enthusiastic admiration for the great
American principles at the very founda-
ton of this our Republic? These, too,
we humbly apprehend, are also Ameri-
cans if not by birth, they are in senti-
ment, and in their devotion and loyalty
to the Constitution and laws of this coun-
try; these, too, should share with us the
honors of our government, as they have
on many occasions, with commendable
patriotism, borne the hardships and dan
gers of the battle field.
Again, none can forget the great sym
patty these would-be philanthropists
exhibited in behalf of the poor Sisters of
Charity and Convent Nuns. Their APP
peals in behalf of these poor oppressed,
incarcerated, and deluded women, are
fresh in the memory Of all. We have
had evidences of this anxious solicitude
among certain few, in the shape of nu-
merous petitions, from various parts of
the State, calling upon the Legislature
to pass some law for the protection of
women in converts" and to forbid the
erection and institution of convents.-
Yet, in the face Of all this disinterested
sympathy-of all this kind and charita-
bic consideration on the part Of the pc
titioners-a select committee in the House
of Delegates, appointed to investigate
this subject, and to which all these petit
tons were referred, unanimously reported
tbatthe was no need of any Legislation
on this subject. Thus we see that Know
nothingism has been deprived of its very
food and sustenance, and that, too, by
those who had fed and fattened upon
prejudice and passions inaamed by the
fanaticism of religious bigotry and puri-
tanical intolerance.