Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-23

. the subject Of naturalization. presume no
member of tie Democratic psrty de Tres total
repeal Of tie restrictions impos ID by the nstu-
talization laws. No one asks that foreigners
Immediately ON their arrival in this country
may be admitted 10 all the rights of citizenship
without some probation. ! have ye; 10 meet
the man uf any party. who contends for THAI
proposition There are few if any who think
that the present probation Of five years is teo
long.
Bearing this in mind let.us pursue the subject
further
| The argument against the American party
proceeds on the assumption that they propose
to do inyustiee to foreigners. Now if fnjusties
is to be done it must be by infringing some
right that foreigners possess. This leads us to
inquire if they have any right whatever to be-
come naturalized, unless we choose to confer it
on them by lawp No jurist will contend that
they have. But if they have such a right,
would not that right be as effectualY invaded by
a restriction Of. flee years as by one Of d7een or
toenty-one years2 The difference would MY be-
one of degree The imposition OF an illes kaS.
Of i've cents on my property is as much q Hola-
ton OF my rights, as one OF i've dollars wonld
be. And so restriction on my natural rights
FOR five years, Is as palpably unjust as one Of
twenty -one years. Tho one may be more bur-
thensonle than the other, but it is no more Vi
olation of abstract right. If then the demoera-
! ~ contend that the rights of foreigners are to
be violated by the proposed policy of the Amer
| lean party, they are inevitably driven by their
| own argument, to contend for repeal of all re-
| strictions. But they will assume no such posi-
ton, for they know that naturalization is mere
I matter of favor, which any government may
rightfufy grant or withhold at its pleasure, ard
may repeal or modify as circumstances may
| render expedient.
Thus it is clear that upon this point too Mr..
| Wise and his party do not differ in principle
from the American party. They will admit the
right to impose restrictions on foreigners, and
the expediency of doing so. They are content
with residence of five years as q prerequisite
to citizenship-we think that too short time,
and contend some for 1O-sOme for 10 and some
for 81 years.
Thus the whole question resolves itself into
one of time and not of principle. The question
is not rs to the propriety OF probatioIbut as to
the length Of that probation!
1t is consoling to the American party thus by
a logical analysis of the matters really in issue
between them and the Democracy to find the
latter sanetioning our principles. and giving us
the weight of their great names Oh our side OF
the question! We are happy to find them rec
ognizing the cardinal doctrines of the American
party, and we confidently anticipate, that aiier
the next Presidential election shall have revealed
the fact that their foreign allies, whonihey have
20 assiduously courted have deserted them, and.
gone over to the Black Republicans, they Will
unite with us, not only in endorsing our prine'-
pies but also in advocating orr policy!
think we may therefore safely assume that
there is nothing wrong in the abstract in this
great principle of Americanism-th idea OF
preferring our own country and our own coun-
trymen to foreign countries and foreign men
this feeling of nationality and patriotism which
prompts the wish that "Americans shall rule A
merica!" We may also set it down as an ad-
mitted fact, that if is not opposed to the princi-
pies or spirit of our fundamental laws, because
we find it incorporated in both, the Federal and
State Corstitutions-and in regard to the high
est offices known to our federal and State gov
ernments!
In my next number will show what ''the
fathers of the republic" thought and said on this
subject; and Gov. Wise may prepare to "bow
down" before the great name Of Washington;
and the Richmond enquirer and Examiner to
succumb to the authority of the Legislature OF
1889 and of the Great Apostle of Democracy
Thomas jefferson MADISON.