New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-02
Naturalization OF Foreigners.

There could be no greater burlesque the elective
franchise than results from the indiscrminate adms-
sion of foreigners to the enjoyment of the privilege of
voting The policy Of the country is Determined by
the votes which are deposited in the ballot box and
it would seem to follow that every man who casts
vote should be capable of forming an itelligent
opinion on the questions which his vote helps to de-
eide. But multitudes of aliens are naturalized who
are not only completely ignorant of everything per-
tanning to our politics and Institutions but even
of the language In which our laws are written, and
through which information is to be acquired.
The scenes which occur on the examination Of ap-
plcants for naturalization frequently udicrous
One witness asked If the applicant for whom he
youched was favorable to the Constitution of the
United States? His reply was Yaw to be sure y
but being further Intercepted to the meaning of
the question, added, with great simplicity, Yes,
know he is baker, not being able to distinguish be-
tween his friends political opinions and his employ
ment. The case was heard no further
The same question being put to another witness, he
gave an answer SO little satisfactory that the Judge
asked him " if he knew what the Constitution was 2"
The fellow gave the following Hibernian reply "Av
coorse do-hes citizen of the blessed United
States" Although the Judge attempted explanations,
he could not make himself ineligible, the ignorance
being too dense to be penetrated The voucher could
not understand the difference between the Constitu-
ton and an individual These vouchers are required
by law to be American citizens, either native or
naturaized. They are frequently the latter, which
makes their testimony about as valuable as the en-
eoASSitASAA' -
voucher was Intercepted as to the character and
standard of our institutions and gave hesitating and
absurd replies. He was finally asked if he knew
| what the Constitution wasp To this question no
definite answer was given. AS a final question, the
Judge asked him if he knew what the form of Gov.
eminent was in this country--was it a republic Or
monarchy? The voucher reflected carefully, and
then in confident tone answered that it q was a
,nonarchy!' And this citizen" came to testify to
the qualifications of an alien to be made CITIZEN
also. These instances are but types of thousands
and yet there is found party in our country willing
to uphold and protect such outrages.
In Hartford, Conn.,, on the day previous to the late
election, more than seven hundred aliens were manu-
/ featured into citizens. A gentleman who witnessed
the operation, said :" they were ground through a
dozen at time.n III Manchester, N. H., for several
days previous to the election there was dense jam
of foreigners after naturalization papers, and in many
cases the vouchers were absolutely ignorant of the
United States Government and their duties as cit
zens. The Democratic success in Philadelphia. Of
which we have just heard, was owing to large man.
utacture of this kind of citizens. We can conceive
nothing more degrading to the character of nsti
buttons, more ominous of their DOWNFALL than this
placing the destinies of the country in the hands
the ignorant and stupid foreigners who now hold the
balance Of power and WELD it to defeat the wishes
intelligent American ctizens.-[Ex.