American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-05-31
From the Richmond Whig.
PRINCIPLES AND POLICY OF TIE
AMERICAN PARTV.---NO. 8.
GOV. wIsE's LETTER REVIEWED.

GOV. wISE'S LETTER REVIEWED.
The boon of citizenship is ore of the
highest privileges which any country
can bestow ON the subjects or citizens
of another. 1t carries with it rights
and duties of the gravest character.
1t imposes on the person naturalized,
the obligation of obedience to the laws,
and it confers on him the right to pro-
lection, in his person and property, by
the whole power of the government. 1t
is a privilege which, in most countries,
both ancient and modern, was, and is,
conferred with great caution. Among
the Romans it was mark of great
distinction, priced as Of the highest
value; and the simple announcement
by an individual, 81 am Roman cit
izen!" was q passport to respect thro'-
out the world. In our country this
privilege has been granted more freely
than in any other, and | think there
is growing conviction in the public
mind that it has been rendered too
cheap. l have had neither the time
nor means to make complete investi-
CATION of the subject of naturalization
by the colonies and States, before the
adoption of the federal constitution,
but l will furnish few striking Incl
dents.
The 42d section of the constitution
Of New York, adopted in TIT, con-
ferred power on the legislature of that
State to naturalize Foreigners, but
with the following restriction
Crowded oil such persons so to be
by'them naturalized, as being born in
parts beyond sea, and out of the Unit
cd States of America shall come to set
tie in, and become subjects of this
State, shall take an oath of allegiance
to this State and abjuro and renounce
all allegiance and subjection to all and
every foreign king, prince, potentate
and state in all matters, ecclesiastical
as aceU as ci0il." Sec Kent. com. v 2,
page 73.
From this clause it will be seen that
New York, at that early day went q
bow-shot beyond the American party !;
she requiring renunciation of ecclesi-
astical and civil allegiance, whilst tho
Americans demand only rcnunciation
Of civil or temporal allegiance.
By act of 1779 Maryland required
the applicant for naturalization, to
subscribe a declaration of his belief n,
the Christian relfgion, and to take, re-
peat, and subscribe an oath of fidelity,
and that I" l do not hold myself bound
to yield allegiance or obedience to any
King or Prince, or any State or Gov
crnmcnt."
The first law of the United States on
this subject of naturalization was ap-
proved, Goth March, 1890. The bill
was without any opposition in either
House of Congress, but q number of
members availed themselves of the op-
portunity to express sentiments which
are almost identical with those of the
American party of the present day.
james Jackson, of Georgia, said:
Gle conceived the present subject
to DC of high Importance to the res
pcctability and character of the Amer
lean name; the veneration he had for,
and the attachment he had to this
country, made him extremely anxious
to preserve it's good fame from injury.
lie hoped to see the title of ien of
America as highly vonerated and res
pectod as o citizen Of old Rome. /
am clearly of opinion that rather than
have the common class of vagrants,
paupers and outcasts Of Europe, that
wo had better be as VIC are, and trust
to tho natural increase of our popula-
ton for inhabitants. IL tho motion
made by tho gentleman from South
Carolina, should obtain, such people
will find an easy admission indeed to
the rights of citizenship; much too
easy for the interests of the people of
America. Nay, sir, the terms roquir-
cd by the bill on the table arc in my
mind, too easy. / think before man
IS admitted to enjoy tho high and in
oStimablc privilege of citizen Of A.
merico, that something moro than a
mere residence among us is necessary.
think ho ought to pass some time in q
state Of probation and ut the end Of