Greenbrier weekly era. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1854-1861, 1856-05-20
@D,&. T 4a88 rs S = 3 e.
Principles and Policy of the A.
lucrican l'ay1y."No. j.
GOV. WISE'S LETTER REVIEWED

My last number was devoted TO the
consideration of the uaturalizption laws
OF l79O aud 1898, aud the opinions ex-
pressed by distinguished Statesmen
whilst those bills we're under consdcra-
ton. | come now to the law Of 1903.
Between 1903 and 1898 our country
had been the scene Of great excitement.
The people seemed to lose sight Of their
own affairs i'll their anxiety about the
Questions which then agtatcd Europe 10
ITS centre. There were two great parties
III tue public councils, anil amongst the
people; one Of which was partial to Eng
land, and the other to France. For
elgners Hooked TO oar shores. and open.
~ attempted to control tlic politi;s Of the
country.
Under circumstances like these. the
law OF 17O1, was found to be iupf cion,
| and it wns deemed necessary to frame
ono better adapted to the cxigencics Of
the tines-exterding the term of resi-
deucc before naturalization to fourteen
yrGfs, and requiring tho applica ut at the
time OF making his declaration to enter
on the record description Of his per.
sou. age, occupation, nativity, &C., so as
to establish his idcntity, End prevent i'm
position by Il fraudulent use OF his pa
pcrs. This certificate was to Lc (iIcd in
the Office Of Secretary OF State.
This bill was fully discussed BY many
distinguished men, but having dcyoted
SO much space already to this branch Of
The subject: I canno! extract largely from
that debate. There is one speech, how
ever, which contains SO ablo m exposi-
ton OF the principles Of the American
party that | cannot forbcar from .rivinp
n paragraph or two, from it, I alude
10 The speech of Robert GoodIoe Har.
per. He said
| "llc believed that it was high time We
should recover from the mistake which
this country fell into, when it first began
to form It's constitutions, Of admitting
foreigners to citizenship. This mistake c,
he believed, had becu productive of very
great evils to this country; and unless
corrected, he was approhcn5ivc these
evils would greatly increase. lie be-
Ilcvcd the time was now come when il
would be proper to declare that nothing
but birth should cntitlc man to citizen.
sh'p in this country. lie thought this
was proper season for making dec
laratlon. lie believed tho United States
had experienced enough to cure thom of
The folly of believing that the strength,
ana happiness ofthe country would be
promoted BY admitting to the rights of
citizenship all the congregations Of pco.
pic who resort to these shores FROM eve.
ry part Of the world. Under these i'm.
prcssions, which, as he supposed they
would have the same force upon others
rs upon himself, ho should ut dctain
the Committee by dilatipg upon-ho
proposed to amend the resolution by
adding to it the following words, viz -
"that provision ought to be mado by
law for preventing uny person becoming
entitled to the rights of citizen of tue
Unltod States, except by BIRTH"
Mr. Harper said hc was for giving
foreigners every facility Of acquiring
property, Of holding this property, Of
raising their families, and Of transfor.
ring their property TO their Gamiics.-
Lie was willing they SHOULD form citi.
zcns for Us; but as to the rights Of citi
zcnshlp, he was not willing they should
he enjoyed, except by persons born in
this country. i1o did not think oven
this was desirable by the pcrsous thom.
selves Why, lie aokcd, did foreigners
seek residence in this country lie
supposed it was either to better their con.
ditioh or 10 live undcr government bet,
ter aud moro FREQ than the ono thcy had
Ieft' But was it necessary thcso persons
should ut once become entitled to take
a part in Tho concerns Of our Govern.
ment! lie believed it was Jy no means
necessary, either to their happiness or
prosperity, and he was sure it would no,
tend to the happiness Of this country
Uthc natirc citizens arc not dulccti ut.
cQ"utc 10 the performance oflhe dutics
n government, IL might bc expclicut IL
s"uikc Agisiafors ar enters /rom othcy
comHk'icS 10 rio that bnSiUcss far ,eh,ch
Mcy Mcmsc/Drs nrc MT quaHEcn. Bnl
u tic pcop(c of Mc co"nlry, vho osee
their birlh IN il, arc ade1n|lic 10 uN thf
dnfics Of fhc government, hr coud mi
sec /oF '"ltat 1raSoM strangers shouM h.
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