Daily American organ., 1856-05-08
Americanism Thirty Years Ago.

the time OF publication.
Americanism Thirty Years Ago.
Many far-seeing statesmen and patriots, in
the early days Of the republic, foresaw the
evils which would result from the increase of
immigration into the country and warned the
country to guard against those evils before it
: should be too late. The Legislatures both of
Massachusetts and Virginia MISREPRESENTATION
moro than fifty years ago, recommending a
change in the constitution, to prohibit persons
of foreign birth from holding political Office
under our government Thomas jefferson was
the author Of proposition even to exclude
foreigners from acting as jurors in the courts
of Virginia, and many other prominent states
men of his day manifested their fears at the
ultimate effect Of indiscriminate immigration
into the United States, bit the policy of psr-
tisan leaders has always, from first to last,
prevented any decisive action on this question,
until noao the numbers Of foreign born citizens
in the country control all political contests.
There is not State in this Union in which
foreign-born citizens could not decide political
contests between the old rival parties. n @s
AT various times distinguished statesmen,
since the days when Washington and Jeffer-
son had, respectively, unbounded influence in
the nation, have portrayed the evils Of immi-
grafton and sought to mitigate them. A friend
has recently referred US to a speech made in
the House Of Representatives by that distin-
guished man and pure patrio., John Randolph
Of Roanoke, who though eccentric in his po-
litical course in several respects, was neverthe-
less man of far-reaching sagacity and unques-
toned patriotism. The speech referred towas
made in March, 1916, when the question. of
chartering . National Bank, was before the
House, in Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Ran
dolph moved to insert the word aatire in the
clause which limited the choice Of the directors
of the parent bank to citizens of the United
States, and the motion was agreed to without
any debate. When the committee reached the
clause providing for the appointment Of direc-
tors for the branch banks, Mr.. Jewett moved
that the word natiue be also inserted in that
clause. M 45.ss. ,eas3.. 5
A debate ensued upon this proposition of
Mr.. Jewett, and it was lost 1t was upon this
proposition that Mr.. Randolph made speech,
from which we quote as follows, viz:
How long the country would endure this for
eigu yoke in its most odious and disgusting form
he could not TELL but this he would say, that II we
were to be dictated to- and ruled BY foreigners, he
would much rather be ruled by British Parlia
Inent than by British subjects here. Should he be
told chat those men fought in the war of the Rev
olution; he would answer, that those who did 90,
were not included by him in the class he adverted
Tl-k- -.--s1- 49, 4 -
at its commencement alike British subjects. Ma
tive Britons therefore, then taking arms on our
side, gave them the same rights - those who were
born in this country and his motion could be easi-
ly modified SOFAS TO provide for any that might be
Of this description bat no such modification, he
sure, would be found necessary, for this plain
reason, Ito wit - sv1li oas 3i boo 1aiE II tfs
Where we're the soldiers Of the Revolution
who not natives? They we're either already
retired or else retiring to that great reckoning
where discounts werc not allowed. IL the honora-
BILE gentleman Opposing tho proposition) would
point bis finger to any such kind of person now
living, he would agree 70 his being made an excep
ton TO the amendment. IL was time that the
American people should have character Of their
own and where would they 6nl its In New EGG
land and in Virginia only, because they were ho-
mogeneous race--a peculiar people. They never
yet appointed Foreigners TO sit in that house (of
Congress) for them, or 70 ll their high Offices In
both States this was their policy it was not
found in was IL owing to their paper consti.u-
tons but what was better, IL was interviewer In
the frame of their thoughts and sentiments, In
their steady habits IN their principles from the
cradle--a much more solid security than could be
found in any abrscadAbra, which constitution-mon-
gers could sorawl upon paper 4A - 8an
IL might be indiscreet in him to sAy H. for TO
say the truth he had little OF that rascay vir-
tue, prudence, he apprebended, a. any man, and
could little conceal what he ielt A affect what
he did not feel He knew IL was not the way for
him to concilste the manufacturing body, yet he
would say that he wished, with all his heart, that