American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-21
The Naturalization Laws.

The Naturalization Laws.
In the House Of Representative on
the Sd instant, the Hon. Jacob Broom
OF Pennsylvania presented a memorial
from sundry citizens ofthat State, and
resident in Philadelphia, asking fortho
repeal and abrogation of the acts of
Congress establishing a uniform sys-
TEN of naturalization. ....
We arc glad to perceive that the PEG,
pie are moving on this question, and
also that Americanism begins to be re-
cognlzed in the preparation of bills ha-
wing in view the formation of State
Constitutions Cor the Territories. We
shall advert to this matter after the
bills shall have passed both houses.
We propose now to say a few words
only upon the question of the abroga-
tom of the naturalization laws. The
question involves serious considera
tons. Congress has 'pover to estab-
!lsh rule Of uniform nnturalition. -
Suppose this poweris not cxerqisod?--
y question arises whether n State NAV
not enact laws on this subject in the
absence Of a Congressional rule? 10
avoid all controversy on this point, it
IS IN our Judgment far better that a
Congressional rule should exist; but
the present rule should be materially
modified. Congress has the Constitu-
tiona power and ought to exercise it,
to declare who may and who shall not
become citizens Of the United States &
the terms and conditions of citizen
ship.
This power being exercised by Con
gress, it then belongs to the several
States, each for itself, to decide what
portion Of the citizens shall enjoy suf-
tlagc and hold Office within the States
respectively. A Congressional rule of
naturalization existing, it follows that
no power bnt that of Congress can
transform an alien into a citizen; but
no Congressional rule existing, it is OBJ
v0us that each Of the States would
claim and exercise the power to admit
aliens to the rights of citizenship on
her own terms. This claim would give
rise to great and endlq&s difficulties.
All these difficulties will be avoided
by continued exercise Of this power by
Congress, and hence we oppose an "ab-
rogation" of the rule Of naturalization
and advocate II change Of the rulc.-
How are paupers and criminals to be
excluded without Congressional inter
vention? What is to check foreign i'm
migration but rctraints imposed by
Congress? We care not whether the
term Of probation be twenty-one years
or Ionger--what we urge is, that Con-
grcss shall continue some Tuie--that it
shall extend tho term Of probation
that it shall exclude the vile and vi.
clous, the reckless and the worthless
aud that reasonable capitation tax
shall be imposed upon those who may
be deemed the subjects of admission in
to the country.
We would not encourage further i'm
migration, but we would, on the con.
trary, discourage it.. We not only de-
sire our population to be American in
the present century and in the next,
but ever and forever. We sOou1d keep
this country for our descendants IN tie
Wimttablc future. Men may donouncc
this as a najT0aO policy-wc care not
for their anathemas. We prefer the
narroao path Of safety to the, broad
road leading to the destruction of A..
mcrican institutions. Limit, if YOU
please, the duration Of this Republic to
FIVE hundred years, and who is there
that may not know by arithmetical
computation that our own descendants
without further immigration would oc.
cupy and cultivate every arabic quar-
ter section of our immense domain with.
III that space Of time?
And what American would even set
this limit to our national existcncc?-.-
Yet if immigration shall henceforward
increase, as in the past twenty years,
without check or diminution, it is OBJ.
vlous, and is capable Of demonstration
that these States will contain in three
hundred years far more dense popu.
lation than any country Of Europe con
taing at the present day. And such a
couglomeration Of people! Can any
patriot contemplate these things with.
out cGrsing in his heart that folly and
madnoss Of domagogucjsm, which is
making our country q Botany bay"
for all the nations Of tho earth?
ImsYyf1. fDpgn,