Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-09-17
AMERICAN PRINCIPLES-NATION-
Atty

Those who have made themselves famil-
lar with the true genius and theory of the
Federal Constitution-thcse who are ac-
quainted with the history of It's formation,
and the rise and fall Of different parties
since its adoption, cannot fail to see, that
the apprehensions and warnings of the IA
theirs of the Republic, in reference to aliens
and alien influence, were not idle.
The great aim and primary design of all
Governments, good and bad, is to preserve
unimperiled and unimpaired the nationality
of It's subjects, to guard against the intro
duction Of elements discordant and antago-
nstic to homogeneous sentiment, feeling
and interest. Without these precautions
and safeguards, nationality is soon lost and
swallowed up, and anarchy takes the place
of good order and good government.
To preserve American NatiOadiitg and
American Liberty-and they are, one and
indivisible-the trainers of the Constitu-
ton wisely excluded from the two highest
offices of the Government, foreign-born citi-
zens. They also made wise determinations
between the native and foreign born citizens
in prescribing the qualifications of other
Federal officers. That they contemplated
dangerous influx of foreign population,
and apprchended therefrom disaster to our
republican institutions, is apparent both
from their declarations and acts Who
does not rcmcmbcr-who can ever forget
the warnings OF the Father Of his country
upon this subject? Who, as he now wit
nesses the turbulence and lawlessness oi
Heterogeneous communities, north and west
does not look with gloomy forebodings tc
the future Of his beloved country? We
have said that the trainers of the C5nstitu.
ton were not oblivious to the evils of a
large immigration to our shores. That
they contemplated its restriction by Con
gress, as circumstances might demand, is
evident from the following clause:
"The migration or importation of such
persons as any Of the States now existing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be
prohibited by Congress prior to tie year
eighteen hundred and eight; but tax or
duty may be imposed on such importation,
not exceeding ten dollars for each person. y
See Constitution, Art. l, Sec O.
Now how can any one fail to see, that the
foregoing provision was introduced for the
purpose of guarding against the introduc-
ton OF an. excessive foreign population I?
The Constitution Of the United States not
only empowers Congress to pass naturali-
zation laws, but after the year 1908 that
body had power to close American norts
against migration of every kind.
The American Party have been denoup-
ced as enemies to the Constitutions foes
to civil and religious liberty, because. be-
heving that the existence of our free in
stitutions depended upon the preservation
Of An1ericon Nationality, they have adyo-
Gated a modification of our immigration
laws, and more faithful administration OF
our naturalization laws IF there is a
strictly national party in the country
party with pure Constitutional principles
and patriotic aims, it is the American Par
ty. IF they are foes TO the Constitution
so were its illustrious trainers. Let the
people look well to this matter before it is
TOO iatc.-Bocon Messenger