Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-20


year. Now to see the powerful influence which
this population must have in the country, we will
take the estimated arrivals in 1854 the criterion,
discarding fractions, we have 36S, 900. The pop
ulation OF Florida in 1850 81, 900. So there
came in 1854 foreigners enough make four States
of the population Of Florida-which would give
them weight equivalent to four members of Con-
gress and eight Senators. How long will it take
with this ratio of increase give them the control
Of the government? 1t can be demonstrated by fig
ures and long before they attain the ascendency of
numbers, they will have, they have not already the
balance of power. would not assent to their as
tendency if they all as pure as saints. 1t
would be to lose American nationality, upon
which all our hopes depend and substitute foreign
theories. This would be no longer America. The
physical frame would remsin but the spirit, the i'm
mortal part, would have fed forever But where
do the great body of these emigrants settle? Not
in the South. They do not diffuse themselves
through the country; if they did, the question
would be free from many existing objections. They
settle in the North and Northwest. They flock to
the public lands and the territories, where
cording to Democratic policy, they can vote with
out being naturaized and mould our rising institu-
tons, so as to perpeuate this abominabe doctrine
Of alien suffrage, and assure to the myriads vet to
come an open field where the foreigner fresh from
the bells Of Paris is equal at once with the native
But there is Southern view of this question also
suppose about hreefourths least of the foreign
ers who now land on our shores settle and remain
in the North, and principally in the Northwest.
They are prompted to this by twO.fold motive
They come with strong antipathes against southern
institutions, and means are not unemployed before
aid after their arrival by fanatca agents and So
cieties TO quicken these prejudices and make them
available for political purposes. Therefore they
act ia he free Tba Of
land made to the States and Territories in the
Northwest for their public works. together with the
facility for acquiring lands by preemption furnish
an additional and strong inducement Thus has
southern policy been instrumental by a system of
bOunties in promoting the settlement OF this vast
hive of foreign abOitionsts in the new free States
and Territories, and in order to insure the fatal
consequences which must flow from t. leading Dem
ocrats in the South and that whole party at the
North, united with the Black Republicans in estab-
| fishing the Odions doctrine of alien suffrage. So
that these recruits not only paid for hosti-
! ty to the South out of your inheritance and NINE
but they are armed at once with the right of suf-
| frage, and commissioned go forth and do battle
! against southern institutions. This alien suffrage
doctrine and the squatter sovereignty doctrine, for
which the party in power are responsible together
with the lavish gifts Of the public land to the new
States have done more harm to the South than all the
| legislation since the beginning of the government
and all the agitatiOns OF modern times. Sieges and
battles may devastate cities and countries, and the
smoke of their ruins NAV arise in mOurnfu columns
/ over houSeess population, yet few years of Wig.
orous industry will repair the breaches and remove
the rubbish, and the eve of the passing traveller
search in vain for the traces of hostile squadrons
and the rolling engines Of death.
But, the currents set in motion, by the poll
| cy to which / have referred, will flow on toward
I the Pacific, and cannot be diverted during this
| generation. And when the traveller passes through
the South, he may be at loss for the cause, but he
will read in the visible decay before him. the traces
Of some great calamity. The South has been in
jured, vitality injured, by her own folly. 1t remains
| to be seen whether the shadows of coming events,
already being cast will not awaken new sentiments
and new views upon these great questions.
But what remedy is there for the evils of the for
! eign question? | answer none for those that are
! passed, or are now upon But there is a remedy
| for the future
| While | am free to admit, that of the vast num-
Der Of foreigners that throng our shores there
are many honest, worthy persons aud of sufficient
intelligence to discharge the high duties of citizen
/ ship; yet it would be stretching charity too far,
to aver this of a majority Of them. But in making
/ general rules, determinations are impossible. We
have TO deal with the question as a whole The
influence of large masses Of such population upon
| our ballot-box, has been most pernciOus. This
has been known and felt in almost every quarter of
the republic. The apprehension Of evil to our in
situations from this source felt by the trainers
of the Constitution, and at a time too, when immi-
grafton was nominal compared to what il is now.
The Constitution provides that Congress shall have
power to establish ian uniform system of NATURAL.
zation." 1t provides also, that "no one but ma
tive born citizen a citizen Of the United States al
the time Of the adoption o! the Constitution shall
be eligible to the office Of President and that he
shall have been fourteen years resident within
the United States" The same qualifications are
required for VicePresident II requires also TO b'
a Senator in Congress, nine years citizenship, anC
to be Il Representative seven years citizenship.
Here we have the checks imposed by the Con
stituton, and the powers giyen-COngress has III,
power to prohibit foreign paupers and criminals
from landing on our shores. Let this be exercised
and enforced, and it will cut off a large portion o
the evil complained Of Let the naturalization law
be amended so as to extend the term Of residence
to reasonable limit to be settled by experienc,
and sound discretion All We want is safety to ouI
Institutions. This we have a right to, and no one
native or foreigner will question it. Such legisla
ton is but in keeping with the provisions Of Oh,
Constitution referred to. II, as we have seen,
foreigner has TO wait after he is naturalized nine
years before be can be 4 Senator, and seven years
before he can be representative, il was because
that term Of time was deemed necessary to acquant
him with the duties of those stations. And 80 in
regard to the extension of the term Of residence
preparatory 10 citizenship. These changes will take
nothing from the foreigner which he had before.
To make him a citizen at all, il a boon, and not
duty-and he ought 10 be the last TO complain
while he is protected in the time in his right
of person and property, in spirit and to an extern
known no where else.
am not the enemy Of the foreigner, but an
friend to my own country, and my first duty is 4
it, And while have descanted upon the characte
Of certain classes of foreigners who are now coming
into the country and who think will make bal
citizen. | am free TO admit that we have hundred
and thousands Of native born Americans, who ar,
no better than they should be, and who also max
bad citizens. But we have to bear with them. The
are not subject 10 naturalization laws, any othe
laws but such as are common % all-but the Othe
evil so far as il j. future, may be guarded sgains
/ by new laws The naturalized foreigners who ar
here have their rights fixed. They are immutabe
Il is not proposed take from them ot or title
They have all the rights that have, except they cal
never be President Vice President OF the United
States. Nor do believe can. And will transe
to them onght all my stock in those gided prizes
for the mere consideration OF their good will
But why should you naturalized foreigners oppOs
this reform as most Of you dOg Does Il affect you
Not at all. And you know better than do, tina
there large masses nov pouring into this countr
who are unfit and unworthy 20 become citizens. Bu
that is matter that does concern you as well as me
You have as much interest in this reform as have
You have embarked in the same vessel with me an
We are voyaging together, and II ycu are true mer
az trust YOU are, you will stick 70 your posts lii
brave the last hour; and il the vessel shoul
founder, your last cry il mingies with the roar
the closing waves, will be, long 1--we the Unite
States" The great river OF death which sweeps b
the door OF every man, win soon carry you and IN
TO our long home. In a few fleeing years yOJ
hopes and aspirations and mine viii be buried
the grave; and what tho you are foreigners B
birth and have left the graves Of your ancestors ar
come and taken the VOWS Of citizenship upon yo'
in this great republic, you will leave behind you
posterity, who like mine, wil be native born, an