Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-26

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them footing upon these shores they
must at least call them political offenders ;
but they may be foreats three times CON
tvicted for the worst human crimes. II so,
they will not themselves let out the secret.
The wonderful organization of the police
establishments in European countries il
little understood here Every rufiian,
burglar, cut-throat in Paris or in Naples
is well known to the police. The police
can call meeting of them at any time, or
meeting of certain select ones not selec-
ted for their virtues--can make theme an
offer once for all that if they would save
themselves from the galleys or gallows,
they shall have free passage to land of
liberty as Corbondr or Red Republicans
But there is one more direct constant,
and copious flow of criminals into this
country from the English penal colonies.
Bermuda lies nearly opposite to Charleston
about seven hundred miles off. Here are
always confined upwards of two thousand
of the choisest miscreants in all creation
accomplished London house breakers,
bank robbers, forgers, garoters. Their
numbers are kept up by new importations
from England; but as the terms of their
sentences respectively expire, what is done
with them? The laws of the colony prohib-
it them from being set free toithtn the ISL
ands The very last thing the government
would think of, is to bring them back to
England.
Now Bermuda has constant traffic with
the coast cities of America. 1t has no
wheat or other grain, no beef, and no NUT
ton, save what it imports from America.
Therefore its waters are always full of small
! American vessels. In these the criminals
are regularly shipped as they become en-
titled to their freedom, sometimes as many
as four or five in the same vessel. Their
passage is paid by the English government,
and they carry their virtues and accom-
plishments to give strength and glory to
the great Republic. That this was prac-
tice few years ago, is matter of fact, which
we assert; presumably it is so still. And
although the transaction is always secret
one, no doubt researches amongst the own
ers Of coasting vessels in Philadelphia and
Baltimore would bring to light the fact, if
not its whole amount.
And it is singular that the largest traf-
fc of Bermuda is Cor was) with the ity of
Baltimore. Undoubtedly the fash-clubs
are largely recruited from thence. Those
fellows are the very men to make good
Roughskins and Blood Tubs.
On the other side of the continent, San
Francisco has been receiving picked en-
igration from the Australian penal colo
onies-ul,mni who have graduated in the
great University of rrscalty on earth
PROFESSIONALLY the citizens of America
are injured by these importations of crimi-
mails and paupers; and the adopted citizens
J even more than the native; because their
character suffers. 1t cannot surely be
desirable for them that the same door
which is open to them and their children
should admit, on the same footing and on
the same terms, the off -scourings of French
galeys, the refuse of Irish poorhouses and
offal of English gaols They do not need
to import scoundrelism, laziness and igno
rance along with them, inasmuch as they
will find plenty of all that here.
!, 1t has become the direct interest of
both native and adopted especially the lat
teri to procure such a change in the nltu-
ralization laws as will prevent the very
loose and irregular admission of all appli-
ICduiS, anu III all Minus vi COuTJS vi TSCOTu
And further we submit that tits not enough
to prevent criminals and paupers from be-
ing citizens-they ought not to be allowed
to land. Such cargoes could not be run
in any seaport of Europe; and if there is
not strong enough police force to keep
them out, that force ought to be increased.
and a portion of it charged with that expires s
duty-and the force ought to be especially
strong all along the st. Lawrence and
Lake shores.
Also, if it be fact, as we have charged,
that paupers are sent hither, through Can
ada or otherwise, by emigration Societies
and that criminals are sent hther from
Bermuda by the British Government it.
self, we presume it is a matter calling for
the remonstrance and interposition of the
American Administration Ship captains
2 who bring such passengers ought to be
|, brought to condign punishment, and the
Government which continues such prac-
tice ought to be regarded as our worst
enemy.
We have no intention in this article of
suggesting special changes in the natura-
lization laws. Five years give more than
time enough to grow familiar with an
affair so simple as the American Laws and
ConstitutiOn-that is to say as familiar as
the average of natives-and as familiar as
is needful to make a good citizen The
man who does not know enough of it in
five years will never know.
In short, the present naturalization laws
if strictly administered, may be sufficient
But they are VIGOROUSLY administered
most loosely and ineficiently. The courts
which give an intended citizen his papers
often give him informal and insufficient
papers, so that he cannot perfect, his
citizenship in another State. Thus some
are kept from voting who have right to
vote. Many others are admitted who
never ought to be-and evidence is taken
F of an applicants fitness for the duties of an