Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-02
immigration OF Foreign Paupers and
Criminals.

The Washington american, commenting up
on Gen. ZoILIcoFFER's resolution, adopted in
the House, ON the 18th ult., says:
1t will be seen by the yeas and nays above
given, that there were a great number of
members who did not vote. The Introduction
of the resolution and the demand for the yeas
and nays upon it, produced great consterna-
ton, and terrible scampering out of the Hall
in order to ''dodge" the vote; such an exhibit
ton of political cowardice we have not wit
messed ia many day, and we know not wheth-
er the spectacle were more laughable or la
mentable; I'VE thought it both
There were some who voted no, because,
said they, Congress has no power TO prevent
the introduction of immigrants. Congress no
power to prohibit the introduction of immi-
grants! Well, this is something new under
the sun. But such an assertion is not worthy
of a serious reply; it can only call forth
laugh of derision from an intelligent man, and
excite pity or conempt for the ignoramus who
makes ii.
Congress has power to declare upon what
terms foreigners may become citizens, and of
course TO say whether they shall become cit:-
zens at all or not. Congress has also the pow
er to regulate commerce with foreign nations
or to prohibit it altogether. Congress can
therefore prohibit the Importation of persons
| if it think proper to do so. By the 9th sec
ton of the first article of the Constitution it
is declared that ''The migration or Importation
of such persons as any of the States now ex
listing shall think proper to admit, shall not
be prohibited by the Congress prior to the
| year eighteen hundred and eight"
This of course admits the power of Congress
to prohibit immigration or Importation OF per-
sons but restraints the exercise of that power
as respects a certain description of persons
| (blacks) until after the year 1908. We can
not but think that the denial of this power in
| the presence of such statesmen as Mr.. Madl-
son, j. q. Adams, Judge Marshall, Henry
| Clay, Daniel Webster, and j. c. Calhoun,
would avs drawn f,Om tn IN only nile
! contempt.
But the adoption of the resolution 10y
vote of 1871 to s. was a most gratifying tn
| umph of one of the leading principles OF the
! American party. 1t shows most emphaticaily
that these principles have made Judgment
! deep in the American heart; and that, although
! the American party has itself been crushed
! mot crushed OUT between the upper and
neither milestone Of Democracy and Republi-
| canism, its principles are strong enough 10
carry l37 members of the House. while sixty
others not having the courage to vote against
/ them, and not wishing to vote for them, skulk-
| cd, ran. and lodged like frightened rabbits!
We hope the two branches of Congress
! will be brought to a direct vote on a
! bill to prohibit the introduction, under heavy
| penalties, OF foreign paupers and persons VINO
have been convicted of any crime or INSIDE
meanor in the country from whence they
come or have lived. Let Us see who will vote
to allow the United States to be made, as they
are now made the Botany Bay of the world;
place to which all the paupers, laZaronf,
beggars, thieves, pickpockets, burglars, coun-
terfeiters, fOrgers, and murder,rs of Europe,
Asia, and Africa may be shipped of An
asylum for the oppressed is cur country-it
is just such an asylum for the oppressed as
every State Prison or Penitetiary is! And
yet these miserable outcasts of the world who
have left their country for their country
good are the very creatures by whom our
ballot boxes are defraudcd, and elections are
carried. How long are we 10 suffer such in
tolerable evils and burdens as now curse our
country, merely that the Democracy may have
Il never failing supply of new votes 10 enable
them to retain power and the spoils!