Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-09-16


men to serve their country in any capacity, or close
the door to political preferment against them But
what shall we say OK tho ignorant degraded masses
who are disgorged from the worst population of
Europe, annually upon our shores7 Have they any
attachment to our Institutions? Have they any
knowledge Of our form Of government Ought they
to be intrustcd with the exercise Of elective fran
chise7 Can any man doubt that there is danger,
when they are admitted to vote at our elections
with so much facility Besides, large proportion
of these immigrants are catholics and it has been
said, with truth, think, that the Roman Catholic
religion is essentially anti-American, because its
very genius is opposed to all free institutions The
spirit and tendency Of Romanism are opposed to
popular education and the diffusion Of useful knowl-
edge among all classes of the community, which are
essential to liberty andth permanency ofgood gov
eminent. But do not propose to discuss this Cath
Ole question. With an open Bible, with freedom
ofspeech, with free press and with free schools
we may think, safely quiet our apprehensions in
regard to the power and aggressons of the Catholic
church. Above all things let no protestant govern
ment let no protestant nation, initiate her intoer
ant spirit and proscriptve persecution.
ofall the dangers which threaten our political
fabric, one of the most alarming is the ignorance
and degradation of our foreign population. What
then is the remedy for ths2 In what way can il be
removed? The natural remedy so far their po-
litcal influence and power are concerned would
seem to be a revision and change of our naturaliza-
ton laws. But this, perhaps, is hardly to be ex-
pected. And yet do not see why. Why cannot
the patriots ofall parties unite upon essential
measured And echo answers why9
If we cannot hope for change in our naturaliza
ton laws the only practical antidote ofwhich can
conceive to tits danger is universal education and
this must be thorough to neutraze this foreign
i repeat it-,0e must educate the natives of the
soil This is the only efectual safeguard the only
sure palladium of our liberties. Be assured, Gentle
men, and let the American people lay it to heart
that very freedom will prove our bitterest curse
unless the people, the original source of all power
are educated, and enlightened. But, in the SECOND
place, we must meet this ever flowing stream ofim
E Win lut pIOutE vi lHslTuCtiOu W.
may not be able to do much--perhaps nothing-fo
those of mature age But the transforming anC
regeneratng influence and power of Christian edu
cation may mould their children into enlightened
, citizens and qualify them to exercise the varou
functions of power Alright.
Universal suffrage-and this is the theory an
practice of our government-isa blessing or ours
according to circumstances. In free government
men must assert their rights in person. they mus
appoint agents to act in their stead In avery sma
society, the citizens may in person attend to the ad
ministration of government but this is impossibl
in large state and hence the necessity Of appoint
, ing representatives by exercise of the electiv
:, franchise. And here an inquiry arises as to wha
persons may rghtfuy exercise this power of az
pointment or in whom does the right of suffrag
exist? l answer without hesitation that it ought
be restricted to those who intelligent and virtu
e GUS, whose moral impulses impel them to observ
- -theeernal rules of right and to the conservation
!, social ORDER This rule while it would exclude yer
. few native Americans who can read and writ
would eectuay close the door TO the elective fran
chise against the dregs of Europes worst population
:, which is continually pouring into, and spreadin
over the country But this is not believe, th
:, popular doctrine and we must meet the danger
which spring from this source as best we can. I'm
verSal suffrage then is blessing to nation who's
citizens it with intelligence 1t would he bite
curse to ignorant and degraded people, fit only
become mere tools in the hands of ambitious demi
. gogucs Better-ininitely better-the iron despotls
of Russia. In proportion, therefore to our ment
,f and moral Illumination will be chances of su
n viving the operation those causes which are activ
u ly at work for our ruin.
And now, in disnissng this topic, to sum up N
:. argument. have attempted to show that the Anne
=, lean government is founded upon the principle
y civil and religious liberty that the people mn
a understand what liberty is, in order to feel an il
tcrest in its conservation that the popular action
>, the American nation must be in consistency whit
g primary principle of our organization; that it Dug
i TO be our aim to make the principle Of ntelligen
=, generals and finally, that the danger to our pol
cal fabric, which arises from the facility with whit
;, foreigners arc admitted to vote at elections
be met only by general education If these consi
nd erations do not show the Importance of popular
au cation; if they do not show that patriots al
he philanthropiss ought to foster and render ef
m Client the common schools of the country, must
it fess my inability to make it appear.
n, LUDIMAGISTER.
BALTIMORE, Sept. g,