Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-06-23
The esFourth Plank. ="


form, have had the effect to show more def
1itely the ground of objection, among
to the language therein used
We feel warranted in saying, accordingly
tha. this resolution is satisfactory to the
greater portion nat Pariy-aDd to large
ne ,stssawi,h- the exception OF
the clause We print in italics:
81. We claim for citizens, native and ns-
turalIzed. liberty of conscience. equality OF
rights, and the free exercise of the right of
suffrage. We favor whatever legislative
and administrative reforms may be neces-
sary to protect these rights and guard
against their iniigement or abuse, and IRE
oppose any aJrid9emenl uhateusr Of the right
of naturalization nom secured by lap to emil
grants, and all discrimination between ma
tive and naturalized citizens, whether BY
amendment of State Constitution or other
wise, aud we condemn equally such dis
elimination, whenever and wherever made,
whether BY South Carolina or any other
State"
Americans desire modification of the
laws relating to the naturalization of semi
grants" This obnoxious clause, they re-
gard as aiming blow at this distinctive
principle of theirs, and as surrendering a
principle on which they insist as VITAL
They ask no discrimination between the
right Of native born and naturalized citi-
zens. They vehemently denounce the dis
elimination made BY the Administration, as
officially set forth in the letter of Mr. Cass,
between these two classes, and insist on
an entire Equality OF rights" between the
foreigner and the native, when the former
has gained full citizenship, by the process
of naturalization. And they are consequent
" rot desirous of any ''two years" amend
ment or the like, which shall thus unjustly
abridge those rights.
But as to the modes and conditions of
comforting full citizenship "emigrants, .
as now fixed by law, :hey are not satisfied.
If this clause, therefore, means to declare
against any changes in the presen. laws and
practices on this subject, it cannot but have
their emphatic dissent. With such a con-
structon, we are free TO admit that their
exceptions would be well taken. For our
selves, we say very distinctly, that the avow-
al of any such -Asds and Persian policy is
wholly uncaled for, and that no such issue
ought to be made.
Is this, then, the fair construction of that
clause! We readily confess that the phrase
ologv is not clear. nor free from ambiguity
Standing alone, it would most certainly
seem to bear the construction which Ameri-
cans have put upon it. Taken in connec-
ton with the proceeding clause, which
favors "reforms' to "protoct" the rights of
suffrage and citizenship, and to "guard
against their infringement or abuse" they
cannot be thus Extensively interpreted, with
out making the resolution inconsistent with
itself. What the framer of this piece OF
political architecture intended, we have no
precise knowledge. The natural inference,
however, is, that he meant to insist that the
fright" OF emigrants to become citizens
through the process Of DECENTRALIZATION, is
now secured BY law, should not be denied
to "emigranls," while the methods are SUBJ
ject to reasonable notifications, such as
were before insisted on.
Those who are we'll versed in the history
o. our national politics, will remember that
the Congressional act of 1902, which has
remained unchanged from that day to this,
provides that an alien may be admitted to
full. citizenship in the United States, after q
residence of five years in this country, pro-
vided that he gives notice of such intention
ttUo gears previously. This is the "uniiorm
naturalization law" as it now stands. The
strict carrying-out of this principle, in the
action of every State on this subject, (Which
we understand to 5e in substance, the posi-
ton taken by Coy. Chase, in his Sandusky
letter,) we believe would give general satis-
faction. Is not this an adequate basis OF
compromise between Americans and Re-
publicaDs Would it not fully o5viate the
conceded evils which at present exist in the
case! Let US at least make an effort to har.
monize whatever difference separates as on
this question, and act together in behalf OF
the principles on which We fully agree
Ctn. Daily Gaaeiie, 2Oh inst.
From the Cincinnati Times, June llthl
The Democracy Becoming Patroni-