The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-24
KroKur. Nay Is. 1859.


| VeWSteWseN.-
four circular addressed to the Iowa delera
oon vas received few days since, and my an
svef 10 delayed on account Of Temporary illnese
You ask the following questions, which | an
very willing to answer, although my colleague
Of the Senate have done full justice to the sub
ject. These are your questions:
| lst Are you In favor Of the naturalix. .t;or
laws ~ they stand, and particularly ara,na, m
and every extension Of the probation time
I'd. Do you regard it duty Of the Renuhli
can party. - the party Of equal rights. 20 on
pose the war upon each and every discrimina.
e,oo that may be attempted to be nc nade between
the native born and adopted citizens as 70 the
right Of suffrsges
*d: Do you condemn the late action of the
nepuoi'cans in the Massachusetts, Legislature
lor attempting to exclude the adopted citize ma
!or tSo years from the ballot box as unwise. un.
just and uncalled for?
J. In answer to your 6rst enquiry respond
- follows; ! consider the probation time longer
IMAM necessary. as time only proves that man
10 satisfied with his new domicil: and he and
Others can determine that part about as we'll in
nse years IS twenty. The intent is what deter.
m'"es mans domicl aud SO long As We per-
INIT Immigration (Which will be for all time) we
snail allow men to change allegiance when they
actually change their domicil, and become set.
tied, and certainly satisfied With the chanye
Our present naturalization laws institute a
kind OF initiation, which as now executed. ia
e'thsr . farce or q fraud, as all LAWYERS well
know. am net disposed to tie my political
faith to such badge OF inpesfection, which
leads to needless trouble, cost, false proof and
false swearing. think they can aud should be
improved for the sake Of emigranss and good
morals.
2. Our principles as party, ~ se,. as the
dictates OF reason and justice, oppose all poll
'icAi distinctions between native and adopted
citizens; not especially because our platform
vas made for the purpose, but because as Re. |
oublicans We have adop ed the fundamental
principles Of the founders of our republic who |
made their platform wide enough for all the
world.
As to tso years additional probation, am
,tterly opposed to it. II a man is iuii grown
Ind fairly domeciled according to law, let him
'xercise his rational functions To natural,ze
foreigner, and then require two more years
etore admitting him to his natural rights. is
Ike building and finishing ship, a, requiring
er to lay two years on the stocks before she is
elm tied to float in her natural element /
:n readily premise the grounds of your in
ignity. 1t seems like requiring you to dress
Or and conclude nuptials, two years before
GU are TO enjoy your marriage rights.
But this is entirely local question, as every
tate has the sovereign right to prescribe her
wn voters, Massachusetts,, as one of her Hon.
representatives. recently said, is crowded with ,
opulation- 1t is very different in the West,
Id therefore the encouragement given to emf. /
ration, will be different in different localities
'om this apparent political blunder in our dis
nguished sister Of New England, we may hope
receive some advantage. by becoming The a
cipients of those who will escape from the Q
!" provision; and in the end it may assist in ).
stributing the surplus population Of the East n
here they can find better homes on the rich I,
Aries of Iowa p
Very Respectfully your fellow citizen. :"
SAMUEL. R. CURTIS.
TO Messrs. kuestenmacher, Henry Ritcbter.