Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-05-01
REPEAL OF NATURALIZATION LAWS.

aaVoSet iudy noNuule u tuiS SoIilederacy
in the future, MIR. 0lsy, the Senator from Ala
bsus will havo the immortal honor of hav-
ing, st tho right moment, seen clearly and said
plainly, and embodied in distinct measures
before Congress, the great, fearlsss principle
of genuine independence lie has been the
author, in this present Congress, of Two bills,
which are postponed and shuflsd away and
dropped under the table for the present, but
the duty and necessity OF which will infalli-
bly, grow more urgent and 'indubitable every
day they are so left in allegiance. One is, tho
conscription Of persons pretending to be for
eigners, but whom their own governments
do not think it worth their while to claim as
suhjscts; the other is, the repeal Of all nat
utal'zation laws. The first has been defeated;
tho second postponed by vote of 9 to s.
We shall boar more Of them both.
The opponents Of both these measures
have acted undcr the vsgue and confused
ides that certain foreign governments which
do not know ue, snd which We do not know,
nigh! possibly be irritated against us. They
say, If We pretend to put ourselves on an
equality with foreign nations, aud venture to
say that we will admit their consuls when
they admit ours that We will respect tho
rights Of thoir nationality so soon as they
respect oura; that we will acknow. edge their
citizens to be their citizens just when they
acknowledge as to ba citizons Of the Oon-
federate States, aud not TIL then :; perhaps
they may geow angry-who knowsf
And they say further: If we undertake to
define who shall hereafter have the privilege
of becoming our fellow -citizens by naturali-
aation if We presume to shut up from the
overcrowded monarchies of Europe those
convenient receptacles for their overplus
p,upors, and the criminals who have become
too intolerable at home if we act as if We
felt that We also have social system to
conserve; civilization to guard, to cherish,
to honor; aud that for those ends we esire
to have the working out of our grand prob
lem ursel7es, without being swamped by
dsluges Of superfuous humanity, sloughcd
off from tho diseased societies OF the old
world snd emptied cut, and swept sway
feom all tho ponitsRtiariss Of mankind why
We may otftnd aud asgrieve somebody. Lord
Russell might, perhaps, feel indignant againat
US, and might afPront Mr.. Mason worse than
ever--who knows? lie might not only de-
lay recognition" but might even lay an em-
barge OH the ships of the Emperor 0 + China.
Possibly thsrs nsy bo another more So
cret reason for tho opposition to Mr. Osys
bills. Possibly there may be aoms who
csunot boar tho thought Of shutting out the
Yankees from this Coz fedorscy; but this is
thought which we shall not At present
pursue.
Ono thing, however,, We say boldly this
Oonfederacy will never be recognized as an
independent nation, never, until we first have
the spirit to recognize ourselves.
Tho Hon. Senator from. South Carolina,
Mr.. Orr, is opposing this bill Of Mr. CLAY, to
repeal the naturalization laws, was good
enough to enter upon defence of foreigners.
They are very much obliged to him; but
nobody was assailing them. Mr.. Ulay's bill
is not directed against foreigners, nor against
any of those who have heretofore come from
eiksr countiiss~to settle in ours. 1t only
sttitms tho right of this uation-if It is 4
nstion-to define, as otior nations do,
tha terms of its own citizenship for
the. future. MIR. Olsy DOES not chsrge
anybody with anything; it is quite un-
necessary to claim OH behalf Of for
eigners that they have fought gallantly
III our ranks 'from the first Manassas, &C.. I"
that they are useful artizsns in our towns
&c. If they have fought anywhere in our
ranks, if they have settled in any of our
cities, and declared their intention to become
citizens under the existing law, Mr.. Clsy's
bill does not touch them-tney oAn become
cinz 1s, and be the equals Of all other citi-
zens. Mr. Ort's chivslrous dsfonce of TO-
regners was, therefore, needless but they
thank him all the same. This bill of Mr.
Clay's hurts the rights of no human being in
tho world; but, We admit, it shuts ths door
of our conntry to tho influx Of lord Rus
ssll's "ovs,stock tenantry" of Esglsnd and
of ireland, whom it might be found con7e-
nient to bis lordship to chase away from their
native land. Well, this country is either ours
or Lord Russell's. MIR. CLAY holds that it is
ours.
But it ssems thst it might bo rash to say
so, just yet, By legislative enaotmsns.-
There are mysterious Whispers sbout impor-
tan. things that are 10 the. womb Of time, and
vessels that are .upon the stocks, We wish
them all good deliveranoe.