The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-09

residence of one year, we believe. We
do not cease to be Americans, no matter
to what portion of the country we may
remove. The Constitution still protects
us in the enjoyment of equal rights.
1t is the high privilege of an American
to seek his happiness in any quarter Of
the country he may select for his home,
and to carry with him his opinions-and
even his prejudices, if he SO chooses
his religious and political sentiments
and express them too, and the laws o
his country guarantee him protection
In Virginia he is Virginian, in Mary
land he is Marylander, so-called merely
to designate the place of his residence;
but above all, he is an American. The
Constitution recognizes no such faiiacy
as that man may be foreigner in his
own country. The soil OF the United
States is as much eminent domain as
that of England or-Francs, and it does
not belong to petty states. Therefore it
| is piece of impertinence for the native
population of one particular section of
the country to object to another portion
Of their fellow-citizens that they were
not born on tour SOIL" Where
did aDe get the soil ? and where did
ase get the right to exclude Amcri-
cans from the soil bounded by the
imaginary line enclosing the State of
Virginia? Not only have native born
and naturalized Americans this right,
but all foreign emigrants who may
choose to visit our shores are guaranteed
this privilege by the General Govern
ment. Persons who come from other
states, then, to settle on the American
soil of Virginia, have the same rights
that those born on the soil possess, save
that of exercising the right to vote,
which can be obtained after brief resi-
dence in most of the states-and we can
see no reason why long season OF
probation should be required for this
purpose. Most of the states have local
laws requiring residence of one year
but Virginia, whose policy has always
been on the japanese order of universal
exclusion, requires residence Of two
years. The Legislature has just passed
this law, we suppose, as an additional
inducement for immigration. Immi-
grants have to give up their right ia
vote in other states, to come here and
pay taxes for two years, without being
allowed a voice in the Government
Virginia legislation is as wise as the old
inhabitants are liberal. But we care
nothing about the antedeluvian spirit OF
this legislation--they may Ostracise as
extensively as they may desire-OysteI
shells upon which to write the names OF
the prescribed are abundant in Virgin
las waters; but the people who may
elect to come here, and settle here,
and do business here do not intend to
accept as q favor, that which is theil
inalienable right-the right to reside
here If they shall see proper to do so
Our soil is sacred, it is true, but it ii
sacred to liberty, and not the sacred
birth right of any particular class Of
people; all Americans have equal rights
to its fire and water and air--to its fruits
as well AS to its fevers--its comforts as
we'll as its ills. 1t is no priviiege--n6
mark of liberation on the part of thu
native population-but an inalienabls
right, for which no gratitude Is due Il
the pioneers and first settlers. The
Constitution guarantees equal rightsand
privileges to all Americans in every
part of the country, and forbids any
discrimination against any class of citi.
zens,-and, therefore, it is wholly graf
uitous to speak of Northern men who
settle in Virginia, as foreigners, and quite
unnecessary to assume that they have
not the same rights here that the oldest
inhabitant can claim. An American
citizen is the proudest title any man
can possess, and it carries with it the
privilege of enjoying equal rights
wherever the American flag floats in un-
dimmed lustre and regal splendor.