The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-03-16
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Wednesday Morning. March l5. 1870.
The Question OF DECENTRALIZATION and
S=Hrnge.

just as the radical party OF South Caro-
lima is not disposed really to favor immi-
grafton to this State, so we find that there
is predisposition on the part of the
dominant party in Congress to place re-
striotions upon the naturalization of for
eigners. And the reason for the policy
is the same. The question is not whether
in the one case, immigrants are needed,
or in the second, whether the foreigner
is prepared to vote; but the question is,
ho,o aoiN he potep And thus we see an il
lustration Of the partisanship of the rad
ioal party. Well does the Baltimore Sun
say, cit is unfortunate that SO few ques-
tions can be decided by Congress upon
their merits, and with exclusive reference
to the public good" And we'll does the
same paper add:
"Instead of considering for what party
the large number of Germans and Irish
arriving almost daily will vote, it might
be asked whether they will not be as we'll
qualified to vote understandingly at the
end of three years and half as of five
years, and whether, in view of the great
Importance of immigration to the United
States, we might not run the risk of re-
ducing the term of probation without
detriment to the interests of the country.
It ought to be remembered that emigra-
ton was prominent element in the in
huences which led to our original policy,
not only in regard to naturalization, but
to the conferment of political honors.
In the Convention which formed the
Constitution, Mr.. Madison, Mr.. Ran
dolph, DR.. Franklin, and others advo-
Gated reduction Of the term of citizen
ship for the Senate and the House, the
promotion of emigration being one of
their objects, as also to acknowledge the
services of foreigners in the revolution,
it being stated, in the course of the de-
bate that almost all the general officers
of the Pennsylvania line of the revolu-
tionary army were foreigners. Our own
State voted for only short period of
citizenship for eligibility to Congress.
In regard to naturalization, one Of the
first of American complaints against
George Ill was that he had obstructed
the laws for naturalization of foreigners,
in order to prevent the population of
these States.
"The naturalization Act OF 1870 only
required of foreigners residence of two
years, when, on application to any court
of record in any State where the appli-
cant had resided for one year, making
proof of good character. and taking the
oath to support the Constitution, he
could be admitted to citizenship. The
law WAS SO loosely drawn as not even to
require remuneration by the applicant
of his allegiance to his native sovereign,
such was the eagerness to extend induce
20 70 - -
country, at time when our population
was but little more than 5000, 600, and
we needed emigration to bring into cul-
tivation our vast unsettled domain, and
strengthen us against foreign and domes-
tic enemies. Although more stringent
requirements were afterwards adopted,
it is undeniable that liberal legislation on
this subject was the earliest policy OF this
country, rs it was, in the language of Mr.
Madison, 'in all the constitutions aud
publications of America DR.. Franklin
said, in the Convention that framed the
Constitution, that we found, in the
course Of the rVolution, that many
strangers served us faithfully. and that
many nutives took part against their
country and it may be added that in
the last war with England foreigners gal
lantly fought for us by sen and land,
while some of our own citizens con-
sidered it unbecomi-g to rejoice in
American victories. In point of fact,
the only true natives of this contine ent
are the American Indians. This country,
unlike the old-settled communities of
Europe, is new, as we'll as essentially
European, being only few centuries re-
moved from the first foreigners who set
tied it, and to whom it is indebted for
all its muniments of human dignity and
human rights. There would, therefore,
seem to be every inducement of gratitude
and of expediency, as we'll as of justice,
for diminishing, instead of increasing
the restraints upon acquiring citizenship,
especially at moment when the Govern
ment is about to proclaim universal suf-
frage, without regard to race The test
for admission ought, in all cases, to be
that of qualification, but since that is
disregarded in natives, it might not be
right to require it OF foreigners, though
they are as we'll informed Of the obliga-
tons of good citizenship MS many of
those admitted to suffrage"
We fully concur with the SIN in these
views. 1t is the duty of Congress to