Republican Landmarks; the Views and Opinions of American Statesmen of Foreign Immigration. Being a Collection of Statistics of Population, Pauperism

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 edition. Excerpt: ... causes no trouble. Then he enters upon the land, and has as much right to enter as an American citizen who has lived here for forty years. Then he is to cultivate the land according to the provisions of the hill, just as citizens must do, for five years. That is just the time within which he can become naturalized. In five years any foreigner can become naturalized, and then he is entitled to a patent precisely as any other man who is born here; so that, in effect and substance, this section gives to every alien the same right to the full extent of a native born citizen of the United States. Sir, there is another thing rather remarkable in this bill. There is no time provided within which the foreigner, not naturalized, shall become a citizen of the United States. If he lives on the land five years after having declared his intention to become a citizen, at any time after that, whenever he shall choose to become a citizen, if that is twenty years aiterwards, he is entitled to a patent; and yet during all this time he is to remain on the land and enjoy it as fully as any American citizen can do. There is not a word in the bill to drive him from the land because he does not at the end of the five years become a citizen, so that I respectfully submit to the honorable Senator from Wisronsin, I think I was right in every thing that I said in reference tothe section. I do not propose to discuss it. It is perfectly true that I have not disguised my views in reference to the great principle contained in it. They have been explained heretofore. I am decidedly for a distinction between the American citizen and the alien. I am not one of those who cry out against aliens, or one of those who have opposed the immigration of foreigners to this...