IMMINENT DANGERS FREE INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES FOREIGN IMMIGRATION, AND THE PRESENT STATE NATURALIZATION LAWS. A SERIES OF NUMBERS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MEW-YORK JOURNAL, OF COMMERCE. AN AMERICAN. [RRVISED AND CORRECTED, WITH ADDEGIONS. “To the principle of our goverment nohing can be more opposed than the maxims of able ‘mmarclice. "Yet om euch we aro to expect the gretest none emigrate, ‘They will bring with them the principle ofthe goreazents they ler nbd ei early goth; ** ** Tn proportion Ao tne marae ey el share with wt the lepinltion. They wl inf into i heir spirit, warp end Ii ite directions, and ender it x Kloropencna, incoherent, distracted mast, *** I dood he cxpodieney of iting them by extvrinnry encourgement.”—Sarrensox. Noe on Virginie NEW-YORK: B, B, CLAYTON, PRINTER, 17 HANOVER-STREET. 1535.PREFACE. Tr is but to0 common a remark of lat, that the American character bas within 4 short time been sadly degraded by numerous instances of riot and lawles violence in action, and a dangerous spirit of licentiousness in discussion. While these facis aro universally acknowledged, the surprise is as universal that thi degeneracy should exist, and the attempts to explain the mystery are various and contradictory. ‘There are some who rashly attribute it to the natural tendency of Democracy, which they sey is essontially turbulent. ‘This is the most dangerous pinion of any that is advanced, as it must of necessity weaken the attachment of those who advance it, to our form of government, and must produce in them a criminal indifference to its policy, or traitorous desires for ita overthrow.— Despotism often displays to shallow observers the exterior of justice on the part of the roler, and the outside show of order and contentment on the part of the ruled. Yetlook beneath the surface, and injustice, it will be seen, usually usurps the throne, and covers its oppressive deerecs in mystory and darkness; while the ‘oppressed people, restrained from complaint by physical force, are compelled to ‘endure in silence, and stile while they suffer. Despotism is rank hypocrisy. — Democracy is, at least, no hypocrite,—it is honest and frank; and if there are ‘occasions when its waywardness and folly offend, yet its whole characteris open to view, and its irregularities can be checked and radically cured by enlightened public opinion. How much better, to be occasionally pained at the unsightly eruptions which often in the highest heslth of the body deform the surface, than to glory in that beautiful end lustrous complexion and hectic glow, the symptoms of organie disease, andthe sure precursors of sudden dissolution. Teannot adopt the opinion, either that Democracies are naturally turbulent, or that the American character has suddenly undergone a radical change from good tobad; from that of habitual reverence forthe laws, to that of riot and excess. It in not in the ordinary course of things, that the character of nations, any more than of individuals, change suddenly. When the activity of benevolence, in every shape, which has been s0 long at work, through the length and breadth of our land, is considered, we naturally look for a corresponding result upon our society, in a more elevated moral character, and greater intellectual improvement, more love of moral truth, and rogard for social order. To a slight observer, however, a reault the very reverse seems to have been the consequence. Isay it seems thus to slight obsereer: to fone who looks more deeply, a sold substratum of sound moral principle will ap- Pear to bo evidently Inid, while tho surface alone presents to our viow this moral Paradox. How can it be explained ?iv PREFACE, fthere is nothing intrinsic in our society which is likely to produce eo sudden and mysterious an effect, the inquiry in natural, are there not extrinsic causes at ‘work which have operated to disturb the harmonious movements of our system Here is a field we have not explored. We have not taken into the account all, ‘or even the principal adverse causes which affect our government from without. (One great opposing cause that embarrasses the benevolent operations ofthe coun- ‘try has apparently been wholly left out of the calculation, and yet it is a cause, which, more than all others, one would think, ought first to have attracted at ‘This cause is Fonrtox Inouceation. It is impossible in the nature of things that the moral character, and condition of this population, and its immense and alarming increase within a few years, should not have produced a counteracting offect on the ‘benevolent operations of the day. How is it possible that foreign turbulence ported by ship-londs, that riot and ignorance in hundreds of thousands of human priest-controlled machines, should suddenly be thrown into our society, and not pro- ‘duce here turbulence and excess? Can one throw mud into pure water and not disturb its clearne i" ‘There are other causes of a deeply serious nature, giving support, and strength, and systematic operation, to all these adverse effects of foreign immigration, and to ‘which it is high time every American should seriously turn his thoughts. Some of these causes are exposed in the following numbers. New-York, August, 1535. AN AMERICAN. IMMINENT DANGERS (70 THE FREE INSTITUTIONS OP THE UNITED STATES THROUGH FOREIGN IMMIGRATION Present State of the Naturalization Laws. No. L INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. ‘Tux great question regarding Foreigners, and a change in our Naturalization layes i'n Notional question, anda this time & Very serous one. Is therefore tril Joop rogrot tha | perceive an attempt mado by both parties, (hoverer to be Tapectet) to turn the just National excitement on this subject each to the account Seiden party. Lhe question, Mhther Foreigners thall be subjected fo anew ne of naturalization? which grave cireunstaices have recently made necessary to ezamine, 8 one entirely separate at present from party polities, s parties are tow constituted, end is capablo of being decided solely on its own merits. The Segun of the two patie, however are noticing the subject, and both engoged in {nS usual syle of reermination. Neither of them ean see the ether, nor any teauure however seperated from party prinlply if proposed or discussed by i pponen, excep through the distorted medium of prejuice. So degraded inthis peneulay hes the party preve become, in the view ofthe intelligent potion of the Fommuniy that no one seem to expect impartiality or independence, when any Sonton 2 bated thet efector even but seems to alec, the slightest change in Re ipeet of tho party, or inthe standing ofthe indvidoa, whove caus it advo- ater Tho exclusive party character of m great portion ofthe dally press is Shion of fact, ia gros vtuperative fone and spies dafence of dangerous jruices and abutos, Fang ofthowe but temporarily favour mere party designs is Prssroaycaaus of aletm tothe Amoricanpeople. To increace the ov cach party Adopta tho nla weapons of warfare of sls antagonist, thinking it an ample sstitatio ofteconduct, fit ean but show that they have been used by iis oppo- Bent Teannot but advert to thiserying evil ata moment when agreatand pressing anger the conntry demande the atenton of Americens ofall partes, and their coo and dipessionate examination of the evidence inthe case ‘The dangerto which would callatention i notmayinary.Itieadangeratsing froma nee pociion of the scil elements inthe oncard march ofthe world fo bert. ‘The geoatarogel for sone yearshastll now been principally confined to Europe. Bat Gocunotsscludey if we woud, the inflonee af foreign moverents upon our un plea intttins in the grent contest betwee liberty and despotism. Tt Tan gnovance unaccountable nthe conductors of tho press ath mernent nt to inowe and « neglect of duly sopardonable, not gunrd the people agaist the ‘Hangéos resulting fom this source, ‘To deny the danger, i to shut one's eyes. ites ui th en “Aso snk ay that sam ang om Tomonstration ofits actual presence among ws, by atiibuting this alarm to any but vor than aly at Te madness ii finging sway out ibe, ‘s strugglo, but without the slightest concer, at tho fist appear. fnce ofthe enemy.