Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

NATURALIZED CITIZENS.

There is so much to approve of in the following dispassionate article from the Alexandria Gazette, upon a subject which is now attracting general attention throughout our country, that we ask for it the calm consideration of every American--native or adopted :

"The American people have seen with regret for some time past, the Naturalized Citizens of the Country appealed to by a certain order of politicians as a distinct class of citizens, and arrayed together as Foreigners; and, they have seen with sadder regret these citizens brought up to the polls, and encouraged to vote, in a Mass as Foreigners. They have also seen with sorrow the emigrants to this country, from the various kingdoms and principalities of Europe, taken under the special care and control of the leaders of one of the political parties into which our country is divided, and their political action moulded and directed by these leaders. And in pursuance of the political system thus adopted, it has also been seen, that religious prejudices are encouraged, and new and dangerous influences, hitherto unknown among us, brought into the consideration of our public affairs. What has been the consequence? We adopt the words of a contemporary and say, by acting as Foreigners, and claiming consideration as such, and by loaning themselves to unscrupulous politicians in the country, they force on the reflecting portion of the people a consideration of the dangerous consequences which may ensue hereafter from the extension of the elective franchise to thousands and tens of thousands of emigrants, who, with honest intentions, but in ignorance of the true character of our institutions, may be induced to act together, not as Americans, but as Foreigners, entitled to take part in the Government of the country of their adoption.

"In these feelings the Whig party has fully shared, and the expression of the opinion of the Whig party throughout the country will soon become universal and almost unanimous on the subject. They do not seek to alter or abridge the just rights or privileges of foreigners now in the country, and especially of foreign naturalized citizens, who by law have these rights and privileges now extended to them. But they are opposed, and they will, hereafter, on all proper occasions, show their opposition to the influence of foreigners as a separate and distinct class, with the government and control of the country, and to aid them in effecting this great object, they will generally go for such an alteration of the present naturalization laws as will require a longer term for foreigners to reside in the country before they can by their votes, control all its interests and direct all its movements. In this determination, they know they will receive the cordial support and assistance of most of the intelligent naturalized citizens themselves, and of the reasonable and well-informed emigrants.

The principle contended for is too just and reasonable in itself to be successfully resisted. No harm by it is done to any human creature, but an act of great justice is done to our own country. Most justly, it has been remarked, has our country been denominated the asylum of the oppressed from every quarter of the Globe, and with God's blessing, we trust it may ever remain so. But, even for the sake of those who may seek it as a place of refuge, for their security and for its own permanence and prosperity, it ought to be governed by its own citizens, and be, in reality, what it professes to be, an AMERICAN Republic."