The New Hampshire Gazette

"I cannot omit recommending a revisal of the Laws on the subject of naturalization."

"And shall we refuse to the unhappy fugitives from distress, that hospitality which the savages of the wilderness extended to our Fathers arriving in this Land? Shall oppressed humanity find no asylum upon this globe."

Extracted from the PRESIDENT's "Message."

IS this a correct representation? Is it true, that fugitives from distress arriving in this land are denied the rights of hospitality? Have we indeed exhibited to them less humanity, than the savages of the wilderness extended to our fathers?

A fair statement of the rights enjoyed by Aliens, residing in our country will give the best answer to the President's interrogatories, and teach us what reliance is to be placed upon information communicated by the Executive.

1. We permit Aliens freely to emigrate from their own to this country.

2. We permit them quietly to occupy real estate here.

3. We protect their persons, their reputation and their property from injury. In other words—A aliens have a right to sue in our courts for the recovery of their debts; —and for redress of wrongs done to their persons, to their reputation and to their estate and executions obtained by Aliens may be levied upon the property or bodies of their debtors found here.

4. We permit them to go home to their own country, with their families and property, whenever they please. These rights are secured to foreigners of every nation of the globe so long as they reside here in a state of alienage.

For these immunities, we implicitly require, that they shall not during their residence here, disturb our peace;—but shall render justice to others, as others are bound to render justice to them.

But they complain that we do not naturalize them at once. That we require them to give some evidence of attachment to our constitution and laws; of good conduct and morals, manifested by a long and peaceful residence, before we permit them to vote in the choice of our rulers.

If this requirement is a denial of the rights of hospitality to foreign fugitives, then Mr. Jefferson has justly fixed the charge of barbarism upon us. —If on the contrary, it is the prudent exercise of a right adopted and practiced by all nations of the globe as necessary to their preservation and security, then with painful anxiety we must doubt either the wisdom or patriotic views of the executive chief.