Foreigners in the South.
It is said that, since the call for the militia, some two or three thousand foreigners in
Richmond have applied to the Consuls of their respective Governments here for certificates proving that they are subjects of foreign Governments, and therefore exempt from the duty of defending the land whose laws have protected them, and where they have found a home for themselves and their families Many of these men, it is said, have been naturalized and have been voting for years.
They now swear that they are not citizens, and have never renounced their allegiance to their foreign masters.
Some of them do not even pretend to have any sympathy with the
South in her present struggle.
Whilst these men, whose numbers would make them a valuable element in the defence of the
State, are thus deserting her in the hour of her trial, our best citizens are compelled to serve in the militia, and fight for the defence of these worthless foreign renegades, who refuse to take up arms for the protection of the rest of the community.
What can be said of such conduct?--When language can describe its baseness?--And what can exceed its impudence, except the indifference which would permit it to play such pranks with impunity?
We are glad to learn that the
Governor of
Virginia has his eye on these worthies, and that every man who has sworn falsely that he has never been naturalized, but has continued a subject of foreign Governments, will be proceeded against with the utmost promptitude, and made acquainted with the pains and penalties of perjury.
We call upon the officers of the law to give their immediate attention to this subject.
It is time to know whether we have as many countries and Governments in the
South as there are countries and Governments in
Europe, or whether we have only one, and that one a Government capable of compelling the allegiance of its citizens.
Even in those cases, which we believe are very few, where foreigners in the
South have not been naturalized, it is a very pitiful and ungrateful thing in foreigners who have lived here for years, and enjoyed support and protection, to refuse to aid in the defence of their homes, whilst foreigners at the
North show no compunction in serving under the
United States flag, and invading us with fire and sword, even though they have not been long enough in the country to speak our language.
Their conduct is a shameful contrast to those of their own countrymen in the
South who have patriotically volunteered for the war, and are now fighting bravely the battles of one and all. The least that these unnaturalized and unnatural foreigners can do, is to take themselves off as soon as the war has come to a close.
We want no people living among us who are not completely identified with our country and its institutions.
As to the perjured portion of them, the penitentiary, to the full extent of the law, should be made their resting place as soon as possible.
