John Holland Quotes
We have left the door so wide open that all persons of all Nations and occupations shall have liberty to come in amongst us and the first Comer be as free to trade as the Natives are after seven years of service.
“Service” referred to what was then the 7 year time of apprenticeship that a typical American apprentice was required to work for a master tradesman before he was given colonial citizenship and allowed to trade for himself. Under the bill that was passed anyone could come to the British American colonies (except Jews) by taking an oath of allegiance and paying a small fee. Holland and some thought that it discriminated against those apprentices who had come before and apprenticed themselves thus “playing by the rules.” Ever since, immigration and citizenship debates have faced the tension between the need for labor in America and the fairness to the people who had followed the earlier existing rules restricting immigration.
John Holland, 1603-1701, English Member of Parliament, The last remaining member of the Long Parliament, Criticism of the American Naturalization Bill of 1664
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1st Baron Verulam. Bacon credited the Roman’s ability to absorb different people’s into the empire as a key to their success and argued that this was a critical practice if a nation would become an empire.
Congress was debating the Naturalization Act of 1790. Page and many others (see {616324}) argued that there should be no qualification requirements on immigrants as every person coming to America added to the strength of the nation. Congress reached a compromise between those who favored unlimited naturalization and citizenship and those who wanted heavy restrictions. It required a 2 year residence, a certification of good character and an oath, modest by modern standards.
This quotation illustrates two important points. First, that foreign and domestic trade and merchants were very much appreciated at the time and an important component of society that there were special protections for traders and merchants. Second, was the national preemption of jurisdiction and control over business and commerce that would enter and leave the city. On most matters the local authorities would handle things, but intercity and international commerce was historically continuously impaired by individual nobles and other authorities making rules affecting merchants who might come to their town or city. The Crown preempted this authority in the 13th century and the “Commerce Clause” of our Constitution was not an unusual concept and had an extensive legal and economic history.
Sealed under duress and later repudiated by the King with Papal assistance. This was one of the most important freedoms that established free trade as a principle—one of the reasons that England became so prosperous." John Lackland
At the time immigrants had to live in America 14 years before they were eligible for citizenship. The President urged a reduction in that waiting period which is what was done. This was one of the earliest statements of America as a haven to the oppressed of the world. Note that despite occasional squabbles over land use and theft, the general assessment of the President and the public was that the Indians although not as civilized had welcomed the whites with “hospitality.” The next years would produce the conflict for land and begin the massive usurpation of Indian land that would characterize American policy and practice until the latter half of the 20th century, buy which time there was little Indian land left.
He and President George W. Bush appreciated the vakue and importance of immigration, but most other Republicans did not.
After her ouster for opposing growth limitation proposals:
The organization was named for James Bruce—Lord Elgin, the Governor-General of Canada who was very favorably disposed towards Blacks colonists. When a slave reached Canada, he or she was automatically free under Canadian law, and Canada was the preferred destination of many runaway slaves. The Elgin Association was best know for the founding of Buxton—See {590063}.
This is the origin of the “melting pot” term. Although British, Zangwill wrote this play for America and it was first produced in Washinton DC with Theodore Roosevelt in attendance. The theme was just the concept that most Americans think of relative to the large immigration of so many peoples to America.
Many in Alabama were distressed that other states were benefitting from the waves of immigrants to America but relatively few were going to Alabama. They wanted more whites to diminish the proportion of Negroes. By the beginning of 21st century, many people in Alabama had turned against immigration as they feared that immigrant Hispanics and Blacks together would be a majority in the state.
Sir John Holland, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1679.
