It may therefore be proper to limit
any new Acts of naturalisation with such restrictions as may make
the accession of strangers not dangerous to the public.
An accession of strangers, well regulated, may add to our strength
and numbers; but then it must be composed of labouring men,
artificers, merchants, and other rich men, and not of foreign
soldiers, since such fright and drive away from a nation more people
than their troops can well consist of: for if it has been ever seen
that men abound most where there is most freedom (China excepted,
whose climate excels all others, and where the exercise of the
tyranny is mild and easy) it must follow that people will in time
desert those countries whose best flower is their liberties, if
those liberties are thought precarious or in danger. That foreign
soldiers are dangerous to liberty, we may produce examples from all
countries and all ages; but we shall instance only one, because it
is eminent above all the rest.
The Carthaginians, in their wars, did very much use mercenary and
foreign troops; and when the peace was made between them and the
Romans, after a long dispute for the dominion of Sicily, they
brought their army home to be paid and disbanded, which Gesco, their
General, had the charge of embarking, who did order all his part
with great dexterity and wisdom. But the State of Carthage wanting
money to clear arrears, and satisfy the troops, was forced to keep
them up longer than was designed.
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