Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-02-19


brood over his vengeance, and 10 strike the
most dreadful blow when his enemy least exs
poets il. Was il not then clearly the policy OF
the Government 10 increase the number of In
habitants on that frontier? And il an Irish,
a German, oDa~French emigraat thought pro-
per to settle there, was he (Mr. B. to be GEN.
euied for having declared that their bosoms
would become bulwarks against the incursions
Of our savage enemy! These brave men
would always be ready to die in defence of
those possessions which this Government had
permitted them FIRST to improve and then TO
purchase.
But the Senator thought it would be dsgra-
ding to Americans to resort to such defence.
Mr.. B. well knew that 81 tile blood Of Douglas
could protect ITSELF" He knew that our bwn
citizens could protect their country; but how
they could be degrded by fighting in the same
ranks with foreigners, as our revolutionary
forefathers had done, he was utterly at loss
to conceive. This was species ofexaltedpride
which he did not un derstand. And this too,
when these foreigners, united with our own
citizens, were defending their common possess
sions and their homes. 1t was certain that
such men would become citizens as soon as
they could under cur naturalization laws; but
if any Of them, either ignorantly or from neg
Iigence had omitted to make formal declara-
lti0E of their intention to this effect, he would
6ever deprive them of their presumption, and
drive them from their homes for this reason
He could not. therefore, give his suppert 10 the
first clause OF the Senator'S anenampnt On
the second clause Of the amendment Ne should
say nothing, as he did not deem it necessary,
aud would not, therefore, protract the debate,
into which he had entered with much renc-
lance.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN, in reply TO Mr.. Bu-
chanan, defended his position with zeal aud
ability, denying that it was introduced through
| feeling Of hostility to foreigners, but az the
same time boldly asserting that it wassthe
policy Of the government not to confer equal
privileges upon the foreigner and the native
born citizen.
Mr.. BUCHANAN would say few words
in reply. The Senator from Kentucky is
good logician, and, unless he were closely
| watched would ge, the better of his antagonist
| even in a bad cause. His sophistry upon the
present occasion consists in attempting 10 in
! Ter from my argument that | was in favor Of
| substituting an actual settlement upon tract
| of the public land for the declaration of nten-
ton required Of every foreigner before he can
become an American citizen. 1t. would be
very easy for the Senator 10 triumph, if he
were permitted to substitute his own forced
inference for my own express declaration to
the contrary. With this view, he triumphant
~ asks if would be willing 10 change our
naturalization laws by rendering residence
! on our vacant lads equivalent to the declara-
ton Of intention which these laws require b
Now, ask him in return, have / ever said
| that would? Have ever in,ima,ed such an
l a. kov
| nressly declared that would not grant 10 any
foreigner Ine -rir-4t-c fr~aolaise unti1kssllaa~
DerUnIe 'Tsvur d1fzeu ri,iArnyuI1dr laws r
| Whilst should not, with the Senator from
| Kentucky, deny to the foreigner the right TO
the pre-emption which he has fairly acquired
by The dangers and privations encountered in
| making settlement on our remote frontier,
would not, for this reason, confer upon him
the high political privileges of an American
citizen. Tie Senator's argument, therefore,
in this particular, falls to the ground. /. has
no foundation, in any thing which have said,
10 rest upon. The right Of pre-emp,on is one
thing; but the high privilege of becoming an
American citizen is another and entirely diff
ferent matter.
And what, after all, is this great privilege
OF presumption! To what does it amount!
What is its intrinsic value! 1t is merely
| contest between the speculator and the actual
settler, as to whether the former shall be per-
mitted to purchase the spots Of land improved
and rendered valuable by the toll of the latter.
I Our experience has demonstrated that the av.
erage excess of the price Of the public lands
advertised and sold at public sale, in pursu-
ance of the Presidents proclamation, is not
more than two or three cents per acre above
the fixed price of the Government at private
sale.
What. then, is the privilege granted to the
settler who goes into the wilderness, clears
away the forest, and there establishes his
home! Does this bill offer such man do
nation! Not at ALL. Does it give him the
land as bounty! No such thing.-The pri-