The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-17

proper TO refer il TO select committee. But while
he thus in favor Of that reference, he was oppo-
sed to any alteration Of the naturalization laws OF The
United States. He had examined the subject with
some attention, and with all the ability Of which he
was possessed, and he had formed that opinion de-
liberately. Therefore, while desirous to refer
the resolutions TO select committee, because
they affected the sacred rights Of citizenship, he
wished to state explicitly that he was not at all in
favor of any change in the naturalization laws.
That frauds had been perperated, he doubted not
| he knew that il was so--but he would ask, how
could tho recurrence of such frauds be prevented by
extending the term of residence in the country me-
cessary to constitute right to citizenship If frauds
were perperated now with five years term, would
they not be perpetsated with twenty-onee years
term Such change, in his opiuion, would not at
all effect any remedy for the frauds In question
Whatever remedy must be devised-and he was
quite desrous to see The subject properly nvestiga
ted and, if possible an adequate remedy devised
he was disposed to vote for the reference to select
| committee.
| Mr.. WIN. w. CAMPBELL next addressed the
House. He said that he had not anticipated any
discussion the question of the reference of the
| resolutions He aud his associates represented a
very respectable portion of their ellowcltlzens, and
had been sent to that legislative body with the view
of bringing this question before Congress and INC
people of the country. If the opinions entertained
by him and those whom he represented were wrong,
they were willing to be set right but if they were
right then he contendcd that the House owed it to
its o&n character for justice and magnanlmity to al
low them fair and candid hearing. That question,
with regard to the naturalization laws, was by no
means new one II had not been recently broach-
ed II had repeatedly occupied the serious consld-
GRAFTON of Congress. The law had been changed
four or five times since the organization of the gov
eminent; and, when the period would arrive when
they should he heard on that floor, either through
| the medium Of report or from their places in the
| House he trua tod that uould he able n show
to candid gentlemen that there were some subsan-
tia grounds for the present movement. As an indi-
vidual, he would yield TO no man in respect and re-
gard for the foreigner who came to this country
seeking a home. God forbid that ever he should
so far forget his obligations to the great cause OF
American liberty as to raise his voice or his hand to
make America other than it had been, and now was
Ia home for the exile and the oppressed, no mat
ter from what broken-down government of Europe
they sought these shores. But while he said this,
he felt also constrained to state that his attachments
were also strong to the people bora uponthe soil, as
his fathers before him; and that, with the Fa-
ther Of his country, he believed that there was an
inherent love Of liberty in the bosom of the man
born upon that soil. Whilst, therefore, he would,
with the utmost cordially, yield to the foreigners
who came to this land rights and privileges, ne
would say to them that he would not make any
such concessions at the expense Of his felow-cti-
zens born upon the soil; and if he should not be
able to show that all adopted citizens members
of a-privileged class, enjoying immunes under the
| constitution and laws of the land not enjoyed by
native-hom citizens then he would yield the point.
But, he said before, he did not then to dis
cuss the question. He trusted that the House, in
its magnanimity, would give to small minority nm
opportunity of being heard, so that they might put
themselves right before the House and the people.
Whether right or wrong, he only asked the House
to pass just Judgment upon them; and before
they could do So it was surely fair and reasonable
that an opportunity of speaking for themselves
should be afforded to them.
Mr.. WOODRUFF then obtained the floor He
said he did not mean to occupy the time or
attention of the House by making any length
ton would have been allowed TO pass without any
debate, and he did not rise for the purpose Of reor-
ing to any remarks which had been thrown out
against that party which he and his associates repre-
sened. He was glad when the gentleman from
Massachusetts called the attention of the House to
the true state of the facts exhibited that morning
Ito the real ground on which the motion was based.
What had they in contemplation Not the accom-
pshment of the views of any party nor of the DEL
egafion OF party-no motive OF a sinister charac-
ter actuated either himself or his associates. They
were anxious only to sustain the honor of free and
sovereign States and the question had been flung up
on the delegation from New York, as connected
with this matter, altogether Unexpectedly to them
Where did the resolutions come FROM The gentle
man from Massachusetts, had told them-from his
oWu StutC VI WHOM uIu legislature
consisti of native Americans' No. OF democrats
No. Of whigsi No, But of democrats and wings,
lovers of their country and acting in their legsla-
tive capacity, they had ofresouons to that
House; and, he commended, without reference to the
merits Of the question at ALL that to lay these resolu-
tons on the table would be act of dscourtesy al
together unworthy of that House; and even refer
ence to the Judiciary Committee was equivalent to
the same thing. The least that could be done
would be to give them that degree of re-
spect which the source from which they
had emanated, well as their intrinsic character,
demanded. The proper course had been suggested
by his colleaguefrom OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to a
select committee. To that the resolutions were
properly entitled. But what the character of the
resoutons' Were they dictatorial in their tone I
lie was confident that mo- gentleman in the House
had been able to perceive in the complexion of the
resolutions any thing of dictatorial character.
They had been submitted to that House in order to
obtain from it frank and generous response. Be-
sides, there were anything in the resolutions inim-
zeal to the interests of the country then it was the
imperative duty Of gentlemen TO subject them to the
most searching scrutiny. Because, if there were
peril in them, should they not look the resolutions
IN the face, and take such action as would deprive
them OF any powers of mischief On the other
hand, 1t the resolutions involved the least degree of
interest," associated with the maintenance and perpe-
tulty OF the free institutions Of the republic, then
surely he would not impose on the House the duty
ana necessity OF giving them candid examination.
Whether they Of good or evil, or doubtful ten
dency, let the resolutions be fairly examined. Jus
tice required that coursecourtesy to the important
legislature from which they had emanated the dig
nifty and magnanimity ofthe House, required that
they should 60 to select committee. He could
say more on the subject. He could say much on
the merits of the question involved but he did not
consider that the proper time to do so. He hoped
that gentlemen would at least afford them an oppor-
unity, by means Of reference of the resolutions 10
select committee, or by some other arrangement of
paying that attention to the merits Of the case,
which It deserved at the hands Of American citi-
zens. He submitted what he said to the considera-
ton of the House, and concluded by expressing the
hope that all the gentlemen would vote with him
in favor of the reference OF the resolutions to Sc
lect committee.
Mr. PAYNE then rose, and said that, as far as he
could ascertain from what had fallen from honorable
gentlemen in the course Of the debate the reference
OF the resolutions to the Judiciary Committee was
objected to on two grounds Frst because it would
n he ron frtb oM Me-, L..