New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-19


f,hinl 70 them and their is constituents in preserving In
roiste Union the and slli,s
same rejection Of all sectional divisions which bounc
Ourselves first enrolment under the EndaId of Heur
Rezoleed That in the action Of the Native American
party here and eisewere have had sucien; e1per-e,
Of It's nca?acity for efecmE It's promised reforms and Of rs
deadly hostility The Wig Patty svinc- BY i,s having
made its vioent assaults the Of oar
p3ssd "n's We "s's 'e0's IN 'i'H'' 'A
Asp yrsALLr Resolse1,. Tina: while have Goaat.J
have the Constitution and Union defend Liberty 70 vo-
dcs;e Prneles 70 s'.ert Right p SaaTd and ga M We
50 aI.e 70 our taiih as 10 cesair OF the hePuoe
WIGS aud nothing eist.n
Hon. DUDLEY SELDEx was now unanimously
called to the stand, and greeted with hprolonged ana
enthusiastic cheering When silence had al last
been restored he proceeded TO discuss Tor an houf
and half the public questions involved IN our aF-
proaching Election. in the ablest speech we ever
listened 10 in that Hall We hope 10 present iull
re,or, hereafter. but tonight have only room Tor
the following hasty notes:
thank you for the kind greeting OF this vast as
semblage. / am proud to be called to address this
meeting. over which you, Mr. Chairman, have been
called to preside. am glad 10 nave inis opporta-
nifv 10 express my acknowledgements TOR those acts
| Of Congress with which your name has been con-
nected, and for which ! may add to my thanks
those Of this whole community.
do not this evening propose to discuss the great
questions of National Policy which divide the
American People. These stand ready 10 discuss
in the Ward Meetings from this night 10 the Eec-
ton. ! shall now consider mainly the movement
known as Natire american. A Charter Election
in the Ci,y of New York cannot be regarded as a
merely local affair. It's sresut must affect the Politics
of the Nation. Should the City OF New ork now
declare as the Interior OF our State has done, care
NOT what NAV be the majority OF our opponents in
the Members elect 10 Congress, their measures and
their policy will be defeated;
Wha, is the object of this Native American
movement! 1t is first, the restriction OF the
Naturalization of Immigrants from Europe, and
secondly the restriction OF their rghtto hold oilce
To these objects am opposed as lmpoluc and un-
Just.
1t is very doubtful whether a sound construction
of the Constitution does not forbid any such res
friction as is contemplated. Here MIR. ;. quoted
that section of the Constitution which declares that
Representatives in Congress shall be chosen by
those persons who are entitled 10 vote for members
of the most numerous branch ofthe Legislature of
the State.l Ii is doubtful whether Congress is not
here precuded from establishing any tests 10 govern
the Right of Voting. The States as States each
claim the right to determine who shall be entitled
10 vote at their Elections. Must not, then, this
Native American movement fail utterly, because
Congress has no power 10 lX Tie qualincauons oi
voters
So with regard 10 Electors of President. The
States are expressly authorized TO fix the quahca
tions of voters for President. This attempt 10
build up party on movement Tor change IN the
Naturalization Laws must tail Congress may say
that tweny-one years residence IS required 10 con-
stitute citizen but the States may notwithstand-
ing make each immigrant voter alter the lapse OF
single year The purpose of Native Amerlcanlsm
would thus be utterly defeated.
Mr. S. passed to the alleged danger TO our lber-
ties from excessive Naturalization Commencing
,,,, ,I,. ivp1a at
422, ,I93 passengers From official data, Mr. ).
estimated the average OF passengers arriving In the
u MON per annum at 10 367 including all travellers
for pleasure or on business, estimated a, onesxth,
leaving 5S, ,639 as the average immigration TO tins
country. OF these half are females, and of the
males half are under Is, leaving bu, "A, ,36O males
over l6 Deduct for between the ages OF 10 and 2l,
and but IL, ,995 Adult Males arrive here annually.
But our Naturalization Laws require five years
probation, which must reduce the number OF those
who annually become Naturalized Citizens to 9,i2.
But do all become Naturalized who may! No.
The Census of New York in 1885 showed return
of 81, 900 Aliens The actual number of voters Ma
turalzed per annum is probably 1000
Now suppose the whole number Of Immigrants
altrays uotcd on the right side Would there be
auv harm In il Z Should we regard Naturalization
with terror2 ! apprehend not. But unhappily
three-fourths of them vote on what we consider the
,rrOnc side. Il heary proporlion-but our one
fourth balances one-tcurth on the other side. This
leaves one-half OF the whole number TO count
against us, or a little over 5000 per annum. But
the increase of our American vote Is 100000 per
annum, and how can our Liberties be endangered
by this fractional vote OF 3 600 against us :!
But do not believe that this vote Is necessarily
against u.s. Aud here know lamresistlng conf
mon opinion. What is the fact IN this Sixth Ward
where we now are, and the adjoining Fourteenth
Ward These are the strong Foreign Wards, In
haLi,ed in large proportion by Catholics of Irish
birth Yet how often have we carried the Four
teenth Ward while the Sixth Ward has usually
been against us by small majority until within a
few years past. Look, then, TO the Eleventh Ward,
where there are comparatively few Adopted Gill
Zens. Has it not always given an overwhelming
majority against us! l DO not believe, then, that
the adopted Citizens vote against so generally
Is supposed: and believe If they were uniformly
treated with kindness by Wings and Whls
presses there would not even be majority of the
Adopted Citizens voting against Us.
But must call your attention 10 another aspect
of this questionable Religious aspect. We cannot
fail TO see that hlsisplainly becoming controversy
between Proestan;s aud Catholics. | protest
against such a contest There s in this country a
mass of intelligence and virtue which will prevent
either Catholic or Protestant Churches from be-
coming dangerous to our Liberties stand up,
then, for Universal federation aad for the keeping
of our Religious differences out of the arena OF
Politics.
Will YOU allow men ofany persuasion TO lay hold
OF Their ChurCn ana use ii as an engine oil 1olCal
warfare, making Religion scourge instead OF a
blessing 10 the Human Race!
Let me ask your attention 10 the Catholics OF
our City. They were mainly born In Ireland and
in Germany. They build iher own churches they
gather around their owR al,ars. they collect their
own scattered members rather than seek 10 make
proselytes from ours. Their passions are earnestly
and successfully engaged in imbuing them with the
OF Religion and Morals Why should
Americans and Protestants make war upon them J
Why should we not live together as Countrymen
and fellow christians. in charity and peace?
trust we may do II not the blame must
res, on those who blend Religious differences with
Politics. When any body OF men IN the name Of
the Church. undertakes 10 throw Religious contro-
versy into the ballot box, say he ought 10 BE- brok
en- down by the judgment Of the American People.
| desire now 10 call your attention 10 another
question. saw recently in leading Journal an
article which seemed intended 10 sound an alarm
regarding the alleged prevalence of Abolition among
the Wings Of New-York, Abolition misleading
the Wings of New-York. after the experience OF
lS44,-after what we have seen OF the!co-worhins
Of Abolition with Loco-Focoism in the defeat OF
MIR. Clay, For that Abolition which !sympathlses
with the Slave yet respects the guarantees OF the
Federal Constitution, cherish profound respect;