New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-22
THE TRIBUNE.
MR.. sELDEN'S SPEECH.

auonaI Hal, 10 respond 10 lne NC.nndlioh Vi A'"D
y SELpEx as the Wing candidate for Mayor. The
eeting being organized. and an Address ard Reso
lions read and approved, Mr. SELDEs was cailet
the stand and greeted with prolonged and enthu
..astic cheering. When silence had al last been re
stored,
Mr seLDex said- G G:u.leueI / thank you for you!
k:ad and hearty greetIos an glad 10 se cacc OF ie
spcsk TO this IT 9et.ng-s neeng over which you, MI
Chairman have been selected r:esitc (Chesis) AG
o " ho nave guarded with mach care aod advanced
wi.h much the intsrss. 81 your conS'usn'
as one OF the representative Of tnis metropolis IN i'
great councils Of the nationio whaHe t1's ~
" the commercial welfare Of this ciy IS so greatly r.
debei-I am glad TO have tis opportunity oi returning
uy thanks and know tat can oc ;ne IA Als oil a.! 10
senh.ed here loud a.plIcSc) Fs!io" cilzeas far
,nat may ,respss5 100 long cpon youE ieGce on thS
ccca.;sa. In Undertaking % address You II IS not M:
urpo,e 10 discuss ;osc Cussons whca cT!d@ TIC l.
rraat pc cal parties Of the country Upon these qo.s
oas stand ready, If cai:cd npon 70 speas IA 81! the
UCheers But desiEe 10 speak 10 You 70 night on tns
lew INC geneut which has bean exhibited II Ioiiios "iSh-
IN the last two years ctsie 70 G!'eu's II, 90
that my whig ireais this city and elsewhere may nave
ly views an th.s les.on III an rSh!-Bood II ain
wrong yon have power 90 lar az fe,pec!S me c! cor
reciiDg ths mischief (G2od aitaas 70 ,,.. ~. ese
nou This occssiou-(A voics-"you s2esk to1quicE ~
shouts OF 'put him out D-Nr. :. Sleace We are n
, hall of the people ami the people have night 10 be
heard (CLeers) I ssy that iGtend 10 speak 10 that
Question have deep respect lor tae opinions OF Others
nd go far az people differ IRON me; ent-rtsn for ther
D;nons sud io themselves tie Esie Kindness ana h.
regard which hope may Claim ffon them in discus
,op the question Gentlemen, this is Charter eec5O,
out 10 ;hs city escoaeering has assumed wooiG
ssDsc; has rcspect not Only TO the riuHicipa govern
eh. bat has al inflence also on the actioh o the ma
tona leg stature Should it be determined in the lUca
elections throughout the country that the pubic lnini
does s,.stIn policy l2stie;o tae rhg pocy, 10,
wihSaudicg inst House Of Representatives, hes hrea
chosen Tiil ma 9r..y ot IT, hIeMSvf5 oFgostd 10
that wing p'icy, II would be eempei;"1 10 seu-
he
hus expressed ig local elec'ions (CGeers) ieeI
thereflre IN this point Of yieg. cbArer tscon III
tas city OF New YORK 10 oil no ns con5eqiehGe IA opc
r5anY on the politics u The ndt!on II II ceiaiy ~ Ho
s1ou copsequencet at the vote OF the CITY CT @w H'!k
Should correspond with thai Ui tho iUeroc o iLS gret,
Empire S.de,' III indicating ieeiin8 ho5uie 10 tbe
movement; exAioi,ed at Washington during ne past wan
ter. (Eeers) OeDlemen II has D-th read 10 you Ia
the address and resolutions u adopted hit th!s N1tFe
America movement fest exhibited itse S5ou e!ghtseo
months ago ibis city and mere ii consisted OF ton
c tee opposite party Bnd much larger ctioH 8! tue
wing party IN the ciy o PaIaieiph5, cu the coni;eiy,
il mad exhibited Itself embracing much iarSHf poF
ti9n Of The opposite patty 10 whG, di Of ;ho Wings srd
it. OF cte! To- the city oi Kew io:k nUt cniy
with regard 10 tao wings, no united 10 that movement
bn regard 10 foreign population, tat here a
Rough The movement controlled The vote ot the cij
oi Sew YORK everything passfd oft IN qu'e ana peaco
whereas, 10 PhilHiePhd, 1t Terminated III rot boodsne1
ar1 he RfIs 81 Churches. In discussing tA;s qieSIon,
there many points 10 be noticed. Fast what 10 the
object oi this native American movement AS uatey-
siaud H. 10 create essential change n our rataal
il ,on laws by Withholding The right Of ofczenship Cor
UcTsa,el nunher Of yearo 20 the sraaa who may T
rlse these shores The second Purposois possih
% prevent th0se who have acquired the right. from ar
opp'inS m Offices of honor or Of profit oelsve slate
accurately the Objects of this movsment-f no.. am
open to conviction Some Jy require u year: residence
some cssbut II 49, q. all events, snot1aIG iGcreis
e restriction tLais sought The evil CON- liinef c 49,
that .- foreign voe has becoa, great as 10 give II
too controlling Influence in the politics o tho country
Now, the ts; question presented how, II the evil
exits is il 10 he corrected Here let me call your
attention 10 Inc Constitution OF the United States
aul 10 till you, that according TO the sound con.
s,rucion c thnt insi;umeni It is not within me oi
the general government 10 operate upon That qieshoh
(Cheers) am no; going to say tnat II "ds noI
intended by the founders oi this government dh'
sOU.ey 10 control the question By particular proVcns
otthe C0nstitution-but mean TO say that is very
doubtful whether the general government has the power
Of operating TO prevent the admission oil foreigners
participation i'll the right Of voting in every s'ae
this Union. II s be tac casc,ihe whole foundation oI
this pgve American party ~ 'sken IRON them al once
Now let what the Constitution oil the u D says on
this point L., read Ia you tic "a section oil the ist
article -" The House Of Representatives shall be com
posed ol members chosen every second year by the
people OF The several States and the electors III each
State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors OF
the mosI numerous bTanch of the State Legislature
Who then 10 elect members Of Congress They
bo elected from the people by tho electors suhoi
zcd by The State governments TO elect the most numerous
branch Of the legislature. We'll, NOW has Congress rs
servcdto scu ths power OF determining who shaii give
10 the vote his Congress in this Lsrume not CLAIM
et that pOwef has been left urisr TO The tor
nation OF this instrument 1t has been LETT 10 the Stale
government TO determine who shall constitute The bauy
Of electors who to cast the ballot In the State o
New York have acted this subject and have cor
faci ii 10 American citizens The constitution ol New
York gives TO the Legislature the power OF excluding
men Om participating in the benefit oi tho vote mas
passed The law has fixed the qlAi hcut'ons which shall
constitute the rights OF the voicrs Here there was scms
hustle Mt the lower end Of tbs hail. nnd voice called oat,
Its only 400 OF your friends from the 4.h ward tGTea!
cheering Tie Legislature OF This State, in pursuance
o its Constitution made the terms oil the oath % bc at
The voter was IA American citizen; upon thBt
ground but American citizen Is authorSst to
vote But, gentlemen whether this be the prcvnions @.
the lew other sections OF the Union or not, am DOT
pb!e say But am able TO say this that tue satts as
Sa.es claim the right OF determining who shall be p!v
legged to vote IN selecting Inc representatives. in C0Ses
Ulion, foreigners who have not resided more tDen
ysT allowed to vote They wera permitted 10
vote ON such terms in The Organization oil The
Of Michigan, ard, believe they enjoyed omilas 'sa'
in Illinois and III Iowa may be wrong e. no t!atS
right" Now let me ask whether thi, NatiTe American
movement Is not ac,icg absurdly, when It asks ConSrfss
10 90 that hch il hus no power 10 DO (Cheers Tex
me look 10 another section OF the constitution harh
slate shall appoint, in such manner as the Lesis
ute thereof may direct, nnpbcr OF electors, qusi 10
the wAole number OF ssnstors and representatives. 70
which the State may be entitled in the Congress- hrt 10
senator or representative person holding an office OF
trust or pToh under the UniedlStatos shall be appcet
olector" The Congress may determine the tine OF
ChGosinS the electors aud the day which they shall
their votes which day shall BE- the sameghrouehou; he
S:aes' II thus that the power of determining
who sha elect the President ot the L. States G ei 20 the
States respectively and all that is grantedto 10 Congress is
tho power oil hNng tho time when me election oielectors
shall lake place. and when they shall cast their ballots
Now e; me ask whether this whole Native American
not founded basis that rl,,t utterly sii
tCheors) speak Of the eNpediency Of it-tAat
| shalt come 10 presen,y-bu speak OF the legal aud
constitutional provisions on which the people act, and
say with regard the exercise Of the power OF choosing
all the agents o: the genera. government beta executive
aud ;ha power regulated BY The action
Of tie general government! but by that OF the State gov
srnment. and that alone Cheers) This attempt then
to build up party by ohtsnns change OF tue natural
iEi,on laws, is moonsh,ne. (GreSt cheering y
Alter Ike laws are changed, not title ia accom-
phshed Ii they should pass law at Washing
ton declaring II years residence TO enti!le naa
10 become voter, i, would be worth one flrttiDg
L,Gooa-go it oli horse" Q.sashter) Mr. seldco-
"Mayor-ii you pease> (Roars OF laughter and grea,
ehHcrng)l Now have, think. showd concius;ves,
that this hole movement ia based ground that mast
iol Now let me take up another portion OF the aISU
ment, pnd ask you whether il Congress possessed the
power 70 lake tbs change desired II would be desirable
and wise TO do III And hcre tbiak can-t may delay
Scu for fow minutes hut i: will ba useful think can
correct the public mind the statistics ot THIS SUBJECT
and Stow that there very little ground of alarm have
aSen !iSe trouble TO investigate thn addition made TO
the vote by immigration, ard invite your attention TO
tho resd OF my Inquiries have tables showing the
Number OF who landed n. mart Of New