The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-18

some il existence, and others supposed 10 have be-
come obsolete IDEAS" To these ncdents-to The
pledges contained in these political etters-he must be
understood as referring the only guarantee he will
give TO carry out the principles laid down by the whig
party and suggested IN his letter oil acceptance We here
find the principles and issues upon which this campaign
is TO be fought Ii is true there yet one two oher
planks to be added the platforms Tor General Scott
was not willing TO "annex" the whg resolutions and
stop there He wished TO convey the idea distinctly that
that was not the ground upon which he stood exclusive
ly il he stood upon at all Hence we md him going
further, and saying that "lhe political principles and
measures laid down in those resolutions are so broad
that but HHie is lei for me 10 ADD" [Laughterl
modest man He accepts the nomination, with the
resolutions annexed" and then adds little. Re-
newed laughterl Let what he adds. He
says al therefore barely suggest, in this place, that
should |, by the Partially OF my conntrymen, be
elevated to the chief masisacy oil the Union, shall
be ready in my connexion WIN Congress 10 recommend
or to approve OF IN regard 10 the management
OF the public domain 10 secure an early settlement
of the same favorable TO actual settlers. but consistent
nevertheless with due regard 10 the equal rights OF the
whole American people in that vast national inheritance"
A GENTLEMAN in the meeting. What does he mean I"
Mr. DOUGLAS / hear gentleman behind me asking
what does General Scott mean by this That is precisely
what was going 10 ask you, gentlemen. What does he
mean ! will tell you what suppose he means. He
means that, inasmuch there two bill pending
before Congress in relation to the public domain radically
antagonstic TO each oher--to w.t. the homestead bill
and the bill 10 divide and distribute the public lands
among the States; and inasmuch the new States are
for Of those bills and violently against the other
opposed to the homestead BILL he says am for the
vorable 10 actual seers-that is the homestead bill
SO TO The rights Of the old States IN uts pasi
national inheritance" [great laughter, lin other words,
g am for the homestead bill so as TO defeat It and
pass the distribution BILL" That is the argument
10 be used in the old States Or g" am for the distrbu-
ton bill TO defeat it and pass the homestead bill "
and this will be the argument IN The new States. Now,
defy any living 10 tell what is the real meaning Of
the paragraph which have just read or which side OF
either OF these two anagonistic questions IL General
Scott committed by this letter Is be for the homestead
BILL for the distribution bill In my State, when lgo
home and visit the actual settlers upon the broad prai-
is the best advocate in America of the homestead bill
and in Old Virginia, in New England, in New York-in
all the old Staeshey will say. "He is publicly commit
ted against that vile and infamous measure and favor
of distributing the lands among the old States !" They
will attempt 10 prove each proposition in turn by the
language used in his letter OF acceptance. again sub
nit the question, Was this part OF the letter the produc-
ton of The generain chief OF the American army! or
did it originate wi the commander chief OF his po-
litical fortunes Does it bear the marks OF frank,
honest straight forward old soldier, or OF the tricky pol
itican !?
Again General Scott in this letter OF acceptance, in
corporaes another plank into The platform which was
adopted at Baltimore and annexed" at Washington.
He proposes aso TO recommend or TO approve OF SIN
gle alteration in naturalization laws suggested by
my military experencevK giving TO all foreigners the
right OF citizenship who shall faithfully serve IN me OF
war, year board of public ships, in land
forces regular volunteer, their receiving honor
able discharge from the service"
This is the suggestion oil his military experience.
Recollect that in ls4l General Scott only hestang
between alteration in our naturalization laws, requlr-
ing residence of tweny-one years in this country as
necessary apprenticeship Tor naturalization, and total
repeal OF all laws The subjectin other words, for IN
capaciaiing foreigners from ever becoming citizens OF
THIS county al alland that his 'mad then ,acaed 10
Le latter GAernaiire" Recollect tina. in Sil he claim.
ed TO be The originator OF the great native American
party pledged himself TO its support; fired ruth m
digHGtioa against those foreigners who claimed 10 be
citizens, and 10 vote, and ENJOY the privileges OF our
tla ,T
eral Scott has been in Mexicohousapds OF miles from
the sight, hearing, and influence OF American Instltu
tons He means, therefore, that this military experience
teaches him that years foreign land, be-
yond the reach of our laws beyond the hearing OF
lapguase-where an American newspaper Ieyer comes
where election is unknown and uncomfortable
event, where the of the constitution - never
heard and under the martial rule which nulifes both
law and constitution. lie says that twelve months
service under those circumstances hts man Tor citizen
ship as well whole hie spent here in the pursuits Of
citizens e and in the daily observation OF the pr8c
cal working oil our institutions Such is the result Of
his experience in the Mexican war.
But subject oi doubt whether General Scott pro-
poses this single alteration as substitute Tor our ex
islng naturalization law, whether he proposes as an
additional law, that we shall have two distinct laws
OF naturalization. am compelled to believe that he IN
tends the former proposltion-for need not tell this
audience that the constitution OF the United States gives
Congress the power TO pass uniform rule OF natura-
zaton, and power 10 pass other II, therefore, Gen
Scott that shall have two modes al naturaIlza
ton-one being the existing form, and the other years
service in the amy-his proposition is unconstitutional
and impossible, and absolute absurdiy Is il possible
that this candidate for the presidency read the con-
stitution. unwilling To assume the ao and DO not
like to put upon his words such construction There
difficulty, indeed, inconstrung ihem-hey equyoca,
like ali the rest Of his letter But there is this we'll
known rule of construction-hat when a document adj
mts OF two meanings impossible and absurd, the
other consistent Ineligible, and significant, are
bound to take the latter. Now, il this clause in the let
ter that General Scott desires addition to our
naturalization laws which would destroy their uniformity
ygving unequal advantages and Offering different modes
OF naturalization TO different persons, he proposes an
alteration which isimpossible under the constitution
But IL he that this single alteration shall be sub
stitute for all aws-in other words ii he that
year OF military naval service shall be the sole
OF naturalization, then his proposition however inexpe
dent is proposition for uniform law is consistent
with the constitution is consistent with his former dec
larations, and consistent with itself Such, then,
are bound believe his meaning be namely that by
enlistment into our naval or land forces, and one
years service only shall emigrant TO this country be-
come a citizen OF the United States What plank for
platform Is this principle OF the wing paryl II il
IL, the country ought to know it, Or is it only the Ut
terance OF a forked tongue-another gutrap-construc
ed to catch native under construction and the
ton Charity requires this construction for should
Gen. Scott, by any strange accident by any marvellous
hallucnaon OF this people, become the President of the
United States should he in good faith strive 10 make the
alteration he proposes, and should be succeed in doing
So what results would OF that event. We have now
army Of 10000 men, all told. But 100000 foreigners
come every year 10 these shores. II enlistment be.
necessary make these people citizens, stand
ing army will contain million Of men, Are all
these emgants 10 be turned into the army and navy for
naturalization Or is il proposed that they shall remain
in land OF freedom, dlsftanchised, deprived Of all po