Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-12

right in the assumption that foreigners should be-
come acquainted with our institutions before tbay
are allowed vote, and i've years was the proper
time for that purpose In 1902, twenty-one wears
10 not too long period now.
have attempted 10 present brief view of the
subject without giving extreme cases. or intention
ally exaggerating facts or consequences. believe
public opinion demands the change proposed and
what ID more important believe the safety Of the
best government ever formed by human wisdom
requires il. / said in the commencement Of my
remarks, that knew myself liable to misconstruc-
ton; that liability arises first from the success in
the late elections, of new party in this country,
and next from disposition upon the part of some
people to attribute improper motives to all Others
but themselves. Now, sir, say that do not be-
long to tho " Know Nothing Organization, any
other order OF the kind. do not now, nor have i
ever belonged to any secret society, association
that had secret has that party its successes
any influence on my course upon this question: un-
less It is TO the extent Of encouraging me to believe
that this similar bill viii pass at the present
or next session of Congress. In order TO show
my views this subject before the late elections,
will read from some remarks made on the home
stead bill on the 18th of April last when the Know
Nothings had won but few, If any, battles, and when
It was believed TO be an unimportant and shortlived
party. Upon the amendment offered by the Sena-
tor from Ohio, [Mr. WADE, ] ] said:
But, sr, the proposition Of the Senator from Ohio
is that you shall not only tax one portn of the peo-
pie for the benefit Of another but that you shall tax
the nativeborn aud adopted citizens Of this country
for the benefit Of foreigners that you shall say, by
this BILL to every man who may reside without the
limits Of the Omitted States II he will come here that
YOUR citizens shall be taxed to the value Of one hun
dred and sixty acres and bounty Of that amount Of
land bestowed upon him. To that am opposed
have no hostility against foreigners. My friend
from Iowa, the other day collateral issue, on
nup yyh hpfo he
that had deserted him, and those who act with
him, this bill. Sir, am not conscious that have
ever favored the bill, or the principle OF the bill:
therefore, am not deserter from it, think, If we
will cast eyes around us, we shall that the
time has passed when ii is necessary to hold out in
ducements to individuals to emgrae TO this country.
NY friend from Iowa said he hoped the time would
never arrive when the people of this country would
ceaseto remember with sentiments of gratitude, the
claims Of the descendants of the Lafyettes and Mont
gomeriss, and others who aided fathers in the re-
volution hope so too but times have changed.
The time has ceased, in my humble Judgment, when
we should continue to hold out other and different in
duccments to individuals to immigrate and become
citizens Of this country than are afforded by the char
acter Of our institutions. / would not change the
policy Of this government and refuse to hold out in
ducements such as we have heretofore held out to
foreigners. desire to see this country continue to
be q home and an asylum for the oppressed OF oil
nations. / desire, whenever foreigner sets his foot
upon our soil, TO have thrown over him the panoply
OF free institutions, 10 protect him in his person.
his property in the pursuit OF happiness and an ui-
ths dSy fopth will stop IL every man who has
come here under existing laws, would extend all
the rights which our present laws promise him; and
to every who comes to this country in the fu-
ture with the rights have indicated, would cease
to offer more.
" Have you not seem sir, within the last few
months, petitions presented here and laid upon your
table, demonstrating, in the name OF Foreigners,
against the action Of this body9 Not content with
that, have you not learned through the public news
papers, that mob Of foreigners under the style of
Foreigners, assembled together and hanged in efigy
an honorable member of this body? What does that
ndicafes If the act indicates anything or has any
significance, II is that in the estimation Of those men,
the individual referred to, the chairman Of the Com
mittee on Territories, Mr.. DOUGLAS ought to be
For doing his duty to the Constitution to his oath,
and to his country. / ask Senators, IL they do not
indications in this of combination in retaining
the notions Of the oden country which shows that it
is necessary, not that should check 1t by icgisa
toni do not propose that at the present time-but
that we should cease to hold out any further induce
ments What do we need of further immigration
from other countriesS We have sufficient Popuia-
ton protect ourselves against all the world Wehave
sufficient population to settle eaery portion OF our
country which il is necessary to settle For the pur-
pose Of free and happy government, we have sui.
iicient population;
"Sir the time has come, if combinations are form
ed IL separate distinctions are kept up by those who
think proper to adopt this their country, when we
should at least cease to tax our own citizens for their
benefit. These circumstances may not weigh with
others; with me they have their influence"
"Mr President, hope will not be considered
regard for them during the present session, when
they were denounced in this body for alleged mobs
in the Bedni affair. was the first Senator 10 fur
nish apology for what seemed to be (rom the re-
ports in the papers, breach Of the peace and that
hoa IN he at for
justly distinguished. thought and then said,
in substance that some allowance was TO be made
for those who bad participated in the meetings re
erred to that they had suffered from the expressions
Of the Pope; that many Of them had come from
country where the name Of the Pope's Nuncio was
synonymous with tyrannys the stake, and martyr
dom for conscience sake II was not, therefore,
strange, when they heard that in this country
Of unbounded liberty, that they should have commit
ted some excuses Ia manifesting their disapproba
ton Of the part he was supposed " have taken In the
expressions Of their countrymen ! repeat SIR, that
/ am not opposed to foreigners but have briefly
stated my opinions as 70 the true future policy OF
this government"
Ny remarks on the Bedni resolutions wero
made before had ever heard the name of the
Know Nothing party. Thus it viii be seen that
my Judgment on this subject was formed indie
pendent of theorder, or rather the circumstances
upon which formed my opinions gave rise and
success TO that organization and the principles
set forth in the remarks ! have quoted are tho
same that are contained in this BILL except that
twenty one years residence is substituted for an
entire repeal Reflection, and further examination
of the subject has produced the change indicated
by the bill When learned the indignty offered
TO Senator DOUGLAS by a German mob, determined
10 introduce this bill. Since gave notice of my
intention to introduce IT, | have been frequently
asked IL am Know-Nothng. ] have already
said that / am not How far ] agree with the
persons composing this organization cannot say,
as do not know their principles. II they are in
favor Of repeal Of the naturalization laws, as |
have understood they are, then differ with them
as Indicated by this bill. If they are in favor OF
comforting Office on native-born citizens In prefer
cncc TO adopted, qualifications, moral character,
and fitness in all respects being equal then agree
with them to that extent If they should vote at
the polls for Protestant (all things being equal in
preference to a Roman Catholic, again agree with
them. But sir IL they TO require OF me to vote
for an unworthy native, against faithful patriot
and worthy foreigner or Catholic, should differ
with them, and bestow my suffrage on the good in
preference to the bad man, Of whatever nativity or
religion nor can | be placed in position whore
,ps,1 To- ffxfn frta