Washington sentinel., 1854-07-20

bill become law, on the public domain in
Alabama, (which constitutes nearly half of all
the lands in her limits an alien population
may be colonized, exceeding in numbers her
native citizens, who, standing on higher and
better footing than those citizens, may enjoy
the protection of the government without aid
ing in its support, and may riot in licentious
liberty on their free farms, free from taxes, free
from creditors, and free from the obligations Of
their contracts. And does any one suppose
that State pride could brook such contempt of
her authority and such outrage of her rights as
is contemplated in this bill? Sir, as one of the
representatives Of that young, but noble, com
monwealih, l will never lend my aid or counte-
nance to any measure so fraught with her hu,
initiation, dishonor, and injury.
The bill not only infracts the rights and de-
grades the dignity Of the land States, but will
inhict serious injury on their landholders The
government holds double the quantity of land
held by all her citizens; when she makes the
public domain free as air to foreigners, as well
as citizens, prirdte lands must be depressed in
value for who viii buy land Of individuals,
when it can be taken as gift from the govern
ment? 1t will injure the landdolders, not
merely by depressing the price of their land,
but by cheapening all its products; for by Sc
ducing from their pursuits the mechanic, mer-
chant, and manufacturer, and making them
farmers. you will increase the number of pro,
ducers, by reducing the number of consumers,
and multiply the class of sellers by withdraw
ing them from the class of buyers. Thus, by
cheapening the sale value of land, and Of its
products, you will lower the profits of agricul-
ture, and injure the agricultural class, which
you affect to benefit. And do you think the
landholders in the new States so ignorant as
not to apprehend the nature of this bill, and
anticipate the injuries its policy will infict ?
Do you think they will endure, without mur-
mur, these aggravated wrongs? You sold
them their lands, and received their money
but now propose to give to foreigners as well
as citizens, the remainder of your lands, to
exempt them from paying taxes to the State,
or debts to individuals, to enable them to share
in the benefits of schools, churches, roads,
bridges, and all the comforts of civilization,
without enduring any Of the burdens of govern
ment and, AS if to cap the climax of injus-
tice, you will reduce the value of the lands sold
to your landholders, and the products Of their
labor. Wrongs so grievous and iniquitous
could scarcely be endured with patience and
submissiveness by stole or by saint.
A great deal has been said here in condem-
nation of what are called Native Americans, or
know .nothings. / am neither one nor the
other, in the political sense of those terms but
let me ask the senator from Iowa, who is the
jealous friend and champion Of the foreign
population, whether there is any measure which
could be conceived of, or projected, or passed
by Congress, which is better calculated to ex-
cite, to foster, and encourage Native Ameri-
can feeling, than this very bill? / tell him
that if this bill pass, he will see realized what
had hoped never TO witness in this country
he will see Native American, or, know
nothing party growing up in the southern States
of this Union. And, sir-and / say it with no
less pride than pleasure-as much traduced,
ibelled, and slandered, as those States have
been by the fanatics at the north, they have
been freer from all species of radicalism than
any other section of this confederacy; and, but
for the pure, conservative principles, and true
American feeling Of the SOUTH in my opinion,
the radical meddlesome spirit of the north
would, ere this, have involved this government
in a foreign war. You saw no man-worship
of Kossuth exhibited at the south, during bis
pilgrimage among us. And you have seen no
indications Of jealousy, envy, or hatred of for
eigners among southrons. We neither feel nor
exhibit towards them such evil passions. You
have seen no disposition there to embark in the
policy of Intervention with the affairs Of foreign
countries, or exclude foreigners from partici.
pating as citizens in the privileges Of this coun
try. But pass this bill, and impress upon the
public mind throughout the south, the idea
that not content with sheer justice to foreigners,
you will be generous to them, and unjust to
own citizens, and the spirit of native Ameri.
canism will soon develop itself where, hitherto,
it has been unfelt and almost unheard Of Let
the friends Of immigrants on this floor beware
lest they injure rather than benefit that class
our population.
Sir, men are prone to overlook things that
are near, and TO fix their vision upon distant
objects; to lose sight Of the physical and moral
wants of their own family or neighbors in con.
templating the distresses ofthose more remote.
Hence that charity which should begin at home
is often expended upon strangers, and works
Of present necessity are neglected for the
achievement Of some future good. do not
sympathise in that sublimated philanthropy or
double-re6ned benevoenee which forgets or
disregards the poor and the needy at its own
door, and runs abroad in search of objects of
its care and kindness. If we are to convert
this government into charity asylum, let us
lavish its bounties upon citizens rather than
foreigners. At all events, let us not infict in
Jury on the citizen Tor the beneht OF the Tor
eigner let us not rob the former that we may
give 10 the latter. ] never admired or esteem
ed Petrarch's abandonment of his family to
purify the poetry, and refine the feelings Of his
countrymen, or Zimmerman's inculcation of
beautiful benevolence while tyrannizing over
his children.
] oppose this bill for many other reasons,
which shall give at q proper time. have
confined myself on this occasion to the partic.
ular section Of the bill which it is proposed to
strike out. will, however, before take my
seat, answer one reply which anticipate may
be made. know il will be said why com.
plain about giving lands away to foreigners
May not American citizens enjoy this bounty
May not those who have heretofore paid for
their lands, and are now occupying and culti-
vating them, go upon the unappropriated pub
lie lands, and take the benefit OF this act
May not the mechanic, the merchant, the arti.
san--in short, all classes, 90 upon the public
domain, and share in the bounties Of this bill ?'
That is the reply which will be made TO me.
But, sir, l ask you if it is not insulting
the intelligence Of hny man, il il is not mock.
in 1 hia snirit " toll i'm who bv tba ,,bolo