The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-20
American Platform.

speech made by Mr.. Patton. the candidate IN
Virginia for Attorney General We COM
mend It's sentiments 10 the candid considera
ton OF every citizen, be he of foreign birth.
or native TO the manor born Read it
carefully,
Gentlemen. this cry about the rights Of
foreigners Is al CANNON, Nobody proposes:
no man that ever have seen; no paper that
have ever read. advocating or sustaining this
know Nothing or American party movement.
has said or written anything indicating pur-
pose 10 violate any rights of foreigners. A
foreigner has no rights in this country excep
what the laws give 1t is wholly matter Of
domestic policy. and for the consideration of
the people of the United States, under wha.
circumstances they will admit foreigners into
the country, or whether they will admit them
at all--whether, when they come here. they
will allow them 10 become citizens-upon
what terms of probanon. and upon what forms
and conditions. My opinion IS that viewing
The vast increase IN lmlgrauon-the change
IN our condllon--the vast numbers and rap
Id increase of our populaton-that the time
has arrived materially 10 change our naturaE-
za;ion laws s-to increase very considerably
the length of probation. before admission TO
the rights of citizenship, and such otLer and
more efficient securities, that those who are
10 receive these rights are ut depositaries of
them by their moral character--knowledge &c of
the principles OF our Institutions, and imbued
with devotion to our constitution.
These matters, however. of detail to be
disposed OF by Congress-whleh ii would be
premature for me 10 undertake to consider or
dehne--any specific views as to the proper
provisions-they must be left to the wisdom
of Congress, exercised with full view of the
cxiSencles of the country at the time.
l believe that there are some over Jealous
advocates of this American party. who go TO
extreme lengths, such as preventing the i'm
migration OF foreigners out and ont, and re-
pealng the naturalization laws. Now l am
in favor Of neither. | do not understand this
Virginia American party TO be IN favor OF
either. | say. let the foreigners come, and if
could remember here, | would speak over
again that speech which seems to have been
admired so much by some of my Democratic
friends | would say, let them come, and for
bid them not-the industrious and pains-,a-
king German from his faderland. the French
man from the fertile plains and vine clad hills
of his beautiful France, the whole souled and
gallant Irishman-let them come. But. let
them come with means of living; lei them
come to better their fortunes by industry, ad
W tic ptooaSeS VI tHS ocdiNis
itself by becoming permanently located a
mongst us, and when they have staid here
sufficient ,ime-al the time prescribed by our
. laws, and have given proper assurances such
as the details of the law of Congress may pre-
scribe, if they really understand the principles
of our government, and properly es innate the
value of our system, let them be received as
citizens amongst US. But take care. would
appeal 10 every industrious, intelligent for
eigner himself. if this is not principle which
is necessary for the rights OF his children:
take care that our shores be not flooded by the
paupers cast off by the old, declining govern
ments Of Europe--sent here 10 be supported
by US, and TO fill our poor houses and our
penitenuaries and if there be any foreigner
who is not satisfied about that, pray and be-
seech him to read Valentine Hecklers letter
In my poor estimate ii is worth all the speeches
that have been made or will be made from
now until Christmas upon the subject. Talk
about violating rights &c, gentlemen, | have
no hostility to foreigners. Why should p
Nv father was Scotchman, and my grand
father was Scotchman, and the first, | be
lieye. the only general officer who she'd his
blood in defense of the country In the rcyo-
lutionary struggle. These propositions, as |
understand them, are Just as essential tor the
true interests, and for the protection of the
true rights of foreigners no come here and
become established amongst Us, as they are
for the natives. and nothing but msconcep
ton and misunderstanding of the true pur
poses aud objects of this association, could
have created such a storm among consdera-
bic portion Of foreigners. or any other per
sons.
As to tie religious question, gentlemen, ]
am afraid that | cannot consider my self en-
tirely Fl to consider such subject as that. !
am afraid. God help me, l have not much re
Iission of any sort, though | see that some
body has made the wonderful discovery that
the Winchester ticket is made up Of
Methodist, Baptist. a Presbyterian and
Episcopalian, / believe l am nearer the
Epi>copaian than any other. i don't live
more than square and a half from the church.
Now, un tIers and that nobody belonging to
this much and terribly abused party. for
think il Is and has been the wors. abused that
ever has arisen in the country not excepting
the Aboliiioni>1s, who deserve il most heartily
Il do no. understand tha. any man belong
ing TO this organization desires to interfere
with anv civil or religious RI 5hts OF Catholics
any more than with the civil and religious
rights of Pro,es;ants. Nobody disputes the
lights, or designs to interfere With the s.ulhori
ty Of the members Of that Church, 10 worship
God according TO their own consclences 30
far any person undertakes TO say that he
Will not vote for Catholic. lie exercises his
undeniable right lii equally competent for
persons out side the order TO take that position.
nor do believe they would be guilty. if they
chose to take tia. position. Of any violation
Of the rights OF Catholics as citizens either
civil or religious. How far the charges Of
tenn poral allegiance on the part Of Catholics TO
the Pope are justified, am not aware. It is
strange that while some Catholics deny the
temporal authority OF the Pope over them,
others Of their own church, some Of them II.
high position do mai tain tia. they are thus