American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-11-15
Americans.

~. we give the sPseca ch''ie''es
ow: ~
Hox. J. ]. CRtTrENDEN's SPEEcH.-A-
midst the party strife of the last few years i
when the only struggle seemed to be, not
now the country should be governed, but
who SHOULD govern i!--unexpectediy a
new party had grown up. Without
cause? No. 1t came from the heart ot
the people. A conviction was making its
way from heart to heart, that foreign infu-
ence threatened cur liberties. Aud the
thought of having them, subverted on our
own soil, aroused every true citizen. 1t
was the peoples party.
Immediately after the Revolution, when
our country was impoverished, and our
forests to be subdued, foreigners did not
care about coming TO share our labors. For
the first twenty years, but 5000 per an
NUN came In the next twenty, from 1910
to 1880, they came at the rate of 10000
per annum. These were absorbed by Our
people and became Amercanized. i
But since that time a new scene had
been exhibited. From $40 to 1850 they
came by the hundreds Of thousands, and
since ! $50 they had been coming at the
rate ofbet#een 400, 600 and 100000 per
annum. This foreign invasion OF armies
of voters became alarming.
Was there any probability of its de-
crease? No. 1t was true that it had fall
len off a little in tho past year, but when
the war which is now swallowing up the
surplus population of Europe closed, we
should again be inundated with the worth
less desperadoes it has made.
The like ofsuch an emigration the world
never saw. When the children of lsreal
Quilted Egypt they were not more in num-
Der than this annual immigration.
Your forests are now subdued;ahd your
country made habitable, and they now
come 10 share it xith you. Your free in
stitutions have become light to the world,
and they are attracted by it.
The grave question is, are these foreign
4 ers to be entrusted with the preservation
e of our liberties? lie would not boast, bu
g he did not believe there was another race
= of men on Gods earth that could have for
0 med the free institutions made by our faith
ers, Since the worlds history commen
e ced, a Washington had never arisen IN any
n country but ours.
II Itrcquired all our vigilance to preserv
{ this government. Foreigners could not Dc
o it. They did not love it as wc did. IL
= did rot blame them. Every man loved bi
d native land bettor than any other.
lie wished a change in the naturallza
y ton laws--an extension of the time so a
'r to give foreigners better opportunity t
become acquainted with our institutions
and to fit themselves for taking part in ou
government. No man was to be upbrad
ed for wishing to take the best possibl
care of his liberties, or for refusing to shar
: them out until the little resduum was nc
worth keeping. These men came fror
- the monarchles, where they had been ac
:, customed, net to governing, but TO bein
o governed. Were they ever called on
" vote there? Why the doctrine of trar
- substantiaton was not greater mystery
=" them than the elective franchise.
- If the term of naturalization was e&ter
~ " ded, or the law entirely repealed, it woul
=. make no difference in the immigration
- y Foreigners did not come here to vote
~ They knew nothing about the elective flaI
"a chse until they learned it on our soil. II
~. ~ did not object to their coming. Ga til
80 contrary, he would say, come one, cen
,e all. We will receive and entertain thei
= but the right of governing we must reser'
~, ~ to ourselves, and repeal every encroac
a. - ment upon it, and we would call on our
:. 40 dopted citizens to aid u.s. If these foreig
" eis came with cartridges, we would call
~ - them to assist in repeling them; but ca
~ or ridges in the ir hands would not be half
,o ~ dangerous to brave American pdoPe as b
IN. lots
,rh o. Foreigners already formed third
lis lis tatc---giving preponderanco to either p
nr S ty, as they cast their influence with it.
90 90 They had become an object for parties
NJ pay court to, and they were wooed to c
md md side and the other by every sort of pro
I I;n. ise aud maneuyer
70 They feel their influence, and are clai
ro ing their share in all the offices in the COZ
ali try; not as Americans, but as foreignc
.U' -rU for they keepupa separate political org
'' ization, and are as much foreigners here
Ia. in the heart OF Germany.
% =, They favor us with their views in reg
os To improvements in our Government.
~ ~; fellow had hardly shook the dust of
,..I 'ni' Black Forest off his feet till he was s
'ooh gesting amendments to the Constitution
nmrs w some Of the things they proposed TO 9
'"'' us in exchrnge for our liberties were
or,,, ~ rious enough. They would abolish
hy President and the Senate, and have
I"oy ole popular branch Of legislation, VIII
pIe 1,o" members could be recalled at pleasure
y ho;yr They would give us their German drear
,,,on Democracy.
anJ I Kossuth-that begging patriot
"'N got his country in fight, and then
the first to runaway and leave her, chit
,;c,o ed the Germans here to band themse
inis. together and watch their opportunity
- vote in such way as to benefit their +,
erland. He did not uporaid them for
ing so They had a right to love I
country as ho had to love his, bat TO {
nit to be governed by this foreign ht
h0 IL was TO make us native born the only al
in our native land. He then spok'
glowing terms Of the Union, and said
loved the American party because it
,ro devoted so its preservation. Their pri
e' pies must ultimately prevail, They W
r;de continue to advocate them notwithstan
wv their failure in other States; would sui
G & to ba called proscriptionist, if loving
: 2 own countrymen better than any G
81 made them such, till these principles sh
= 4. lrt ltsln 1ni la "a