Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-22
speech Of Hon. Ranaell Hunt.

/
cheering of the meeting This subsidized, the dis,
tinguished orator ofthe evening came forward and
said that he appeared upon this occasion by invi-
taton of the Executive Committee of the American
party OF Louisiana, to advocate the principles laid
down in the platform of the National Council at
Philadelphia, as modified by that of Louisiana, on
the last Fourth of July; principles plain, he re-
marked, and so simpleas to be understood need but
to be read. lie had designed to take them oil up,
and comment upon them in detail, but the state
of his health would compel him to forego part Of
his original plan. He then requested Col. Walton
to read to the meeting the National and State
Platforms, which being done, he proceeded:
This fellow citizens, he said, is the platform of
the American party, platform strong, broad, long
and large enough for all true Americans to stand
upon. Its principles are those of the Union and
the constitution. II embraces all the great princi-
Piles of American liberty The speaker then pro-
ceeded to anayze this platform, which he said was
based upon love Of country and reverence of those
who reared the temple of American liberty. Hav-
ing alluded to the different articles of the platform,
Mr.. Hunt dwet particularly upon that which de-
cares the principle that Americans should govern
America, as Englishmen govern England, French
men France, and as Irishmen wish to govern Ire
land. In like manner, Americans, he said, wished
to govern their own country ana IL was an instinct
of nature that they should do so.
He declared it as his deliberate opinion, formed
upon much study of the subject, that the liberties
and institutions Of the country were in peril from
the p esent state of the naturalization laws of the
land And he proceeded to show, by statistical
citations the enormous increase of immigration to
this country from other nations within the last few
years-an increase which, if continued but few
more in the same ratio would make the foreign
A. A. ,1,la rf
southern States He showed the effect of this upon
the vote Of the country, and that that party would
triumph with which this foreign vote could be in
duced to coalesce. He contended that it was
this which had demoralized the old parties, in
ducing them to trim for the purpose of catching
the immigrant vote. The selection of the candi-
dates for the Presidency at the last contest, was
influenced by this That this an evil greatly to
be deprecated, the speaker showed by extracts
from the Notes on Virginia of Mr.. Jefferson, in
1887 in which the writer forciby depicted the
evil results of an increase of immigration.
The speaker then proceeded to comment on the
fact that the foreigners who come in such vast
numbers to our shores do not mingle and assmi
late with our people and our institutions and he
cited the case of the German associations, who
have lately published declaration Of their views,
in St. Louis, Baltimore, Richmond and other parts
Of the country--vews, Mr.. Hunt contended, in
the last degree subversive of American principles
and American institutions and especially to those
of the South. These declarations were made in
1852, and soon after came Kossuth, who, on leav-
ing the country, published manifesto, addressed
to the Germans, in which he told them to remem-
Der that they would hold the balance Of power in
their hands at the coming election. At that cleo
ton, they went in mass for Pierce, who had GER
tainly not been ungrateul for the foreign support
he had received.
And here Mr.. Hunt dwelt on the character of
the diplomatic appointments of the present admin
stration so disgraceful, he insisted to our coun-
try, and calling up blush to the cheek OF all
Americans travelling abroad and not only as far
as our diplomatic relations are concerned, but the
effect of the foreign vote on the legislation of the
country was considered by the speaker, who adj
verted to the fact that some of the States of the
Union in direct contravention Of the constitution,
gave to the unnaturalized foreigner the right to
vote at all elections He specially instanced the
case Of Michigan, and read extracts from the de-
bates Of the Senate OF the United States on the
question of admitting that Territory into the Union
with this feature in It's constitution, showing that
under Mr. Bentons law, IL admitted notwith-
standing in order 10 swell the vote of Martin Van
Buren, At the last Congress the same thing was
done as to Kansas and Nebraska Mr.. Benamin's
assent to which afforded the speaker the theme Of
some indignant comment in connexon with his
recently published letter.
u
in the enforcement Of the naturalization laws was
ina special injurious TO the interests Of the
Southern States and to quote the Tribune, Of New
York, the Era, of Washington Giddings, Of Ohio,
and other Abolitionst authority in proof that the
main body of the foreign immigrants to our coun-
try was anti-slsSery and abolition. IT was time,
Mr.. Hunt thought that party should be formed
to check this enormously increasing abuse, this
overwhelming influx Of the dark tide Of immgra-
ton that threatening to swallow up American
| rights. The American party he believed TO be
such an one, and abnegating all other party con-
nexons he declared his determination TO act with
IT, and sustain its principles. He then took view
Of the evils Of foreign immigration rs disclosed in
the history Of our own local elections and its ef
fects upon the neres Of city, in the increase
OF pauperism citing statistics from hospital reports
&c.
He touched upon the obstacles that had been
systematically thrown in the way Of obtaining
registry law in this State and other cognate mat
tiers, 10 which, in this meagre sketch, we have not
the space particularly 10 alludc He took a cur
sorry glance at the disorganized state Of the Wing
party, and at the divided, dsordered, and dena.
tonalzcd position Of the Democratic party, aud
maintained that the platform OF the American
party presented the only principles upon which,
in the present exigcncy Of affairs true Americans
could safely stand. lie took up and replied to the
objections alleged against that platform by its OPP
ponents; maintained Tint the foreigner has no
"vested rights" in this country, as has been al.
legged denied that the American party proposes
to deprive any naturalized citizen Of any OF his
rights answered the objection that Il was harsh TO
deprive such Of the power to hold Office, by citing
the fact that this principle was originally recog-
nised by the trainers Of the constitution In limiting
that right so far as the President is concerned and
afterwards by the trainers Of the amendments, 80
far as the Vice President was concerned; appealed
to the naturalized citizen for his sake, to 30
with the American party in the furthorance Of this
principle.
Took up the argument based upon the birth Of a
native citizen being accident, and the adoption
Of the country rs a home by the foreigner a
matter Of choice and made n most brilliant ap.
peal to the principles Of American patriotism, Civ
ing a most glowing definition Of the love Of
country. Having rccapitulated the principles Of
the platform succinctly Mr.. Hunt proceeded to
consider the recent letter Of Mr. Senator benjamin
on the American party He repealed the animad-
versions OF the Senator in strain OF earnest In
diguant and sarcastic remark, any attempt on our
part TO report which, within the limits we must
prescribe to ourselves, would be impossible.