Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-22
Hon. j. j. Crittenden.

This distinguished gentleman arrived at Phila-
delphia on Monday, and was received by his polit-
ical friends with great enthusiasm He was sere-
naded at his quarters at the Girard House, and
subsequently, delivered address, In the course of
which he said
/ am Of the American party. Three cheers
were proposed and given for the American party,
and then three more for the Union have adopt
ed II from no selfish consideration. have adopt
ed and intend to pursue 1t without fear OF conse-
quences, from a solemn conviction that it is my
duty TO my country to do so. am single indi-
vidual. Ny voice is weak and small one; but
il shall be devoted TO this cause, from q solemn
conviction of my heart that owe it 70 q country
that has bestowed on me honors and powers far
beyond my deserving. have no pretensions and
no aspirations whatsoever. | mean to do my duty
in this great cause / mean to preserve the soye-
regnty Of this great country to the people of this
country. sba
feel no unkindness, no hostility to the for
eigner whatever. i am willing to offer him eve
rything--every blessing our country affords. /
will tell him" Come share them with u.s." If
you have been the object OF oppression IN a for
eign land, come here and be free. If in q for
eign land you have suffered from want, come
and share in our plenty. Our laws shall protect
you. Our laws will give you freedomowhich you
cannot enjoy anywhere in the world beside. But
we reserve to ourselves the right to govern our
selves. Peals Of applause.
Leave that to us You shall have all the ben
eft that our free institutions afford. That is the
great boon which we offer. What other country
in the world offers the same None. Can one
20 to any foreign land and become invested with
the poor political privileges conceded to the peo-
pie Of it? No, not one. Come here and take
everything but the right to govern US. WE must
take care that we shall not be made aliens in
our own land. This liberty is ours. Our blood
and that of our fathers have been shed for it. 1t
is ours by our right and our title, and this land
we intend to govern, and we will govern. ZAP
plause. af
Felow-citizens, did not intend to make po-
litical speech, or to detain you long in your I'M
pleasant position in the cold night air. Cries of
it isn't unpleasant! Go on! s4f
believe, fellow-citizens that change in the
naturalization laws is necessary to the preservation
and purity Of our institutions. Who else can iin-
derstand them but he who made them? Where
else in the world have people been found capa-
Bile of making such institutions? And shall he
who made them trust them to hands not taught to
do this work? No! we cannot safely trust them.
We have in our hands great and mighty trust
for the whole human race, to show that man is ca
pablo Of selfgovernment. We have had long
training for it. We think that we are capable OF
it, and we intend to assert our right to it. Let
none Interfere with us in this great work. Our
adopted ellowcitizens received under the sanction
of our laws, are bound as much as we are, to as
sist in this great work. When thousands and hum
dreds Of thousands are pouring into the country
from the overlooking population Of foreign lands,
we must guard this right. The most obvious pol
icy demands it at our hands, We must do it, and
we will do it. Applause, and cries Of we will.
This great principle will go on. It may be re-
viled. Those who maintain it may be reviled; but
the principle, which is SO congenial to an Ameri
can heart, win indicate ITSELF and it will be trium
plant. applause | do not doubt this at all.
Only let us be true to ourselves. Let no reproach
es be cast upon us by disappointed parties or par
tisans, or disappointed demagogues turn us aside
from this great work. Persevere, and success is
inevitable. It is feeling in the heart OF every
American citizen.
1t will reach him everywhere and in vain will
parties in vain win faction inveigh against it, cast
reproaches on it. 1t is principle Of patriotism.
1t is the feeling Of an Americanisnl. 1t is human
nature crying out 1t is the voice of patriotism
speaking aloud in favor of the human race, and it
will prevail despite the wies and tricks of dema-
gogues. Applause.