Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-26
NUMBER Id.

NUMBER Id.
T Milton Gregg and the American plat.
a form
C Resolved, That both experience and Oh.
= unmistakable manifestations OF a lust uublir
sentiment demand a change of the Constitu.
ton and laws Of this State so as to Limit the
elective franchise to such persons as are ac.
tual citizens Of the United States. either by
birth OF by full and final conformity with the
; laws on the subject Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
luton Of the Fusion Convention.
One the prominent men at this Fusion
Convention was Mnrox GREGG. Unfortn-
nately he has left a record behind him a
most inconvsnient thing for a politician. =,
When he was member Of the Convention
which formed the new Constitution he was
only FIVE years younger than he is now; he
was then gentleman Of enlarged political
experience and conYersant with all the ques-
tions which agifate The public mind.
Bnk s<rn Ls, u the fn'l ,p2Is,rity q his
intellect viii have to adopt the apology Of
Madame De SrAEL that those who have never
changed their opinions have never corrected
their errors.
The present Constitution of Indiana secures
TO foreigners the elective franchise after one
years residence, and Mr.. GREGG was an earnest
advocate of that provision. NosO, he en-
dorses platform which requires FIVE years.
al appeal" said prisoner who had been
brought before Philip of Macedonia after his
evening potations from Philip drunk to
Philip sober" So do we appeal from the
MnToS GREGG Of to-day to the MnToS
GREGG Of the Constitutional Convention.
This was his language:
Mr.. GREGG. l hope, Mr.. President that
the motion made bv the gentleman from
Hamilton. Mr.. Clarke,) to strike out the lat
ter clause Of this section, will not prevail
And especially do hope that the few Wings
who have the honor of seat in this body,
viii not place themselves in a false position
in regard to this matter, by voting against the
section as II now stands, or by seeking TO en-
cumber 1t with unnecessary amendments. 1
know, sir, il had been the policy Of political
demagogues for the last twenty years, and
am sorry to say they have succeeded TO some
extent to impress upon the minds of the
foreign population among US, that the Wings,
a party, were opposed to them acquiring
any political rights under our State or ma
tional governments, and that the Democratic
party were their particular and peculiar friends.
And, sir, | was sorry to hear my worthy
friend from Allen, on my left, (Mr Hamil-
toni giving color to this idea in his remarks
on yesterday afternoon.
Sir, | deny the truth Of the proposition,
that the Wings as a party, are or ever have
been opposed to foreign immigration, or TO
the adoption of the most liberal policy for
extending TO them all the rights and privile.
ges of American citizenship Ii is true thers
may be exceptions to this rule among the
Whig party, as there are exceptions in all
other parties. There may be those among
us who are at heart Native Americans, and
who honestly believe that the true policy Of
our government is to disiraLchise our foreign
population until they shall have resided here
at least twenty one years. But this sents-
ment is not peculiar to those who may afili-
ate with the Wings in other respects, but may
be found with those also, who take rank with
the Democratic party, in matters Of general
politics
There may be those among us who would
distrust the patriotism and fidelity OF our for
eign population, should difficulty arise be-
tween our government and that 10 which they
were lately subject But for one have 40
feass Of them. They have, it is true, their
national prejudices, and early predictions in
favor oftheir native land-but they are none
the less good citizens, because Of this feeling.
And upon many hard fought battlefield
have they attested their devotion to the honor
and interests Of their adopted country, by
pouring out their blood like water, and laying
down their lives side by side with our native
born citizens.
But Mr. President, do not desire 10 discuss
I this question. My position in regard to for
eigners was clearly defined upon the consid-
Grafton OF another question some time ago
| then remarked, and | now repeat, that 1
would throw open wide the portals Of our
country, and bid the oppressed and down
trodden OF all the earth hearty Welcome
| would say to the honest German, and open
hearted lrishman, csme-and this. let me say
to my friend on the left would embrace all
Of his countrymen Of the Emerald Isle, for.
so far as I know, they are all open hearted
and generous to fault. ! would say to the
. oppressed Of all Europe, come, and share with
us freely all the blessings of civil, political,
and religious liberty. This, sir, / regard a:
the true Wing doctrine pure and unadultera-
ted-and i, for one, am willing to stand by 1t
=