Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-14

cation laws. Every reasonable man who reflects
a moment, will be forced TO the conclusion that
the trainers of the Constitution never designed to
permit the States to confer the right OF paricipa-
ting in elections for Federal offices upon any 9th
ers than citizens Of the United States, and no
foreigner can become citizen ualil he has been
in this cosntry' five years. The doctrine ad-
vanced By MIR. McComas, would, if carried out
to its full length, not only nufy the laws OF the
land and the provisions of the Constitution, but
place our government in the hands of any fUfeign
nation that may choose TO plant numerous colo
n, in Illinois for six. months.
But admitting all that Mr.. McComas contends
for to be true there is yet propriety in the repeal
of the present Naturalization Laws and the ex-
tension of the term of residence to twenty-one
wears, for the same power that operates In Con-
gress, can and will operate in the States, and
make the State laws eonformable with acts OF
Congress-, as the Constitution intended they
should be.
The speaker proceeded to say that the Natural
izaton Laws obligate the Government to. protect
the citizen. They DO not obEgate the people to
rive them Office. # So the Know Nothings will
use double exertions to have them changed. Mr.:
Nc Jonas here launched out into eulogy upon the
bravery and patriotism of foreigners. from which
we inferred that he considered them far above the
natives. He mentioned-the interesting facts that
three 6urths Of the u. S. Army is now composed
of foreigners, that majority Of the Army in the
Mexican War were foreigners, and that there was
native Arnold. but no traitor had ever been found
among the foreigners. Very complimentary TO
Americans surely. He wished 10 know whether
the X. Ms expected to make better citizens out of
the foreigners by laying the lash on their backs,
| and lowering them beneath the free negroes-what
nobody proposes to do. This whole branch OF his
argument was based upon the erroneous PROPOSE
ton that the Know Noihngs designed to dlsran-
chse foreigners already naturalized, and was there
fore worth nothing.
MIR. McComas next took Up the anti Catholic
feature in the Know Nothing creed, which he
professed to approach with entire impartiallty'-
He traced the history Of the Christian religion
from the days of the Apostles to the present time,
and told how Luther protested against the dog
mas of the Catholic Church. end claimed the righ'
to choose his own road 10 heaven. He talked
largely of religious liberty, the Bill flights &C.,
and said that the X. Ms, like moles aud tats,w
underm ming the very corner stone of orr free IN
body desires or designs to abate the Liberties OF the
Catholic in the slightest particular lie complain
ed bitterly of midnight caucus composed oil all
sorts Of sms, determining for other people which
is the right read to heaven, but he seemed to for
oct that the Catholic ChnTeh holds the same doc
trne on this subject that it did when Luther pro-
tested. It is true; as Mr. McComas says, that
Protestants admit that Catholics may go TO heav-
en-. but Catholics lie not so generous in regard 10
Protestant heretics. I'm regard to bigotry and in
tolerance then, the Know Nothings plainly have
the advantage.
Mr.. McComas here read the Know Nothing
oath. to show that members of that organization
we're bound to obey the wifof the Supreme Coun-
Gil. lie did not tell the people that the obligation
could be cancelled at any time by withdrawal, nor
did he read that portion of the oath which makes
the obligation TO the Constitution of the United
States supreme. 1t might have been well enough
10 have read in cornexion with this obligation
which The Know Nothing is said to assume, the
oath off the Jesuit, which would have repelled Mr..
Nice Jonas denial Of the Pope's temporal power.
The speaker commented upon the secrecy OF the
Know Nothngs-spoke of them as sneaking set
worse than the Jesuis-all which doubtless a
unused "Sam'' amazingly. Considering their infa-
nous character, it was matter general surprise
that the honorable speaker addressed them so fire.
quenty and affec,ionately as 'Brother know-No-
things"
Mr.. McComas argued from fhe history Of the
Mormons, that opposition 10 Catholicism would re-
suit in its increase. The only lawful way to put
! them down, said he. is TO "out pray them, out
nreach them, Sc.-that's my way" Mr.. Nc
Comas does want 10 put them down therefore, and
while he is unwilling to lei other people vote a.
gainst them if they choose, he is actually praying
for their downfall every day.
The speaker proceeded TO hold up the X. N.
order as an Abolition organization, which he es-
t.blished by the same arguments that would con
vict the Democratic party. He maintained, OF
course that the Democratic party is "the only par
tv that has w,hstood the tide Of isn:s," and sad
that the coming election was 10 tell upon the des-
inv of the South and the perpe,uity of the Union
In other words it was very important that the peo-
ME should vote for Mr.. Wise & Mr.. McComas.
The people understand Here Mr.. McComas com
menced the "beginning OF the end" OF his speech
He could talk as long as he had breath, and al
ways thought after he had concluded that he had
missed par, of his speech. We have the chart
ty to believe that he must have omitted much on
Wednesday last He concluded by appealing to
the Democrats in the order of Know Nothings to
come mplmented Clay to tickle the Wings,
and feelingly exclaimed, with his eyes rolled up,
..Oh Fellow Citizens! would 10 God you would
throw off the shackles'' His prayer will doubt
less be answered on The 9TH Thursday in May next
| We have thus given pretty fair outline OF Mr.
! McComas' speech. On the whole, we considered
it inefficient, calculated to do no harm to his op-
ponen,s-no good to his own cause.
Ferocious Dog Fight.
A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch
writing from Staunton, on "Wednesday last, men,
tions most lerocious fight between bull dog
and terrier that came off on that day, in front Of
the Virginia Hotel. "Such iercely contested
battle" says the writer, ''has not been witnessed
in these ports for many days. A large crowd