Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-05
Know-Hothingism in the Senatc--Mr.
Houston.

In the Senate last week, when bill to increase
our military force for the purpose of supprcssing
Indian hostlites was under consideration, the sub
ject of Know -Nothingism was incidentally brought
upon the tapis In replying to some illusions made
by Senator Dodge, of Iowa, Gen. Houston of Tex
as, is reported to have said:
hardly know what to think of the gentleman's
remarks as to catering for the Presidency. hardly
know what to say about the extraneous subjects
which he has introduced. suppose the shortest
way of naming what he intended to allude to- is by
the term "Know-N Nothing Now, of the Know
Nothings know nothing, [laughter;] and of them
/ care nothing But II the principles which see
charged to them in many instances are the princ-
pies which they seek to carry out can say TO
gentlemen that concur in many of them. IL their
object is to resist the encroachments of reli-
gion or sect upon another am with them. ] say,
resist all such encroachments and leave all religion
uncontamnated by the perversion of power that
might accidentally result In prescription and the
inqusition. I'm none of 1t !" am opposed to and
would prevent such result
admit that we are all descended from foreign
ers, because, originally there were natives here
who were white men. Many of those foreigners
who originally came here were baptized in the
blood Of the Revolution; but they were not such
men as are now coming to our shores, and should
not be named in connexion with those who are
spcwed loathingly from the prisons of England,
and from the pauper houses of Europe. Such men
are not to be compared TO our ancestry, or to the
immigration which, until recently, has come to our
shores from foreign countries. II the object Of
those to whom the Senator from Iowa has referred,
be to prevent men of infamous character and pau
pers from coming here, l agree with them. !
would say, establish a law requiring every person
from abroad, before being received here, to bring
an endorsement from one of our consuls
abroad, and produce evidence of good character
from the place where he emigrates so that, when
he comes here, we may receive him into full com
munion with all the rights guaranteed to him by
the laws which may exist at the time Of his immi
grafton. But sir to say that felon, who left his
prison the day he sailed for this country or per-
haps was brought in chains to the vessel which
bore him here, is, in five years, to stand an equal
with the proudest man who walks on our soil the
man who has shed his blood to consecrate liberty
and his country, is not the kind of arrangement
that 20 for.
Mr. MALLORY. VIII the Senator from Texas
allow me TO ask him one question:
Mr. HousroS. With pleasure.
Mr. MALLORY. As the subject of Known
ingism as il is called, has been brought here
Mr. HoUsros. / have not introduced il, and
am not going to comment on IT,
Mr. MALLORY. Precisely 30 the Senator has
not introduced the subject, and perhaps be is not
responsible for its introduction but he is under
taking TO say what he himself thinks upon IT,
Now, as he is speaking on the subject, l should
like to understand distinctly whether he approves
or does not approve Of so much Of the creed at
tributed to the Know Nothings as would make
those who profess the Roman Catholic religion in.
eligible to Officer
Mr. HoUsroN. would vote for no such law.
Mr.. MALLORY. / asked the gentleman whether
be approved that or not-not whether he would
vote for II.
Mr.. Housros. No, sir; could not approve Of
such law. But the prescription which is charged
on those to whom allusion has been made Is no
more than formerly existed between Wings and
Democrats. When party discipline was kept up,
ifa Wing voted for Democratic candidate he was
ruled out Of his party and branded ms a deserter ;
and If Democrat voted for a Wing he was dis
owned by his party. That species Of political pro-
scription win exist everywhere, according to the
notions Of people. ] do not set up my opinion as
the doctrine by which others are TO be governed
am governed by my own principles, and my own
sentiments, and have right TO vindicate them,
and am responsible for them to the world. When
the Senator from Iowa supposes that would cater
for the presidency Of the United States, he does
me great injustice. / would not cater for any Of
Ace beneath Heaven. But, sir know one thing;
Il II we're to be thrust upon me, should make
great many changes In some small matters.
Laughter