Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-11
Mr.. Pat.on,s Speech.

| MIR. Patton's Speech.
The Hon. John NJ. Patton, the American can
ddate for Attorney General, addressed the peo
day night, the Sd inst. The speech is reported
in the Richmond Wing. and is complete vindi-
cation of the speaker and Of the American party
against the assaults of the Wise press. Mr.. Pat
ton said he had been assailed heretofore both by
Thomas Richie and John Hampden Pleasants, and
now when he had survived heavens artillery, he
was not to be frightened or burntby fire-crackers,
and least of all by pop-guss loaded with sliced
potatoes. If he was driven out OF the Democratic
party which it required no very strenuous exertion
to accomplish, he had the sympathy and compan-
onshp of thousands Of the most steadfast and con-
scientious Of that party. He had the consolation
of knowing also that political parties did not bear
malice, as was shown by the ecslacy into which
the Democracy were thrown by the occasional ac-
QUESTION of some seeding Know Nothing or OBJ
durae Wing. They rejoice more over the one
who repented, than over the go aud who went
not astray land hasten to besow upon him office
and honors. When the speaker was last in that
building, the cry was Young America !" Those
who then made t,now say nothing about it; "but
seem disposed to embrace in their comprehensive
patriotism, old Europe, all Europe, Asia, part cf
Africa, all creation, and the rest of mankind"
Mr.. Patton said he did not belong TO the Know
Nothing order, and he was unwilling to say that
under no circumstances would he vote for placing
foreigner in office. The general principle,
however. was correct "NIaintain," said he, "a
ralnst the world in arms, that free citizens of this
country, native or foreign, have right to enter
into such an agreement without violating the
rights of any other citizens, sand without infringing
upon any principle OF the Constitution or the bill
of rights, or any other guarantee"
After showing that the Constitutions of Virgin
ia and the United States. excluded foreigners
from some political offices, and an act ofthe Gen
era Assembly passed so far back as l7s6 restricted
their privileges in this particular, Mr. Patton con-
tinued:
"Gen,emen, this cry about the rights offoreign-
ers is all CANNON. No body proposes no mar
that have ever seen no paper that have ever |
read, advocating or sustainlnglh Know-Nothing |
or American party movement, has said or written
anything indicating purpose to violate any rights
Of foreigners. A foreigner has no rights in this
country except what the laws give. 1t is wholly
a matter of domestic policy, and fer the consider
alton of the people of the United States, under
what circumstances they will admit foreigners into
the country or whether they will admit them at all
whether. when they cone here, they will allow
them tn become citizens-upon what Terms of pro-
baton, and upon what forms and conditions. My
opinion is that viewing the vast increase in i'm
migrativn-the change in our conditon.-the vast
numbers and rapid increase of our own population
thu; the time has arrived materially 10 change
our naturalization aws-te increase very consider
ably the length Of probation, before admission to
the rights of citizenship and such other and more
efficient securities, that those who are to receive
these rights are fit depusitaries of them by their
moral misunderstanding of the principles of
our institutions, and imbued with devotion to our
constitution"
In regard 10 the religions question, Mr. Patton
said
"Now understand that nobody belonging to
this much and terribly abused party, for think it
is and has been the worst abused that ever has a.
risen in the country, not excepting the Abolition
lists, who deservet most heartily do not under
stand that any man belonging to this organization
desires to interfere with any civil or religious
rights Of Catholics, any more than with the civil
and religious rights Of Protestants. Nobody dis
putes the rights or designs to interfere with the
authority of the members of that Church in wor-
Shipping God according to their own consciences
Nobody designs TO interfere with their rightto be-
Z Al ID
religious faith, is an nfalble truth. No person
desires to interfere with the belief that they must
take their conviction Of duty from the Pope. and
nrt from the bible. Nobody denies their right TO
believe in transubsaniation or consubstaniiation,
or in the immaculate conception of the Virgin
Mary, which has been recently declared by his
houess the Pope, or any other article Of faith
So far as any person undertakes TO say that he
will not vote for Catholic. he exercises his I'M
deniable rights. tits equally competent for per-
sons outside the order TO take that position, nor
do believe they would be guilty, if they choose
to take such position OF any violation of the
rights of Catholics as citizens either civil or reli
eious. How far the charges Of temporal alIegi-
ance on the part of Catholics to the Pope are JUS
titled, am not aware. 1t is strange that while
some Catholics deny the temporal authority of the
Pope over them, others of their own church. some
Of them in high positions, do maintain that they
are thus bound. We'll know not who is right
and who is wrong abou. that. but this do know,
that if it is established that we have body Of
men here who are under the temporal authority of
foreign potenate or any other religions head,
domestic or foreign, in the exercise of their civil
rights, it would be justifable ground upon
which we.shoud abstain from couferring''any office
of political power or influence upon any such man
Il care not whether he be Catholic, Presbyteri-
an, Epscopalan, Methodist, Baptist or of any
other religion. Just convince me that, as reli-
gous congregation or body, they are controlled
by Pope abroad, or by Bishop here, and would
give none Of them my vote, or any office of politi-
cal power or trust because that is to US danger
Gus exercise of the right of citizenship, dangerous
10 Them dangerous to civil liberty, dangerous be-
cause it is practical union of Church and State,
under which, wherever it exists, the tree ofberty
wiihers and dies. With such convictions, can
not hesitate 10 adopt that portion of the Know
Nothing platform which refers to religious toera'
ton"
Church Property.
The Church Property Bill has passed the low
er house of the New York Legislature by vote