New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-11-02
l. ACTS
FROM THE sPEEcHoF THE HON. JOHN BELL,

Differed m Rnertis Tenn. ot He 2d If SEPT k4sf
MOI Irepeat, that the pretexts offered to OK.
case the fierce and vindictise assaults, made by
some OF thesleaders Of the Democracy pom the
american party, cannot avail Them They had
far other motives and Objects in view They
sought 10 crusha the new party in its birth, and
before 1t bad time TO mature. its principles.
They saw in that par ty The germ Ola great, con
servatise, national, and invincible party organ-
azatien. The very name ofsthe new PARRY
Amsricsn-struck terror into the leaders Of The
Democracy The prestige of the name of the
Demoerstic party, which had been g tower of
strength to II, they toresaw. was likely to be SO
no longer, and they made haste toseize whatever
advantage, by way Of indemnity for the loss,
they might ezpectto derive, from the new issues
presented by the new party, and il they could
not destroy 1T in its birth, they calculated that
by the violence of their assaults upon its policy,
and their Jealous advocacy OF the cause OF for
eigners, at least ossecure their undivided sup-
port ia future elections; and thus to- esta blish
the relation of patronand client in our country,
between the Democratic party and the foreign
population, founded the basissof, protection on
The one SIDE, and support on the other; "a for.,
midable alliance, truly but if the American
party shall succeed in cutting of the perennial
supply of fresh recruits to the Democratic stand
ard, derived from the annual influx of She half
million of foreigners or more, the Democratic
leaders may still fnd that they will have 10
fight their future battles with diminished
chances Of success.
But whatever alliances the Democrats may
form with foreigners however the leaders may
fret and rage-With whatever obstnaey of pur.
pose they may seek to resist or crush the Amer
lean party, they will fail to defeat the great end
and Fundamental policy of that party Their
views on the subject of foreigners and their pnr-
poseto check their increasing influence and Con
troll over the affairs of government, Have tile
sanction of every true American heart, and will
prevail; and thus a great act OF conservative
Craftsmanship will be accomplished Ofits i'm
portanee tosthe welfare Of this country, fbelieye
but few have yet formed . just estimate; but
that'its wisdom, should it be Contaminated, will
stand the testef time, If there be any value in
lessons Of history, any one may be convinced,
who will revert to the fate Of the Roman Com
monWtalth, and consider how striking the re-
se1nbiance and the condolences are, 10 the con
ditiontof that famous Republic at q critical per
riodo its existence, and our own, at this mo
ment The study of o few chapters of Roman
history which record the struggle between the
Roman Senate and the leaders of factions, on
the subject of admitting foreigners to theprivi-
isges of Roman citizens, will amply repay the
time CONSUMED In it; and I respectfully recon-
mend this especially to the leaders of the Demo
cratic party.
: The early policy:of Rome, and whom she was
but feeble power, was to receive freely into
her bosom all strangers and adgenturers en-
rolling among her citizens even the .eaptiVess
taken in war, all of whom, in process of time,
assimilated with the native &raGe, and formed
one great people, one distinct nationality !; but
when her population and resources had so in
crsased as to senabfeshe TO cope successfully
with the warlike States With which she was
,yshe adopted the more restricted
policy Of admitting no alien to the privileges of
Roman citizens, but such as were distinguished
by their personal merits, or eminent abilities;
and guarded with Jealous care the, dignity Of
the Roman name and the integrity Of the 'Ro-
man institutions from all such Influences as
threatened to disparage the one or change the,
other. ~y zE'
The effect of this caution in admitting aliens
to the privileges Of citizens, SO long as 1t was
persisted IN, was, not only to maintain the pub
lic liberty-to give such stability to the policy
of the Commonwealth as to enable it to achieve
universal dominion, but, at the same time, to
impart consideration and protection to Roman
citizens wherever the authority Of Rome Was
obeyed, or her power respected. But after
Carthage, Macedonia and all the more formida
bic enemies to the progress OF Roman sway had
fallen; and when the wealth and treasures of
numerous tributary states and provinces began
to flow Into Rome and when, as a natural con
sequence, it became the resort of great multi
tndes o. Foreigners, seeking to advance their
fortunes, in whatever way chance should offer,
then, was given new and increased impulse to
the spirit Of faction ambitious and restless
aspirants to the public honors and offices multi
piled rapidly. The competition between. them
became more fierce, and engendered factions
formidable TO the public liberty. Many Of the
factious headers did not scruple, by fraud or
artifce, to cause great numbers Of the resident
foreigners to be inscribed on the roll of citizens,
and to vote in the popular elections The evils
arising from this practice at last arrested the
attention OF the Government, and-roused the
Jealousy Of the nativesborn citizeps "a scrutiny
was instituted, and all foreignsrswho he'd dared
to usurp the privileges Of Roman citizens We're
driven from the city. > - 5 ef saisss 4 y
But this measure did not suffice to remedy
the.eyiL. The foreign vote. and the proneness
of foreigners to become the hesnstrnmants OF FAC
tions, we're elements of strength, of too much
Importance to factious headers, to allow the
question of their claims to be admitted to the
privileges of Roman citizens, to sleep and one
Eof them, who filled the office of Tribune, ven-
lstured, in an assembly Of people, to propose q
law for the admission Of the free inhabitants ol
all Italy to the privileges Of Roman citizens; but
this proposition was so offensive to the citizens
and so deeply affected their personal considera
tion, that q tumult arose, in which the TRIBUNE
and many Of his partisans lost their lives. ). Blu
this tragedy did not terminate the controversy
The Italian allies-the respectful title by Whicl