The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-06
MR.. CALHOUN ON KNOW NOTHING
ISM

We find in the Nashville (Tenn.) Gazette,
of the 10Th ut., the annexed extract from
speech of the illustrious Carolina Statesman,
which bears directly upon an important
principle now advocated by the American
party:
CALHoUN's SENTIMENTS ABoUTFoREIGNERs.
The extract below from the speech ni Mr..
Calhoun upon the question of admitting
Michigan into the Union, contains as full an
endorsement of that portion of the American
platform referring to foreigners as could have
been desired, and just such one rs would
have been expected from mind like that OF
the great South Carolinan. The publication
and dissemination of that endorsement will
have II profound effect in the South. Mr..
Calhoun, in the extract referred to, distinctly
outlines the evils attendant upon the compar-
atively unrestricted system of American nat
7aizalion-especaly in the States-and
wildly portrays the dire dangers to the Re-
public which may proceed from this source.
In order that no one may fail to seesand I'M
derstand the recorded sentiments of that
great, and good, and true Southern man, We
reproduce the extract here, entire. Let every
patriot read and digest it thoroughly; and
henceforth let Southern skeptics cease
their cry that "there is no danger" and
their prating about "pcace! when there is no
peace"
ain comforting the power to pass uniform
laws of Naturalization" says Mr. Calhoun,
"the Trainers of The constitution must have
had two objects in view: one to prevent COM
-, IN, bnlIiner Mt
inducements for the emigration of foreigners
and the other to prevent their improper
influence over the General Government
through such States Us might naturaize for
eigners, and could confer on them the right
oil exercising the elective franchise, before
they could be sufficiently Informed of the ma
ture of our institutions, or were interested IN
their preservation. Both of these objects
would be defeated, if the States may confer
on aliens the right of voting and the other
privileges belonging to citizens. On that
supposition, it would be almost impossible to
conceive What good could be obtained on evil
prevented by comforting the power on Con-
gross. The power would be perfectly nnga-
tory. A State might hold ont every improp
er inducrment to emigration, rs freely rs II
the power did not exist: and might confer on
the alien al the political privileges belonging
to native born citizen; not only to the great
injury of the government of the States but
to an improper control over the Government
Of the Union. To illustrate what | have
said, suppose the dominant party in New
York, finding political power about t" depart
from them, should, to maintain their ascen'
dency, extend the right of suffrage to the
thousands of aliens Of every language and
from every portion ofthe world that annually
pour into her emporium-how deeply might
The destiny Of the whOle Union be affected by
snch a measure. II might, in fact, place The
control ouer The General Government IN the
hands of those who know nothing Of our insti-
tutionS and are indifferent as 10 The interests Of
our country. New York gives about one
sixth of the electoral votes in the choice of
President and Vice President; and it is well
known that her political institutions keep the
State nearly equally divided into two great
political parties. The addition of few
| thousand votes either way might turn the
scale, and the electors might in fact, owe
their election, on the suppostion, 10 unnat-
uraIizcd Foreigners. The Presidential cleo
tion might depend on the electoral uote Of The
State, and a President be chosen in reality By
them; THAT Is, THEY NIGHT GIVE US
a KING ~