The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-09
PATRICK HENRY'S SPEECH AGAINST KNOW.
NOTHINGISM

We beg the reader not to be surprised at caption.
1t is literally that Patrick Henry the great revolu
tonary and patriot sgnalzed his splendid
both and patriot by eloquent speech against
of the articles in the creed of knownothingism and
that one too which remains the solitary plank of
once nuch-vaunted national platform. TEe speech was
made after the close Of the revolution During the
war many Americans had left the country and sought
refuge in Europe Mr.. Henry introduced bill into the
Virginia legislature authorizing them to return. For this
he assailed and in his reply he discussed the question
OF foreign immigration few could discuss it. We
invite our know-nohing friends to listen Patrick Henry
the only remaining plank in their platform He speaks
as follows
The personal feelings of politician ought not to be
permitted to enter these walls The question is national
one, and in deciding it if act wisely nothing will be
regarded but the Interests OF the nation On the altar
of my counrys good am willing to sacrifice all personal
resenments all private wrongs and fatter myself that
am not the only man ia the House who IS capable Of
making such sacrifice We have sir extensive coun-
try wuhom population what can be more obvious pol
icy than that this country ought to be peoped? People
sir form the strength, and constitute the wealth. OF ma
ton want to vast forests filled up by some pro-
little speedy than the ordinary course of Ma
tue wish these States rapidly ascending that
rank which their natural advantages authorize them TO
hold among the nations of the earth
Cast your eyes sir, this extensive country OBJ
serve the salubrity of climate, the variety and
y
every quarter by bold navgabe streams flowing to the
and to the west If the finger Of Heaven mark
ing out the course of your settlements inviting You
crprise and pointing the way to wealth Sir you dcs
tined, at time Other to become great agricultural
and commercial people, the only question is whether you
choose to reach this point by slow gradaons, and at
some distant PERIOD lingering on through long and
sickly minority, subjected meanwhile 10 the mach
nations, insults, and expressions of enemies foreign
and domestic without sufficient strength to resist and
chasse hem whether you choose rather to rush at
it WERE to the full enjoyment of those high des
Mes and to be able to cope sngehanded with the proud
oppressor of the Old World Ii you prefer the latter
course trust you do encourage emigration;
the husbandmen the mechanics the merchants of the
Old World to come and settle in this land of promise
make il home of the skifu the Industrious the foru
and happy well the asylum of the distressed
fill the of your population speedily you
by the which Heaven hath placed in your pow
err and venture to prophesy there those living
who will this favored land amongst the most powerful
EARTH able sir take of herself without resortng
to that policy which is always dangerous though
times unavoidable of calling in foreign aid. Yes sir they
will her great in and in her golden harvests
waving fields of nineasurabe extent her commerce
penetrating the most distant and her silen
cling the vain boast Of those who now proudly affect TO
rule the
But sir, you must have men you cannot get along
without them Those heavy forests of valuable timber,
under which your lands groauing, be cleared
away these riches which the face of your SOIL
well those which lie hid in it's hosom to be de-
veloped and gathered only by the skill and enterprise of
your timber, sir, must be worked up into ships to
transport the productions Of the soil from which it has
commercial capital to take off your productions, and find
the best markets for them abroad Your great want sir
is the of mea and these you have and will
have speedily, if you wise.
Do you ask how you to get Them Open your
doors sir and they will in The population of the
Old World is full to OVERLOOKING; that population is
ground too by the expressions of the governments under
which they live Sir, they already standing p-toe
upon their native shores and looking your with
wistfu and longing eye; they here land blessed
with natural and political advantages, which are not
equaed by those of any other country upon earth land
which gracious Providence hath cnped the horn Of
abundance land over which peace hath stretched
forth her white wings and where and plenty lie
down every doorl Sir they something still at
tractive than all hishey land in which liberty hath
taken up her abode that liberty whom they had considered
tabled goddes existing only in the fances Of poets
they her here real divinity her affairs rising every
hand throughout these happy States her gores chancd
by three millions Of tongues and the whole region smiling
under her blessed influence Sir let but this celestial
goddess Liberty stretch forth her fair hand towards
people of the Old World tell them come, and bid them
welcome and you will them pouring in from The north
from the south, from the east, and from the your
wilderness viii he cleared and settled, your deserts will
smile, your ranks will be filled, and you will be in
condition TO defy the powers OF any adversary.
But gentlemen object any accession from Great Britain
and particularly TO the return Of the British refugees Sir