Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-04-27
AvYIIcAH sEIrIxIxTs.


commonwealth. In this contest. Mr., Patton
a the American candidate for the of6ce Of
Attorney Geaerai Of the State. He is one
OF the hsnestest and ablest men Of the
State. and the speeches which he has made
auriax the canvass, though they abound in
slequs ace. are principally characterised BY
that good sense which appeals 70 mems
reasons and carries conviction 10 their un-
derssAndinss. From one of these speeches
we naka ths following extract, and though
Il 10 somewhat lengthy. it is well worthy
Of IN attentive perusal;
.Gentiemen. this cry about the rights OF
foreigners is all CANNON. Nobody proposes;
no man that ever have seen; no paper
that have ever read, advocating or sustain
ing this Know Nothing or American party
u ,vemenf, has said or written any ihing
indicating Z purpose to violate any rights
Of foreigners A foreigner has no rights in
this country excep, VIVA: the laws give. Il
il wholly a matter OF domestic policy, ana
far the consideration OF the people OF the
DATED States, under what circumstances
they wili ADM, foreigners into the country,
or whether they will admit them at all
WHISTLER, when they come here, they will
allow them to become cilizens-upon what
tsrns Of probation, and upon what forms
ana conditions. My opinion Is that viewing
the vast increase in Immigration the
change in our condition-the vast numbers
and rapid increase of our opulation-,hat
the time has arrived materially to change
our naturalization l4ws-to increase very
considerably the length OF probation, before
admission 10 the rights of Citizenship, aud
such other and more efficient securities.
thar those who are to receive these rights
are it despositaries OF them by thei. moral
character-knowledge Of the principles oil
our Institutions, and imbued with devotion
to our constitution.
These are matters. however. of detail TO
be disposed Of by Congress-which it
would be premature for me to undertake to
consider or ae6ne-4ny specific views as
q the proper provisions they mus, be left
to the wisdom of Congress, exercised With
full view OF the exigencies Of the country
At the time.
believe that there are some over Jealous
advocates of the American party, who 90
70 extreme lengths, such as preventing
the immigration Of foreigners out and out,
and repeating the naturalization laws. Now
! an 10 favor Of neither. | do not under
stand this VI G mia American party TO be in
favor of either. say, let the foreigners
come, and ii could remember here,
would sresk over again that speech which
seems to have been admired so much by
some of my Democratic friends. would
cay, let them Come, and forbid them not
the Industrious and pains-taking German
from bis faderIsnd, the gay Frencbman from
the fertile plains and vine c. ad hills OF his
beautiful France, the wholesouled and gal
liant Irishman-let them come. Blu, let them
e,me with means Of living, let them come
TO better their fortunes by industry, adding
TO the industrial products OF the country it
self, by becoming permanently located
amongst US, aud when III y have staid here
. sun cient tilne-:ll the time prescribed BY
our laws, and have gwen proper assurances
such as tn. details of the law OF the Con-
rress may prescribe, if they really under
stand the principles Of our government, and
properly estimate the value of our system,
let them be received as citizens amongst us
But take care. would sppea. TO every in
dus.rious. intelligent and sober minded for
eiyner himself, if this is not principle
which is necessary for the rights OF his
children take care, that our shores be not
flooded by the pauPsrs cas-. of by the Old
declining governments Of Europe - sent
here 70 BE- supported By US, and 10 fil our
poor HOUSES and our penitentaries, and if
there be any foreigner who is not satisfied
about that, pray and oeseeeh him to read
Valentine Heckiers letter. In my poor e.-
innate il is worth all the speeches that have
been made or will be made from now until
Christmas upon the subject Talk about
violating rights, &c, gentlemen, nave no
hostility TO foreigners. Why should / My
father was q ScOtchmsn, and my grand
father was q Scotchman, and the first, |
believe, the only general officer who shed
his blood in defense Of the country in the
revolutionary struggle. These Propositions,
a. ! understand them, are just as essential
for the true Interests, and for the prote ction
of the true rights OF the foreigners who
come here and become established amongst
as. az they are for the natives, and nothing
bu. misconception and Misunderstanding
Of the true purposes and objects Of this as
sociation, could have created such a Storm
1m IN X COHstotiobir ESAtAOD vi lSItikltEt,
or any other persons.
AZ 70 the religious question, gentlemen,
| am afraid that can MT consider myself
entirely fit TO consider such subject AZ
that am afraid, God help me, have not
much religion of any sort, though see that
someb 3dy has II lde the wonderful discoye-
~ that the Winchester ticket is made UP OF
q Methodist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian and
an Episcopalian. believe am nearer the
Episcopaiian than any other. don't live
more than square and half from the
chsrch Now, | understa 4 tina, nobody be-
longing to this much aud terribly abnsed
party. for | think il is and mas been the
worst abused that ever has arisen in the
country, not excepting ne Alb ,li,ionis,. j,
who deserve il most !,eertily-I do not un-
derstsnd that any man belonging to this or
ranization desires 10 interfere with sny civ
i or religious rights of Catholics any more
than with the civil aud religious rights of
Prosestants. Nobody disputes The rights,
or designs to interfere with the authority
cfths members Of thai Church, to worship
God according 10 their own consciences
30 far az any person undertakes TO say hat
be will not vote for a Catholic, he exercises
bis undsnisble right.-It is equally compe-
tent for persons outside the order to take
that position, nor do believe they would
he ptilfy IL they chose TO take that oosition