The true Democrat., 1855-11-20

the genius of Catholic revealed to the old world the existence of the continent we inhabit, and the unselfsh piety of Ca- thoc unfurled the standard of religious toleraton - of liberty of conscience - upon that continent The great and magnan- imous soul of Columbus conceived and realiz- ed the idea of new world on this side of the Atlantic. The comprehensive philanthrophy of Lord Baltimore, invited the children of eve- ry cline and religion, to come, and, under their town vine and fig tree,' upon the colony which he had planted, worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
 More recently, the same clergy, not as pri- vate citizens but in their ministerial character, protested against the passage of law by the last Congress, simply because 1t did not involve an aggression" upon the southern States of this confederacy. think, sir, we, of the south, at least, have more cause to apprehend aggres- sion from another quarter than from the Catho- lie church. And sir if the Catholic church had the dispositon it has not the power to be aggressive. Exhausted by our struggle with the mother country at the close of the revou- tionary war, Washington and his compatriots were not afraid of the power of the Pope and his church; since then, their temporal power has continually and rapidly declined; and que have become from thirteen feeble colonies, the most powerful nation on the face of the earth. And vet, we are told that the dangers with which we are menaced from that church are imminent; and are invited to join secret cabals, and swear terrible oaths, from which, if incon- venient members mutually absolve each other by passing resolution adapted to the occasion, thereby adopting those worst features in the | Il ScipIInp of tba Tacuitc ,Ubich ,yhn honestly abhors, as do, will ever imitate- Shame on such disgusting hypocrisy such contemptible demagogues. But, my friends, place the Catholic religion under the sacred shield of the constitution, and leave it there As a southerner, l would never invoke the guarantles of that sacred instrument in defence of my rights, if l had been among the first to violate and trample on it.
 But the Catholic religion is not the only phantom that has excited the nervous appre- hensions of this intensely Amercan' party A few thousand q suppose they are not afraid of women and children,) citizens of foreign birth, have become suddenly clothed with ap- palling terrors to their magnations Have our naturazed citizens, within the last three years, committed any overt act of treason against our govenment?-or of aggression upon the peace of our people? Have they not upon every battlefield upon which the American banner has been unfurled from Bunker Hill to York Town, from Lundy's Lane to New Orleans, from Pao Alto to the gates of Mexico, stood side by side with the native citizen, and sealed with their blood their fidelity to the rights, ho- nor, and glory of their adopted country? If the grave could yield up its dead, what would be the response of Montgomery, DcKalb, Kos cissko, Pulaski, and thousands of others of our Il fell in our revolutionary struggle, in our second warol independence, and our recent brilliant campaigns in Mexico
 will read to you, gentlemen, a letter written by Gen. Scott when he was a candidate for the Presidency, ouly three years ago. It was in reply to an inquiry if he was in favor of the present naturalization laws or not.'
 DEAR SIR.-As 1 have already said in my letter accepting the nomination for the PreSiden- cy, am in favor of the naturalization laws as they stand with the single addition, viz: Give the full right of citizenship to every fo- relgner who shall in time of war, serve one year on board any United States ship-of-war, or III any regular militia or volunteer regiment.
 Yours truly,
 WINFIELD SCoTT."
 This was a dangerous innovation upon our naturalization laws, which was resisted and de- nounced by every democratic editor, statesman, and orator in the Union. It proposed to give to any HottcntOt or Chinaman, who had served one year on board ship-of-war of the United States, no matter whether in the Meditcrra- mean, Indian ocean, the coast of the Pacific, or any where else, the full rights of American ci- tzcnShip. He could have no opportunity oi acquiring any knowledge of our institutions and laws, or the habits and character of our people! Was ever proposition more mon- Strous than this? When 1 reflect that some of the most Jealous supporters of Scott, only three years ago, in the face of this letter. are now the most noisy and active in the crusade against our naturaized citizens I lose all pa tence and moderation. l say that all those men who voted for Scott and are now Know Nothings, are guilty of the most inexplicabe lnconsstency-the most unutterable hypocrisy. cast my eye aroun., and recognize in the crowd, a number of them Yes, those men who are now most busy in prosely lyting-in dup ing, betraying and seducing democrats into the Know Nothing council of this place, only three years ago, thought every man who had served one year only in the army or navy of the United States, should be entitled to those rights which they now would deny to services however Important or long-coutinued, if per formed by citizen of foreign birth. "Oh, shame. where s thy bllsh.'
 And, gentlemen listen to the sentiments of Mir. Clay, on the subject of our foreign popu- lation. They were delivered in the Senate of the United States
 The honest patient, and industrious Ger man readily unites with our people, establishes himself upon some of our fat lands, fills his capaclous barn, and enjoys in tranquility the abundant fruits which his diligence gathers around him, always ready to fly to the stand ard of his adopted country, or of its laws when called by the duties of patriotism. The easy, versatile, philosophical Frenchman, accommo- dating himself to all the vicsstudcs of life, in- corporates himself without difficulty iu our so- ciety. But, of all foreigners, none amalgamate themselves so quickly with our people as the NATIVES OF THE EMERALD ISLE In some of the visions which has passed through my imagination l have supposed that IRE. LAND was originally part and parcel of this continent, and that by some extraordinary con- vusIon Of nature, 1t was torn from America, and drifting across the ocean, it was placed in the unfortunate vicinity of Great Britain. The same open heartedness, the same generous hos pltalty, the same careless and uncacuating in- difference about human life, characterizes the inhabitants of both countries. Kentucky has ooihOViLIOo OOCu GIlc 1lcldilu Ol AIllGTlCd And have no doubt that if the current of emigration were reversed and set from Ameri- ca upon the shores of Europe instead of being from Europe to America, every American emi- grant to Ireland would there find, as every Irish emigrant here finds, a hearty welcome and a happy home."
 Such is the language of Henry Clay, name of which Clay whigs may we'll have been proud; and such was my admiration of his command ing talents, his proud and lofty bearing, his chi valrc courage and fervid patriotism, that of- ten regretted that could not, consistently with my opinions with regard to the true policy of ou: government, be an humble follower of so glorious standard-b bearer. My Clay friends contrast his sentiments with the bigoted and ignorant rantings or the pot house brawlings ol the Know Nothings. Cherish his precepts, and study and emulate his character and you will