Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-19
Congressional.
From the Washington Union.
Eloquent Speech of Hon. Lawrence M.
keitt, of South Carolina.

OSCuiuSo VI Ndtuludy ldop, VIZ Npuhc VI
the able and forcible speech of Hon. Mr..
Keitt, Of South Carolina, after being
called out by speech of Mr.. Walker,
of Alabama, who alluded to Mr.. Keitt
as certifying to division, on principle, in
the ranks of the Democracy, in a speech
delivered by the latter gentleman at
Barnwell, South Carolina. When Mr..
Keitt got the floor, he spoke as follows,
and with an effect that will not soon be
forgotten:
Mr.. KEIrr. Mr.. Clerk, the gentleman
from Alabama Mr.. Walker has dragged
me into this rambling discussion and
as | will not allow any party--and par
ticularly the party with which am CO.
operating-even through implication, to
be wronged through me, | choose now
to speak for myself. The gentleman
quotes from speech made by me last
fall, before portion of my constituents,
at Barnwell courthouse. | will say
that | advanced no opinion in that speech
which | wish now to retract, and made
no statement which / am disposed to
qualify.
The gentleman from Virginia Mr..
Bocock is correct in saying that do
not technically belong to the Democratic
party organization. Sir, | wear no party
collar, and never will wear one. Inever
will abdicate my individuality, Or merge
myself IN any party, so as to commit
self-abnegation. [ will support any
measure which is just, wise, and CON
stitutional, come it from what party it
may; and | will resist any measure
which is the opposite to these, however
omblazoned it may be with party in
sigma, and however authenticated by
the stamp Of party council. am con
tent, sir, to express here my own opin-
ions, and those Of my constituents, which
| may legitimately represent. | advise
gentlemen to some modesty and circum-
spectlon in utterlng the oracles Of party
A few years ago you had men who coaii
speak for party. You had men whose
splendid mtellects and lofty patriotism
made parties. Parties were Mca based
upon principles, and their organization
was the breath Of these men. Now men
are the breath Of parties. Now parties
make men; then men made parties
But those times are gone, and those
great names are only illuminated with
historic glories
] repeat, then, sir, that I cannot be
quoted, as a member Of the Democratic
party, to show n want Of harmony in its
ranks, as | am not strictly in its organi-
cation. / will say, however, that have
hitherto supported it upon this floor, and
| expect to continue to do so. | have
given it my support, and shall continue
to give it my support, because it APP
proaches much nearer to the true policy
Of the country and the principles Of the
constitution than any other organized
party in the republic. 1t is the only
party which, in circling round its mighty
orbit, touches the poles of the constitu-
ton.
in the speech to which the gentleman
from Alabama Mr.. Walker referred, /
condemned the doctrine Of "s1uatter
Sovereignty" In my speech on the Ne
braska bill, in 1854, on this floor, / CON
demned it. The gentleman from Vir-
GINA Mr.. Bocock can say whether he
approves it or not Gentlemen from the
North can say how Jared the discussion
upon this bill with them. / will not en-
large upon these points now; but as soon
as the House organizes / shall take an
early occasion to present my views upon
these various questions.
Mr.. BnooKs. VIII my colleague allow
me to ask him-and / do it by way of
suggestion--if he does not approve Of
the principles Of the resolution Of the
Democratic caucus, and Of the Presi-
dents message?
Mr. KEIrT / do most cordially.
thank my colleague for the inquiry, as
it enables me to take up the glove 50
courteously thrown down by the gentle
man from North Carolina, Mr.. Rcade.
| say to him that, in my judgment, his
party--that is, the American or Know
nothing party guilty Of civil and re-
ligious persecution. This | will show.
The Kuow-nothing party binds its mem
bers, ! understand, TO vote against all
members Of the Roman Catholic Church.
Is not this making religious test ? and
are not religious tests prohibited by the
constitution? Let us examine this.
What is suffrage? 1t is a political
continuance to collect and express the
public opinion and the public will. Is
the right Of suffrage a natural or con-
ventional right? It is the latter, beyond
a doubt. II 50, from what do you get
it? From your organic law. Now, as
you get it from your organic law, it is,
Of course, given with all the limitations
and conditions imposed by the fundamen-
tai law. What does that say? Why,
that there shall be no religious test?-
The clause granting suffrage and the
clause prohibiting religious tests must be
construed in accord with each other ~
Thus the organic law imposes a reslric-
ton upon the exercise Of suffrage; aud
whoever makes religious tests violates
that constitutional restraint.
But it has been argued that the Know
nothing party docs not contemplate the
enactment Of a law excluding Roman
Catholics and naturalized foreigner from
all Offices. II this result is accomplished
through the agency Of the ballot-box,