Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-24

party point of view. and We have. therefore
thought We should oblige our political readers BY
transferring TO our columns from the Washing
inatou Globe portion Of the speech Of the elo-
ouant representatives from the Mobile District,
A,.h.m.-to Hon. Percy WALKER-la,c a dis
tine.isAsd member Of the Democratic party OF
that Stste. but now no less distinguished member
Of the American party.
SUFFRAGE IN WASHINGTON.
SPEECH OF HON. PERCY WALKER.
OF ALABAMA.
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
March 25, 1856.
On the Bill regulating Elections in Washington,
in the District Of Columbia.
Mr. WALKER said,
Contrast the position Of the native born. taught
frem his earliest childhood to regard the basis II
our Government as tho only sound and just ono.
loving il from Ae first. reyerenoing and loving It
zach day more and more ms bis mind expands
proud aud exultant as he compares it with the
warped, the grinding, oppressive old mechanl-m
of Enrope--loving, not only his Government
but all its appliances; usages, aud FORMS i say
contrast his position. familiar with all our insti
tuition. from youth up, taught by his parents to
revere and obey the sacred obligations Of the
Constitution, 10 feel that it is almost treason to
question the Wisdom Of our government fabric.
gloryipg in it the ntW birth Of freedom. sup
porting and obeying the laws. not because he
breads their coereve power, but because they
are the ia,cs;--pIaoe him side by side with Of
another land aud kindred. one born and reared
under an antagonstic system-a system resting
upon a different predicate, worked out by dfl,r
ent macbinery-a system ignoring the ight Of
the subject TO frame the laws by which he is IL he
governed-a system in which there is no popular
admin straiion. in which there is no such thing
as popular nterpostion between the ruler aud
the ruled no popular will controlling legislation,
system denying the great boon Of individual
freedom. and under which the idea Of freedom is
a vague, ndstnct. and eonjectural thing, which
has form and substance, and, il II had it would
be what, in this country we would call rebellion;
Il say, bring such man here. so born, so rear-
ed. with that attachment SO natural in the hui
man heart TO the place of birth, to the legends
which won his earliest fancy, to tho traditions,
which moved his young heart and bind him 10
the home Of his fathers, to the associations which
al rays find their dwelling plnco in the lowest
depts Of the human memory-bring this man.
with these unforgotten obligations, mournful and
strong mournful, and place him side by side
with the natve-born American citizen. and tell
me that his probation of five years makes him u
peer and equal and say there is not truth in the
assertion.
The only remaining question, then efore, to be
considered is, whether it is right and expedent to
make this dstnction,i If II DO distinction. Now,
sill, il there he anything which should mako us eau
tious IN our legislation concerning this matter
OF suffrage, IL seems to me that the more we do
the more anxously,. even painfully, seek to
impress upon the native heart of tho county tho
great value of this privilege of suffrage tho moro
completely do we discharge the public trust re-
in M ka ,yi ia Il
ever is cheap is little TO be vaued-that which
is easily won rarely commands the strife of n mo-
bic soul; and it seems to me- sir, that, inasmuch
as this great Government Of ours rests upon the
popular will, we, as legislators are bound so to
shape our acts, to enunciate opinions, as to give
If possible additional value 10 all those things and
pertaining to the person of the ma
tive born citizen.
To show the sense Of the fathers, the founders
of the Republican this matter. let mo advert 10 the
fact that man cannot vote. though born upon tho
soil. until he has attained his majority. Now, why
did they make that provision! Thousands and tens
of Thousand in this land are perhaps capable of
judging as to who would make the best officer long
before they have arrived at the age of twenty one
years; bpqthey fixed that period as probationar,
one.to allow the mind to be developed to sense Of
the responsibility of the duties and of the value o.
the rights which will devolve upon him at "A certain
period OF his fe lie thus becomes perhaps in
sensibly-indoetrinated with the great idea of our
system; and day after day, and year after year,
there have been, so TO speak, aocretons made Ia
the early affection which he feels for his native
land for its form Of government Il tsinstitutious
He goes through regular training TO qualify
him tn form competent judgment Of public men
and pnbc measures. Well man comes her,
reared under wholly different inAuences--a ma,
having no conception even of the frame work o
vl.,i . Al.
division into States--a man who takes il for gran
ted, reasoning from the form of his own govern.
ment. that our President is the great head md
ruler OF q centralized Govetnment-that one who
knows nothing of our geographical divisions -
ono who knows nothing of tho various check.
and balances pertaining to system-one who
knows nothing Of the constant intervoluron o,
popular INSTRUMENTATION between the peopl,
and the rules-a man who is just as apt as any.
thing else to take for granted that Philadelphia
is the State and Pennsylvania the city-and you
tell me. sir, that sush a will become as well
qualified to judge of his duties as citizen to ful.
NIL public trust. to say who is best fitted 10 dis
charge this or that public function as my friend
from South Carolina, Mr.. Boyce,l who sits in
front OF me! He may think so but must beg
leave to take issue with him
IL 1t just or politio that the inestimable piyi
lsges to obtain which the native has served an
apprenticeship OF twenty years, should DO
bestowed upon foreigners-st strangers to our laws,
and. Tor the most part, speaking another. and to
American ears an unknown tongue and they as
ignorant Of our language as we Of theirs Shall
these aliens, these children of other lands, re.
ceive VI the short term of Eve years that for
which the children of the soil must serve pro.
baton of more than -four times that length of
time. Sir, we need the incubation of strong. !
aati0nalisin--a more jealous watchfuness of our
institutions epd privileges; strong nationality
is natural, its cultivation polite. Under the
Roman republic this national sen ti,nent, thi,
jeaousy of nationality. bespoke itself in the var
Gus lsws guarding Roman privileges from the
intrusive grasp Of foreigners and aliens. No ali
en-, no stranger to the soil. could hold enc rood
of thet Roman mother earth. No stranger en-