Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-08-08

with any lhberality in this because he has a righ
to cast his vote for the person whom he think,
best qualified for the proposed Office, but because
! exercise the same privilege which he claims ane
which award to him under the Constitution anG
the laws am charged with prescription by near
iy the whole Democratic party and press, and will
conspiracy by my colleaguel Why sir my free
dom from bigotry and intolerance is as far supe
rlor to the narrow pathway marked out by the
Democratic party for its votaries as the great high
way OF republican truth is to the sinuous meander
lngs OF party ambition. | am q member Of tho
American party, and yet tell my colleague, that
notwithstanding all the abuse, all the iiberal de
nuneiation, all the extravagant and maleyolen
charges with which that party has been assailed,
could, and would vote for member OF his party
II thought the true interests OF the country re
qured me to do so. did, sir, in the effort to or
ganize this House, at the commencement of the
session, and so did nearly all the members who co
operate with me, vote for several Democratic gen
tlemen for the speakership. My colleague and the
members OF the Democratic party could never ex
hibit such a sacrifice of personal feeling even tc
prevent the most disastrous consequences During
the contest for the speakership, it will be remem
bered, that one of the most distinguished leaders
OF the Democratic party Mr. HOWELL Conn de.
clared on this ioor, that he would never cast his
vote for member of the American party. That
is Democratic liberality That is the very essence
OF party intolerance on the part of that party which
denounces the principle OF intolerance as anti-re-
publican. 1 do not charge the Democratic party
with being proscriptive, however; but charge
that there are great many gentlemen of that
party who seem to believe that the Constitution
and the laws, religious and social moral and do
mesic virtues, all concentrate in that party, and
whenever man opposes the objects of the ambi-
ton of that party, he arrays himself against every
civil, religious, and social right
| come now, Mr. Chairman, to the arguments of
my colleague to sustain his charges against the
American party. He stated that he had never
been able to obtain from the leaders of that party
the exact definition of their principles and inten-
tions. That in the discussions he had had with
gentlemen on these subjects, they had always de-
parted from the true issues and questions involved
and gone off upon others not called in question
Mr.. JEWETT. My colleague does not exactly
understand me. stated that in discussing these
questions previous to the National Convention, 1t
was promulgated that no man. or body of men,
had the right to speak for that party That it
spoke for itself and not by any leader That is it.
Mr. COX. | suppose, Mr. Chairman, that my
colleague, after coming to the conclusion that the
American party had no representative to speak for
it, thought that its adversaries and opponents
ought to assume that right and spead its nrinci-
ciples before the people But my friend shall find
on this occasion at least ready and willing in
an humble way, to vindicate the pure republican
principles of that party, and rescue them from the
Misrepresentation of party hate. Sir, the Amer
lean party, SO far from shrinking from defence of
its true principles and purposes, have met their
accusers and traducers in open, manly debate, and
so far rs | have heard, have yer attempted to
evade the exposition of their principles, or at
tempted to combat he arguments of their oppo-
nents with vituperation, denunciation and abuse.
How have they been met? Ii is acknowledged in
all poemics, that the only fair mode of treating an
is to allow him to state for himself his
opinions, principles and Intentions If his creed,
thus stated, is jectonable, the rights of free dis
cussion allow the opponent to point them out and
demonstrate their tendency and effect. But, in
stead of this mode OF meeting the American party,
the whole Democratic press and the orators of
that party in this Hall and before the people, have
arbitrarily assumed that the American party held
certain doctrines, and then proceeded to denounce
the opinions which they thus imputed to that
party, but which that party repels with adherence
and disgust. The charges of prescription, of the
intention to deprive foreigners of their civil rights
of holding doctrines contrary to the Constitu-
ton, and of conspiracy to do mischief-all proceed
from the same source--the bitter opponents of the
American party and have nothing to uphold them
but bold and arrogant assertion, and are dispelled
by the touch of reason and truth, like morning
vapors before the rising sun. / will notice, for
a moment, their charges as to foreigners and
Catholics. As to foreigners the American party
believing that the period required before an alien
shall be naturalized and invested with the rights
of citizenship ought to be extendcd-propose to
modify the naturalization laws, and require
longer residence; and also, to provide against an
evasion of the law, as to prevent the naturali-
zation of persons contrary to the true intent and
spirit Of the laws My colleague surely does not
deny the constitutional power of Congress to II od-
ify these laws. He is too good lawyer to ques
ton this power 1t is expressly conferred by the
Constitution, in these words" The Congress- shall
have power to establish uniform rule of natural-
zation !" and has been exercised from the organ-
zation of the Federal Government Sometimes
one period Of time has been provided By Congress
before resident foreigner could be admitted to
the rights of citizenship--and another period has
been fixed ut other times. Since 1902, l believe
it has remained at five years But the naturaliza-
ton laws have been changed in many other partic-
ulars; and no man has ever called in question the
ample power of Congress over the subject
The citizens of the country forming an indepen-
dent political government, have the absolute right
to the soil and are free to make their government
conform to their own notions. No other nation
or people have any political rights within their ter
ritorial dominions,
It is true that other nations and members of
other States as descendants from a common pa
rentagc, have right to receive humanity, hospi-
tality and kindness from all their fellow-mon But
these are rights Of imperfect obligation, and are
not of political or legal nature, and cannot be en-
forced by the laws of the country. But VIII, n you
consider constitutional and legal rights--such as
those which attach to man as a citizen--all po-
litcal writer's and all governments agree, that no
foreigner possesses claim to any Of these rights
in any government of the civilized world outside
of that to which he owes allegiance.
The government has the perfect right TO fix the
terms on which foreigners shall be naturalized If
believe that the condition should be ten years res
idence, and my colleague believes 1t should be but
five the dfiaranne hetEnnr 10 ,x,o,.al-