The daily union., 1856-01-11
ELOQUENT SPEECH OF HON LAWRENCE NJ KEITT,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

OF SUUlH tAhuLlNA
In our abstract OF congressional proceedings FOR atur
day last spoke OF the able and forcb speech Of Hon
Mr. Keitt of South Carolina after being called out by
speech Of Mt Walker of Alabama, who alluded TO Mr.
Keitt certifying division, ON principle in the ranks Of
the democracy speech delivered by the latter gentle
man at Barnwel South Carolina When Mr. keitt got the
floor he spoke follows and with an effect that will not
soon be forgotten
Mr.. KEITT Mr. Clerk the gentleman from Alabama
Mr. WALKER has dragged me into this rambling discus
sion and as will not allow any party-and particularly
the party with which coopera,ingeven through in-
plication to be wronged through me, choose now TO
speak for yself The gentleman quotes IRON 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 to retraet and
made no statement which am disposed 10 qualify.
The gentleman from Virginia Mr. BococKl as correct IN
saying that do not technically belong 10 the democratic
party organization. Sir wear no party collar and never
will wear one will abdcate my individuality or
merge myself in any party SO as to commit sei-abnega
ton. viii support any measure which Is JUST WISE ana
constitutional, come it from what party II may and
will resist any which is the opposite TO these
however emblazened it may be with party insignia and
however authenticated by the stamp OF party council
content sir to here my own opinions and those
Of my constituents which may legitmately represent
advise gentlemen TO modesy and cireumspeeon in
utterng the oraces OF party few years ago you had
who could speak for party You naa men Woss spen
did intellecs and lofty patriotism made parties Parties
then based upon principles, and their organization
was the breath OF these Now men are The breath OF
parties Now parties make mem then men made parties
But those times gone and those great names are only
illuminated with historic glories.
repeat then sir that cannot be quoted, as member
of the democratic party TO show want OF harmony in It's
ranks am not strictly in its organization will cay,
however that have hitherto supported II upon this oor
! and expect to continue TO 90 So have given u my
support and shall continue TO give IT my support be-
approaches much nearer TO the true policy OF the
country and the principles of the constitution than any
other organized party in the republic IS the Only par
In cir M
poles Of the constitution. r
In the speech to which the gentleman from Alabama
Mr. WALKER referred condemned the doctrine or squat
Ter sovereignty" In my speech the Nebraska bill in
1854 on this floor, condemned it. The gentleman from
Virginia MIR BococT say whether he approves i or
not Gentlemen from the North say how fared the
discussion upon this bill with them will hot enlarge
upon these points now; but the House organ
zes shall take an carly occasion to present my views
Mr.. BROOKS. viii my colleague allow to ask
him-and do 1T by way Of suggeston-if he does not
approve Of the principles of the resolution Of the democratic
caucus and Of the Presidents message?
MIR. KEITT. do most cordially thank my colleague
for the inquiry, it enables TO take up the glove
courtepusy thrown down b. the gentleman from North
Carolina Mr.. RHApEl ] say 10 him that in my judg-
ment his party-that is, the american or knownothng
partyr-s guilty Of civil and regioug persecution This
will show the kpow-nothing party binds Us members
Catholic Cburcn Ia not this making reilgons and
ara not tests .'bted by the constitution? Let
us examine this 90 A col,oct
What Is sulrngeI 1t Is a political cOntrfVanN, w
and express the public opinion and the public will Is
right of suffrage natural conventional right? II is
the latter beyond doubt If So from what do You get
il? From your organic law Now, ms you get II from
your organic law Of course given with all lm-
tons and conditions imposed by the fundamental law
What does that say Why that there shall be reg
ious test The clause granting suffrage and the clause
prohibiting religious be construed accord
with each other. Thus the organic law imposes a re-
sriction upon the exercise OF sufragei and whoever
makes religious tests violates that constitutional restraint
But it has been argued that the know-notbing party
does contemplate the enactment OF law excluding o
man Catholics and naturalzed foreigners rom AL ohcea
Ii this result is accomplished through the agency Of the
balot-box viii il be vioative Of the constitution a.
If achieved through positive enaetments II through an
put into your hands az 1y the ogano + nnt aT
oave Of all obligation and duty AS you creumyened
by positive statutory provision To give an example: :
The President of the United States is under the obligations
OF the constuon just any is If he were de
clare that he would bestow office upon no one who IS
member OF the Roman Catholic Church. simply because he
was Catholic would il not be making religious test
Clearly So How would this be SO By determining the
qualifications for Office and station according TO the re-
gous convictions Of the candidate The same Is true OF
nauralized foreigners yet in this instance the ccum-
venton of the constitution would be withou' any positive
law.
In answer to this view OF the question: 1t has been said
that the may he peases. Within the mta-
tons imposed by the constitution, State and ledera be
may he chooses; but he votes and against
those limitations he is guilty of legal or moral wrong
Though specific penalties may have been Defined and
legal tribunal instituted 10 enforce them, yet the wrong
is not the less clear aud disastrous This argument also
implies an absolute and unqualified right of property 10
suffrage If this right exists why cannot The vote bo sold?
1t will be answered because the law prohibits Exactly
but this proves that the right qualified pnethat
there restrictions upon It's exercise This Is all eon
tend for contend that the right Of suffrage is polit-
cal qualified right; that 1t mnst be exercised in oo
ormty to the limitations Of the constitutions and that
the fundamental Limitation is that II shall not be used
TO make religious tests Suffrage is qualified political
right given 10 individuals in correlation TO publc duty,
and the latter reacts upon the former.
At this point may inquiry put by the gen.
tleman from North Carolina, [Nr. READE] He inquiries
If would vote for any hostile 20 civil liberty and
the constitution answer him frankly that would not
But he does not put the question fully Does he believe
that every member Of the Roman Catholic Church Is hostile
to civil liberty and the constitution II So does he be-
lieve them be thus hostile them because ef their re-
gonP II he does not believe both of these propositions
then he shelter himself behind his implication, III
there be any number OF Roman Catholics In this country
who to the constitution and civil liberty then the
Roman Catholic religion does not make its votaries false
10 their civil duties and obligations and their political pro-
scriptou must be because OF their religious faith. Thus
in this event the gentleman makes religious test Nor
will he fare better the other horn Of the dilemma II he
alleges all Roman Catholics TO be hostile civil liberty
Of their religious creed he pronounees sentence
aHeinst the constitution aud takes issue with the sages
aud founders of the republic The constitution declares
that there Is ucompabiliy between repubieansn and
the Roman Catholic religion and the sages Of the repnbc
believed that Catholics might bo loyal citizens the
followers OF any other faith II the gentleman believes this
provision in the constitution to be unwise he should strive
TO amend IL in the way provided in that instrument itself
While II exists IL is the law, and dsobedience 10 IL is the
higher law
pass now sir from this branch of the inquiry Of my
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