The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-10
"NATIONALITY."

Mr.. Galloway, Republican member of the
House from Ohio, made good hit last Thurs
day, in reply to some of the usual cant about
Nationality" and Sectionalsm."
We have heard the term national again and
again. Now, sir, | am native of this country.
and claim to be descendant of the men who
showed their nationality by life and labors for
the cause of Freedom, and / always had an i'm
preston that the great element of nationality
in our country was Freedom. / supposed that
that was a cardinal object of the noble men that
framed the Constitution. In the preamble of
that instrument, as / understand, they declared
that their object was to form more perfect
Union, to promote the general welfare, and to
secure to themselves and their posterity the
blessings of Liberty. And it does not appear,
among the patriotic objects set forth in that
preamble, that they had any idea of certain
element of nationality which has recently arisen
in this country. They had before them, as the
great, prominent object of their effort the pres
ervatiOn and perpetuation of Freedom.
We hold that to be the great element of ma
tionality at the present time: and so, without
intending to pre- iudice those who differ from US,
hold, as the great purpose of our efforts at
this time in attempting to organize this House,
that same element of Freedom and wherever
we go, in any part of this land, when we are in
terrogated as to what is the great element of
our nationality, we say, as the fathers Of the
Consultation did, that it is to secure to ourselves
and to posterity the blessings of Liberty
Mr.. Alexander X. Marshall. Niger posterity ?
Mr.. Galloway Well, sir, have none of that
sort; but l should very much dislike to vouch
for others on this floor. Long continued roars
of laughter. l say that, wherever we 60, we
can hold up this element of nationality to the
world. If, for example gentleman should 90
from this highly favored land crowned with the
blessings of Liberty, to other lands, and should
travel through England, or Austria, or Russia,
and should be asked what his element of nation
atty is, he would reply Freedom and it would
be understood but if, on the other hand, he
should answer that .Syaoery is the fundamental
principle of our nationality, they would reply
that that has been the foundation element of
the nationality of all the despotisms that have
crushed humanity in all parts Of the world.
say, then, Mr.. Clerk, that we are the men who
hold and maintain great distinctive element
of nationality, by which we may be known
throughout the world; and it does not come
with an attractive grace from any gentleman
in this House to charge upon us sectiOndlisn,,
when we base our efforts upon the same great
cardinal principles upon which were based the
efforts of the men who secured to us the bless
ings of Liberty.
The gentlemen who are representing the pc
culiar Administration of this country, Join with
others in chararterizing us as sectional. Does
| it become the Pretoran band of the Admins
| tration, which rode into power upon high tide
| of popularity some two or three years ago, and
has now dwinded into feeble insignifcance-
does it become those gentlemen to taunt US
with not organizing this House? Where is
the glory that characterized that Administra-
ton some two years ago? Where are the pres
tige and the prosperity in which they then glo-
ried? All! where are they? Why have the
prosperity and power of that Administration
become so suddenly and sadly obscured? Has
it been because your element of nationality has
reduced the power of the Administration If
so, can only ask an increase of that same ele-
ment, and in short time the power of this Ad-
ministration cannot be either defined or de-
scribed IL will not be a calculable quantity
And now, Mr.. Clerk, think it is respectful in
those of us who constitute a plurality in this
House, to ask that we who represent the most
powerful constituency and the preponderating
vote in this country, shall choose the Speaker of
this House. / have no other way of ascertain
ing what is nationality, except by the express
sion of the nation. These gentlemen may be
| national er non ndtiOne as Iucus was said to be
iucus non ucendo. But we are national, be-
cause we represent a larger portion of the free
people of this nation than is represented by
both classes of orr opponents on this floor. SO
| far, then, as members are concerned, we claim
the epithet of national and so far as the great
distinctive, pervading penetrating element Of
| all that constitutes our glory and our grandeur
| is concerned Freedom, we claim to be national.