American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-24
reverse the decision of the day by legisla-

"''oS"' tuob III III uo yet DeyOnu our reacn,
and we have found the necessity of arrest
ing it at once. say that 1 have come
down from my Whg platform. and have
met my brother Democrats upon this A.
meriean platform, to accomplish our great
object, and, SO far as am concerned, I am
determined not TO let any other question
interfere with me in the consummation Of
that great end. Applause. l hold it as
paramount to any other question and every
other consideration. If any gentleman
here OF the American party proposes to in
troduce his Democracy upon that platform,
l. as a matter of course, would propose to
Introduce my Whiggery upon that plat
form; and what would be the consequence,
but to reduce us back to our original ele-
ment? If any gentlemen proposes to in
troduce the question of anti-slaYery, South
ern men will introduce the question of
slavery, and, as matter of course, it will
create division, and reduce them back to
their original elements. What have we to
do here with Whiggery or Democracy
slavery or antislavery? Loud cheers and
cries of nothing, nothing!"] Our plat
form can be summed up in one word. 1t
needs but one word toexpress it-and that
should be written in broad, brilliant, let
ters, that could be seen as well in the night
as well as the day-"Americanism -
Applause
1t is word that covers all that we want
devotion to the Union, observance of all
the guarantees of the constitution, obedi-
ence to the laws; the recognition of the
Supreme Court to decide questions of con-
stitutional difficulty between the North
and South; and an alteration-a most ma
terial alteration-in the naturalization laws.
Applause. Now, gentlemen, there are
in this American organization of ours but
two principles that distinguish II frtoth all
others. The first is resistance to foreign
interference, and determination to put it
down. Loud cheers. The other dues
tlon relates to the Roman Catholic denomi-
nation. First, in,resard, sir, to the natu-
ralization law. What is to be done with
it? We can take no step backward. The
war has Been DECLARED, and the battle has
to be fought. We are to triumph over
them, or they are to triumph over u.s.
What do We propose to do? How are we
to ACCOMPLISH our object? There is scarce
ly a member of the American party who
does not declare that Americans must
rule American, and yet we are told that
We must accomplish our ends by increas-
ing the length of time within which they
can acquire the rights of citizenship: I
go one step beyond that: In my opinion,
that is no remedy for the evil for if you find
that under this law. which requires five
years residence before they are entitled to
citizenship, men are ready to swear they
are here five years, when they are only
two, I rather think they would be found
equally ready to swear they were here
twenty-one years when only ten. And,
more than that, if Americans are to rule
America" they would be no more Amer
leans after twenty-one years than after
FIVE.
A voice. Send them back then.
Mr.. Bolts. How are we to remedy this
evil? l do not know that 1 can get the
American party to go with me in the meas.
ures l propose.
A Voice. Yes, stree!
Mr.. Bolts. am opposed to any modi.
fication of that law, but am in favor of an
absolute, nquaifed and unconditional re.
peal Of that law. Loud cheers. l dc
not mean to say, Mr.. President, that there
are not large number of respectable, in
telligent and honest men who have settled
among us. They may do so hereafter
But wish to observe that their numbers
are SO few in comparison with the millions
who are bad. that would greatly prefer
to get rid of them altogether, than accep
the multitude of evil for the small amount
of good. Applause And respectful
ly submit to those who have acquired the
right of naturalization among us, whether
they will not he benefited by adopting the
course which we propose, and excluding
millions of foreign pgupers from taking par
in our deliberations? Cheers. Sir, if ]
had my own way, would repeal altogeth
er that naturalization law; but at the same
time | would extend to the forign popula
ton Who seek shelter here the maintenance
of every civil and religious right, provid.
ed they took the oath of allegiance to the
government and constitution of the United
States. l would grant them civil and re-
ligious liberty, but | would withhold from
them political rights forever. Enthusias
tic cheers.
1t does not follow, because I should take
poor, needy and starving man from the
streets, and shelter and nourish him in my
house. that l should allow him to partici
pate in the management of my domestic
affairs. Itdoes not follow that, because We
invite these foreigners to come among u.s.
where they enjoy all our freedom and lib
erty, and where they can engage in the
pursuits of agriculture on our vast unculti
waited lands, and in other capacities of bu.
siness, that we should allow them to par.
ticipate with us equally in the affairs o.
this great government. Applause. But
sir, they have grown bold, arrogant and
presumptive. They claim it as a right
and some say that it would be breach oI
faith if we did not allow them to exercise
this privilege. All that have to reply
sir, upon that subject, is this: that if they
do not like the terms upon which they car
loome here, they may remain at home; and