Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-08


They assumed that principle; we denied il aud
what was the action of the Convention on the sub
jectS Why, they decided simply that an alien could
not acquire political residence Whatthen becomes
Of the charge that have attacked the rights and
privileges OF the oFeignerl Where then is the Cdious
restriction which, trumpet-toDgued, we have 70 re-
peatedy been charged with, by the honorable mem-
Der, as endeayoring to fasten upon the foreigner?
We have respected their feelingsj and haven all
respects harmonized with them as with our American
brethren DO those gentlemen think, who profess 50
much zeal here, and pretend to much love for the
foreigner that they alone in their feelings On graf
ltude 70 those foreigners who in the hour of our
country,s need came 90 our ad2 No sir All Ameri-
cans feel II. But feeling il and aeknou lodging I'll as
am willing to do that we are indebted To them Tor
that service, IS that reason why we should place
ourselves politically at their nercy2 Is aa reason
why we should deliver ourselves, bound hand and
foot over 10 them, that they may obtain the mastery
over us in our own government and OF our n inst-
tutisnsY For my part cir, shall forever oppose any
measure, come from what quarter il may that viii
tend TO take from the hands of the American people
the reins of their own government
The honorable gentleman, in adverting 10 the
primary rights with which all American citizens are
vested endeayored TO illustrate his argument by ma
king a comparison between the common partnerships
ofindiyiduals and the political partnerships of natu-
rallied and nativeborn citizens and tried to show
you, as an argument, that they were equally con~
cerned in the welfare misfortunes of the govern
ment and had TO contribute If necessary their quota
to its wants. For my part cannot conceive there
IS any analogy IN the two cases and if there were,
for 1t frequently happens in partnerships for business
that il is mutually agreed that OF the parties is
alone and solely charged with the government OF the
partnership affairs.
But, sir, / deny the genteman's premises.
| deny what be has been pleased to term an axiom
that all men are entitled to equal political rights
and that we have no power under our mandate from
the people to crcumscrbe those rights If such were
the case sir, whence have derived the power upon
| the restrictions TO residence color age which we
have already imposed, without our right 10 do so
| being questioneds If the gentlemans argument be
correct it should hold good throughout but its error
is evnced when it il carried To its extreme and its
falsity Is proven by complete redacto al absardn,
at was well remarked the other day in debate by
an honorable delegate from New Orleans (Mr.
Grymes) that government may become so popular
as to be no government at all. An absence Of all
strictions leaves, of necessity power in the hands of
the strongest or in other words reduces society to
anarchy and yet when we endeavor to avoid this
result by guarding our government, our institutions
and the prosperity OF our country from danger hon
! orable members reply by accusing of a bias to-
wards aristocracy or monarchy. The question under
discussion has been presented on two grounds both
OF which shall endeavor to treat-1st have we the
power; I'd, is it expedent TO insert this provision in
our new constitution?
| A part of Mr.. Benjamins speech at Odd Fellows
| Hail. on Tuesday night last, composed an argument
against the assumed article in the creed of the Amer
lean party, declaring naturalzed citizens incapable
| Of holding office. These were his words:
" The constitution provided for naturalization, and
with the exception Of those of President and Vice
President naturazed citizens were eligible to all of.
| fees under it. Whether aware Of it or not every
one who had Joined organization which declared
that class OF citizens incapable of filling any office
were making war upon the constitution Of the coun-
| try"
In contradstinction to this opinion Of the Senator
in 1885, we present the views OF the gentleman
| in l845:
The gentleman has roundly asserted that this
State has not the constitutional power to prescribe
as qualification for Governor, that he should be
natve-born citizen Of the United States This sir is
novel, and, may be allowed to add startling re-
mark, from gentleman so learned and SO eminent in
his profession the honorable delegate from New
Orleans. ! can say, sir with truth, that having
grown up from my earliest youth under the insttu-
tons Of the country, having been compelled to make
them my special study in the practice of my profess
sion and having the right to say without 4 hope
being accused OF presumption, that they are familiar
to me, never, till this hour heard doubt suggest
ed to the constitutional power Of State to pre-
scribe the qualifications required for holding Office in
its government.
In word then, sir, assert that our power TO
insert the clause disputed is not doubtful Question
that we have the power to do constiutionaly and
the only question we now have to decide is is it ex
pedient for us to do SO? NV own impression 4 that
we should unhesitatingy insert it, ii we stldy orr
own interests. When first proposed to the COM
mttee to insert it In the section ii was natural in
snct that prompted me TO believe that ii was neces-
sary. Since then have given the subject calm and
serious deiberation, and have daily nay hourly
become more aud more convinced OF the necessity
| and propriety OF the measure Sir, have listened
with delight to the eloquent eulogy pronounced by
the delegate from New Orleans on the brave men
who lent us their aid in l8l5--on Sayary ST. Genes
and their associates have witnessed in imagina-
tioD the memorable scenes so graphically and elo-
quently described by the honorable gentleman from
Rapides Mr.. BRENT and have felt my heart glow
with feelings of gratitude towards the brave and
generous men who, amidst the smoke and carnage
OF battle breasted the British bayones and side by
side with American citizens periled their lives in
| our countrys cause-honor and gratitude to them
alll--and will yield to in expressing on all
occasions, and III all suitable manner the acknoyl-
edgments that are due to their eminent services
But sir, let not allow our feelings to obtain the
mastery over our Judgment Those brave men were
the sons OF France and the enemy was the heredi-
tary foe OF France Sir does the gentleman can any
man, believe that If our invaders had been French
these gallant men would have gone to battle against
| their countrymen? Sir, they would have recoiled
with horror at the forethought with the same in-
stnctive adherence called on to smite IN cheek
of the mother that bore them. How, then, sir can
place. as the conimandern-chief of our armies an
individual who, in the event of war with the coun-
try Of his birth, would be exposed to this conflict Of
duties and of feelings. The honorable gentleman
tells us that IN an event like this gallant spirit st-
fling all that love Of country Of our natal soil that
the Creator has implanted in the bre 81 of every man.
aud would takesfor his motto "Fis ca qae doS adci-
qus pous7ds Sir this may sound very finely in
theory, but every feeling of our nature would reool
from its practice.
| 81 call the gentleman to point out to me the
man, nay sir, ask, if he himself and surely there
is none whose eminence citizen would render him
more worthy of so exalted station ask If he him
self, as commander of our armies were called to lead
forces into the field against the country of his
BIRTH would he not feel his Utmost soul revolt at the
bare deaY Whether the bare sight Of the flag of his
native country would not bring back upon his mem
DRY every thought and feeling of his childhood and
his youth and whether be could steel his heart to the
task of carrying death and carnage into the midst Of
those in whose ranks might, chance, be found the
| playmates of his childhood the companions of his
| YOUTH nay, perhaps, brother or parent2 Never