The Placer herald., 1857-08-01

this country. Here you had native-born Amcri-
cans denouncing your army when it was engaged
in the prosecution of that war. composed as it was
largely of foreigners, as murderers and assassins.
l know of no foreigners in this country who de-
nounced that as an unjust and damnable war; but
know there were men claiming to be Americans
who did. There were men holding high places in
the confidence of political party in this country
were Americans, 'they would welcome your
volunteers to hospitable graves with bloody
hands," Yet, such men, it is said, are entitled to
the confidence and respect of the American pcO-
pie; but the poor, down-trodden, and oppressed
Irishman, who followed your flag into the very
heart of the enemy's country. Is to be denied a
participation in the blessings of our Government,
and that you call justice. You are willing to
give one hundred and sixty acres of land to the
base coward who remained at home and denOunc-
cd your army as murders and assassins, whilst en-
gagged in the prosecution of the Mexican war but
you are not willing to allow the foreigner, if un-
naturalized, who periled his life in our cause, to
settle upon your lands. This would be rewarding
the traitor for his treason and prescribing the
soldier for his patriotism.
"Sir if, as l said before, had any evidence Of
their disoyalty, would spurn them from par
tcipaton in the benefits of this bill; but when
all they ask is the poor privilege of going upon
one hundred and sixty acres of land, and culivat-
ing that, and at the end of five years, when they
are ready to become naturalized, and stand up as
American citizens, and exercise their political
rights as such receive title, am willing to ac-
cord it them, They cannot, by the provisions of
this BILL acquire title until they are naturalized.
Mr.. President, is there any disloyalty in this coun-
try? You have seen dsloyalty amongst your
own countrymen when the Republic was engaged
in war; and it foreign-bor soldiers in your army
deserted at Churubusco. you had your American
traitors at home There were men here, ay. even
in this very chamber, who were constantly throw
in nbc n he Of thp
secution of that war Those who were devoting
their time and talents to embarrass the operations
of your army, were as much traitors as the desert
crs at ChurubuscO. | know what speak to be
true; and the day is far distant when treachery
shall be forgotten by the American people. Pos
terity will assign .hem place along side of the
deserters at Churubusco. Sir your native-born
American reared under your institutions, who
was under the most solemn obligation to sustain
the honor of his country. when that country was
involved in war, denounced its defenders MS muir
derers and assassins Nor was this an individual
instance. A very considerable portion of pio-
minent party in this country did not hesitate to
dcnounce that war MS an unjust and damnable
one The fierce and bitter denunciatons which
have been heaped upon the heads of our foreign
population has provoked me to allude to this dis
graceful page in our countrys history. lie who
will not stand by his country when il is engaged
in war should not be entrusted with political
power in peace. Sir, you must look elsewhere
than to foreigners for the evidence of dsloyaity
to our Institutions
Sir, as say in this speech, I have seen Irish
men and Germans, side by side in the field of bat
tie. i have seen them pour out their blood like
water in sustaining the honor of our flag. In ano-
ther portion of my speech l say that lrshmen
and Germans and other foreign born men. were
engaged in fighting for our country, while some
of the native-born Americans were engaged in
dcnouncing the volunteers as bloody assassins.
say that you prescribe the Irish and Germans who
fought for you, whilst you give a homestead to the
men who remained at home and denounced your
volunteers as assassins. Now, l refer to these
things in order that you may see the ground OF
these charges against me. AS said, 1T my first,
and for this campaign, it is my last speech in re-
latiOn to myself because am not in the habit of
being put upon the defensive--I belong to the
charging party myself, and l shall have some
charges to make this fall. [Great applause]-
Now the next pOint to which refer, is In regard
to these Settlers. A voice-"Yes, should like
to hear what you have got to say on that point."]
You show to me, fellow citizens, man who, desir-
ing to go on the public lands, and by his honest
industry and labor has surrounded himself with
the comforts of life, and then you will show me
man for whom l entertain the sncerest respect
[Great applause.] But there is another kind of
squatters here in the city of Sacramento, who
may be properly denominated political squatters
persons who desire to squat upon your pocket
or regard for such squatters, allow me to say
[Great laughter and applause.] In the first place
| will read to you what said in regard to the
subject of pre-emption, at the time the pre-emp-
ton law was first enacted in lS41. was theE
member of the House of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
senting district in which there was not single
inch OF public land. l could have no other object
in view than the promotion of what conceived
to be public good. The great body of the Whg
party was opposed to this law, and denounced
these men as lawless squatters who should be
driven off from the public lands by military force
In answer to a speech of this sort, by Mr.. Bell
now Senator from Tennessee | made speech
an extract from which am about to read to you
The speech was made in the House of Represen
tatives in l94l, and will be found in the Congress
sional Globe, vol. 8, page 148
"There is another subject, introduced by the
gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr. Bell,) to which
beg leave to refer. l allude to the prospective
pre-cmption law which, | rejoice to learn, was
passed by the Democratic party in the Senate On
yesterday, and is now in the House fer its action.
1t has been denounced here as a 'humbug. design
ed to catch votes;' and gentlemen have volunteer
ed the assertion that we did not desire its passage
Now, Sir, what is this bill? 1t is simply to give
the Settler upon the public land the right of pre-
emption, and differs only from the laws heretofore
passed in the fact that it is prospective in its ope
ration, 1t does not propose to gipe the public
domain to the Settler, but to allow him to take
that portion on WnlCn ne mas belIleu ana DuliI
log cabin, at the Government price, within
limited period. 1t is measure for the benefit of
the poor man, for the humble tenants of the log
cabins; for those who may be driven by poverty
from the older States, and who may go with no
bank bills, perhaps, in their pockets but with
strong arms and honest hearts, to hunt for them
selves and their families home in the far West.
Sir, if this were measure for the advancement OF
the pecuniary interest of spectators and bankers
it would not Meet with the opposition 1t does
from Whig gentlemen. Although loud in their
professions of attachment to the poor man when
Office is to obtained in their legislation little re-
gard is paid to his inerests Gentlemen have de-
nounced these Settlers as 'lawess squatters,' and
Iand pirates, and told us that the United States
Marshal ought to be sent with a military force to
dspossess them. Sir, if a banker Gas is the prac-
tice every day. swindles the community out of
millions. the act goes unwhipt by justice; but if