Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-11
UNION CONVENTION.

UNION CONVENTION.
At the Union Convention for Montgomery
county, held at Rockville, Md, on Saturday,
Col. Benjamin Shreeye was elected President,
and Benz. Fawcett and Geo. T. Pope Secre-
taries.
The convention then UNANIMOUSLY nominated
Gen. VIM. L. Gather for the Senate; DR.. Wash
ington Duvall and Nicholas WOrthingtOn for
the House Of Delegates; and, also, Samuel
Riggs Of B., John w. Shaw, Robert 7 Dade,
VIM. H. 0ffutt, and VIM. H. Spencer for Com
missionerS Of Taxes; James Anderson for Sur
veyOr, and Richard GTOome for Sheriff
Col. j. W. Irwin, Of this city, formerly OF
Kentucky being called out, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen If were to consult my modesty,
for which / think / have very fair reputation,
/ should decline to address YOU upon this occa-
sion, but the fiattering manner with which you
have greeted me, and the hearty welcome ex-
tended to me by friends in Rockville, will ex-
cuse me for occupying your time. which, L
promise in the beginning, shall only be for n
few minutes.
/ am gratffed at the unanimity with which
the Democrats OF Montgomery have been able
to select their standard bearers in the coming
contest, and although have no personal ac-
quaintance either with those who have been
selected, or with those who have failed to Sc
cure nominations, yet / am convinced that now
the selections have been made, that the Demo
erats Of the county of Montgomery will present
an unbroken front, which is all that is wanting
to secure triumphant victory. =sr.,-
Gentlemen, we live in q most eventful period
in the history Of the country; nothing which has
been written in reference to the condition of
mankind In any age, or in any country would
seem sufficient to furnish rules for our govern
ment and our wants, hence. it becomes us TO
fhe aala sOI, IL ~
issues and all the antagonisms which would seem
to initiate against individual happiness, the
rights OF the States, and the glorious union of
the states, question in my opinion paramount
to all others.
Within the past few years questions OF vast
Importance have arisen, threatening the integ-
rry of the Union itself, and might state that
in some localities, both North and South, they
have not been discussed with that calmness
which due consideration Of their importance
would seem to demand, nor with that accuracy-
for which the American people are apt to bestoW
upon political questions, 50 vitality affecting their
interest and their happiness.
These questions grow out of the views enter
tained by the Republican party in the North in
reference to the power Of Congress over the ques-
tion of slavery in the Territories Of the United
States, and certain opinions of the American
party-the Know NOthings-upon the extension
OF the naturalization laws, operating covcrtiy
upon the religious prejudices Of the country in
the exclusion Of Catholics from the right of suf.
frage- 90. y. ..
LII have been able to understand the Knog
Nothing orators, the paramount object for
which they have cOntended and from which in
calculable blessings was to result to the Amer
lean people, it was the extension of the Natural.
izatiOn Laws from five to twenty-one years,
thereby putting foreigner upon the same foot,
ing as child born in America.
Now, gentlemen, contend that no such con-
sequence could result from the passage of such
a law, and that any attempt to induce the
American people TO adopt such principle with
that view, is an attack upon their intelligence,
such p1rpose
suppose Congress were TO pass law extend
ing the time OF naturalization from five TO
tWenty-one years. or 10 forty years if you choose,
would that affect the right of suffrage
not. The right Of suffrage is regulated by the
organic laws Of the several States of the Con-
federacy, and is not directly under the control
Of Congress For instance, in the State Of Ken
lucky, when declaration Of intention to be-
come citizen has been filed, a residence in the
State for two years and residence in the county
tor one year, entities the individual To the
right to vote for members Of the General As
sembly, while the Federal Constitution declares
that those persons entitled to vote for members
OF the "mOst numerous branch of the General
Assembly in the several States shall be en-
titled to vote for members of Congress Again,
IN Massachusetts, and Connecticut they have
passed laws inhibiting persons-ctizens-f
voting, unless they can read and write VIII
any person contend that these prescribed indi-
YIduals can vote for members of Congress
Certainly not Clearly demonstrating that the
right Of suffrage and the time of naturalization
are entirely different things, and are not de-
pendant, the one upon the duration of the time
Of the other.
Now would ask, gentlemen. If Congress were
to pass law that all persons born in the United
States and twen'y-One years old. should be en-
titled 70 vote for members Of Congress. and
Massachusetts having prohibited persons Of this
class from voting because they could not read
ana write. thereby excluding them from VOTING
Tor members Of the "nost numerous branch, ~
their General Assembly, could these inhibited
persons vote under the Congressional enact-
msntI Certainly not, il would be a palpabIe
violation OF the federal constitution, and the
Congressional enactment would be a nullity
Now, gentlemen, If have been able TO demon.
strate that the mann stay Of the Know Nothings
has been broken and scattered TO the winds
that their proposition is a legal impossfbilitv-
ought they not in common honesty IN abaniop
party who claimed their support and their
suffrage for PROPOSITION utterly untenable-
utterly futile
In reference u the Religious test which
seemed at one time to be n ieadipo feature il,
the American platform, thank God il seems
to be abandoned by the intelligent of all par.
ueS lot II there Is any right more dear than
others to American citizens il is fhe riybt 20
worship his God as may best suit his own con.
science; and II is our glorious privilege not 10
be questioned as TO the exercise of that right.
HE union OF Church and State is ever 10 be
deprecated; 1T has always led TO the most nm
fortunate results. Religious intolerance il the
most cruel and Eindictive feeling that ever ami
mated the human breast it has estranred the
dearest friends; it has severed the ties of con,
sahsulnity; 1t has shed the blood Of the inno-
cent; it has clothed a nation in mnnrninn
trust IN God that my country may never feel ia
dreadful and malignant consequences
But, gentlemen, Sam ts de1t I did NOT cona
% Preacn bis funeral sermon. Many OF his de.
Iuded followers have cursed the day he ever
was born; and / have no doubt that man,
who swore they loved him ever dearly are
now ready TO sing
Oh, no, III never mention him,