Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-09-25
Democratic Resolutions Know Eothingism
Endorsed

Democratic Resolutions Know Hothluglsm
Endorsed
The Democratic Congressional Conven-
ton met at Prairie du Chen and nomina-
ted Judge Dunn for Congress, but they
made no platform to stand on. The Land
Officers came with Resolutions indorsing
Buchanan, but they were voted down; the
Douglas men desired to have Douglas in
dorsed. Nothing was Endorsed but democ-
racy--of what particular kind every man
is permitted to say. There being no Res
olutions, it is fair to say that Judge Dunn
is the platform. At Chicago, the Buchan-
an organ claims Judge Dunn as Lecomp
ton Buchanan man. At Madison he is
clai med as both Buchanan and Douglas
man. Others claim that he is Know
Nothing. This claim is founded on vote
and speech of bis, made some eleven years
ago at the Convention to form constitu-
lion, wherein Judge Dunn opposed the vo-
ting of Foreigners till they stay in the
country FIVE years.
In the first Constitutional Convention
of Wisconsin, Hon. Chas. Dunn offered an
amendment to the article on suffrage ex-
Guiding all foreigners coming into the State
after the adoption of the constitution from
the right of suffrage until they become
citizens under the U. S. laws, which re-
quired probation of Ave years. In offer
ing this amendment he stated that,
ale thought the s ate had unlimited
authority 10 the matter. He did it sim
ply because he thought it was good policy
TO exclude the foreigner from the right of
suffrage until he had gone clear through
the probation required for perfect citizen
ship"
Gen. JOHN H. RouNrRrg, member from
Grant County, then prominent wing but
now leading democrat, endorsed Judge
Dunn's amendment in speech as follows:
ale believed the stability of our gov
eminent, laws and institutions depended
upon the guards which are placed around
the elective franchise. He did not believe
that those who were ignorant of our Ian
guage, and still more ignorant of our laws
and our public men, could be qualified in
the short period of six months, nor in one
year, 10 vote understandingy. 1t was
impossible.
"Native citizens were required to reside
in the country twenty one years before be-
Ing allowed to vote. He had not hear.l
any one. not even the most progressive,
propose to shorten the term Of residence
required Of the native citizen. No one
had moved to reduce the term required
Of a citizen. from twenty one to eighteen
or six'een wears, and yet, he believed that
a native citizen was as well qualified to
vote uuderstandiogly after residence of
sixteen or eighteen years as the foreigner
could be after residence of FIVE years."
The Madison 1rgus thus apologies for
Judge DuNN's position:
at is possible that Judge Dunn did
hold, al one time, that it would be good
policy to restrict the privilege of voting to
adturalized and natiue born citizens, but
We know that he ac9mesces IN tie present
policy, which allows foreign born residents
If our state to vote after residing in the
state one year, and declaring ther inlen-
tons to become citizens"
But the Argus is no authority; Judge
Dunn is not the man to play the politi-
elan aud demagogue,. nor is Gen. Rountree.
We give both..tllcr views at that time be-
cause they were leading men of thu" two
parties and because each endorsed the 9th
er. We urge not any objection to them
because of their views, but this we observe
that had Mr.. Washburn been in that Con-
vention and 20 voted, the whole country
would ring and thunder with charges
against him fov being a Know Nothing
hand-bills in big letters would be posted
asevery corner, reading as follows " WASH
burn, Know Nothing;;" Foreigners in
Danger" "Come to the Rescue" "The
warm hearted Irishman and honest Ger
man to be enslaved, and the negro to be
elevated to equality with the whites -
1.-The Union in danger" "Democrats, the
emily friends of the foreigner" 1.-THE Black
Republicans wanting residence of 81
years to make citizen of the foreigner
and so on. The Madison argus would
TEEN with demagogue appeals; small pol
hticians would scout the whole country Cor
votes against Mr.. Washburn on the score
that he is an enemy to foreigners
Now Democrats, you had better keep
shady and cease your lying charges about
Republicans being Know Nothings, and
no more claim that Democrats are the
only pure angels out Of Heaven.
PedcheS.-Where there's "a will thara,s