The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-18

wards Of Boston the adopted citizens have the whole
power IN ther hands They might have sent eight rep
resentatiyes TO this house They have returned Is
that abuse OF the iranchisel How Is il IA the
council Of Boston They could have elected sixteen
bcrs there but how many have they chosen from their
ranks They have been content 10 take only three
OF the sixteen TO which they entitled Is not that
setting this house example of generosity and forbear
ancef am glad that this spirit anmates the adopted
citizens and trust II win always do and In return,
and when this house how the matter stands trust
Il viii not press this amendment sErf aai rIH #.f
Men viii 10 the polls and vote or somebody and,
sir the choice Of the adopted citizen when he comes 10
this country, Is limited TO two parties He is forced 10
take one side or the other and he holds 10 the old
faith, the good old democratic faith. Why sir from the
very first President, Washington, down to the present,
the adopted citizens always gave their suffrage or demo
cratic principles and democratic And what reason
have they 70 regret it the gentleman from worces
ter can show why they should regret it, or why the
country should regret it, then there may be for
this amendment They have always espousod the cause
of democratic and measures, and what else has
brought this country to the proud position that il
pes-thc wonder and admiration of the civilized world
but democratic men and democratic principles Are
indebted 20 The policy of the elder Adams for any Inn
proyemcnt in the government increase In the pros
pority Of this country Had the alien and sedtion laws
of his administration been carried out and perpctuated In
the spirit of that day, would like to ask where
would be our patriotic pride and national progress
peat that from Washington down the present admin
istation the adopted citizen is always found po
litical annals closely allied with democratic principles and
democratic And would you persecute them for that
for making this country what it is to-day Z ''a
But let the picture and In sober earnestness
put this question to the heart Of every honest repub
lican heref you could but cajoe the adopted citizen
to vote for republican leaders and republican principles
would you put this proposed amendment into the
stution Is there man of you here who ia that case,
would for moment tolerate in Then Mr. Speaker al
low TO say that Notwithstanding the strength Of the
republican party in this house, cannot believe them
dishonest to be guilty Of putting that amendment upon
the constitution of Massachusetts, it to
vote. What would be its efect 1t would poison the
minds and ALLEVIATE the hearts Of those three hundred
thousand adopted citizens of Massachusetts, without do
\ ing one particle Of good. ~ -.' h
Has not the constitution already been tinlercd enough
without pling useless rubbish upon its unfortunate
shoudess year ago needless innovation in the shape
! of an amendment piled its back, viz that the
citizen should be able to write his and read the
constitution before he entitled to vote Now another
political disability must be heaped on the adopted citi
zen compelling him to reside in the State two years after
he becomes citizen before he can vote When laws are
made the supposion Is that they are not only to be
obeyed but also to be respected Does this house for
moment atter itself that the 500 900 people In this
State, which this amendment intended to insult
be forced to respect her constitution with such pro-
vision cngraed upon it II it does permit to say
they may find themselves mistaken The legislature of
Massachusetts has already set the example to the adopted
citizens Of despsng and disrepecng such portions of
the laws and constitution OF the United States
found dsagreeabe and unpaatable to the political and
religious taste of New England In the face of these
adopted citizens respect her unjust tyrannc
laws while she herself spt upon the laws and consttu
ton Of the United Statcsa Does she forget that IL is
poor rule that don't work both ways Is consistency
blind to the madness and moanners of party drill
Sir you characterize the fugitive slave law arbitrary
and oppressive though has the sanction of the highest
constitutional authority You do not scrupe to spnrn
and spit upon it, to practically nullify it by your egea
ton and by putting every possible impediment in the
way of its execution, because, you say it involves
unwarantable and unnecessary Infringement of the rights
of those who seek protection and freedom beneath the
broad Egs of Massachusetts, shcltcring sovereignty
But it, with sacrlegious hands, you commit this outrage
upon the constitution of Massachusetts, upon the
rights of those who protected by it in the enjoyment
of the most precious privilege of citizenship will you not
give them the same ground of complaint the plea
for resistance and appealing to '.hgher law, that you
now make of to repudiatc this offensive act of the
federal legislaturel Is il so criminal wicked to
claim negro fugitive from labor, and yet hardship,
oppression, to dsranchisc white of your
blood and race and nauralizcd citizen Of these
United States? Sir If you proceed to this
great wrong, take that your victims do not steal
leaf from your own favorte book of nullifcaton
Mr. Speaker regret the zeal manifested by Governor
Banks and his parsans in pressing this infamous amend
ment, the because it revves foul stain already
fixed upon the escutcheon of Massachusetts, which might
otherwise be overlooked forgotten 1t is endorse
ment of another act of acknowledged infamy Sir there
is within sight of Bunker Hill another famous eminence
Mount Benedict crowned by the mouderng ruins of
oncehourishng religious seminarythe bearing the
proud monument OF country civil and religious free
dom the other alas of her than southern chains
and slavcrygivng the lie direct to her boased civza-
ton Christianity and liberal principles. Would it not
have been worthy and becoming in his excellency
instead of proposing to rckinde sectaan feuds
tona prejudces had he suggested to the legislature the
propriey of adopting whereby that foul
and damning stain upon the character and history of
Massachusetts might be removedl Could he not per-
ceve yonder majestic shaft of his countrys pride and
honor trebe and totter from its base to its apex with
shame sorrow, and humiliation, when il bchods almost
t,t st,gl
Massachusetts, bgoty and intolerance Mr. Speaker there
wounds that be healed; but charity,
and patriotism at least should allow them TO tester in
silence without tearing them open and pouring in the
pu of reiterated injury and insult Let his excellency
timely warning by the fate of his lustrous pede-
He too took pride and pleasure in prescribing
the adopted citizen. What has the Commonwealth what
has Governor Gardiner himself gained by this dastardy
conduct He has received and he has mcrited the
tempt of every liberal and high minded citizen whether
native adopted At this moment his former sat
elites distrIst hate and deslise him. And If mans
black ingratitude be hateful among men, and obi
in the sight of Heaven to make the angels blush
his exceency should have paused and considered these
facts before recommending this amendment, '' q. "
The proposition before the house. Mr. Speaker reminds
me Of countryman of mine, who was going down to
market and seeing very good natured dog he look
ed at him. aud took upa clcaver and killed him The
butcher who owned the animal says, "You scoundrel
why did you kill my dog Did he bite you 20 'No''
replied the man. "Did he snarl at you p "No; but
then, you know, perhaps he mightr' laughter You
not shown that the adopted citizens have done you
any injury, threatened any On the contrary,
they have helped 20 make the country what is is But
yet you would kill them, because you pretend to be