Worcester daily spy., 1859-04-30
CHARLES SUMNER ON FOREIGN INFLU-
ENCE

Extract from speech delivered i'll the City Hail. III
Oct 1855
1t is proposed to attant men for their reli-
gion and also for their birth. If this object
can prevail, vain are the triumphs of Civil
Freedom III its many hard-fought fields vain
is that religious toleration which we all profess.
The fires OF Smithfeld, the tortures of the In
QUESTION, the prescriptions of non contormists,
may all be revived. 1t was mainly to escape
these outrages, dictated by a dominant reli-
giOus sect, that our country was early settled,
in one place by Quakers, who set at naught all
forms in another by Puritans, who disowned
bishops in another by Episcopalians, who
take their names from bishops; and in yet an
other by Catholics, who look to the Pope as
their Spiritual Father. Slowly among the
struggling sects was involved the great idea of
the Equality of all men before the law without
regard to religious belief; nor can any party
now organize prescription merely for reli-
gious belief, without calling in question this
unquestionable principle.
But Catholics are mostly foreigners, and, on
this account, are condemned. Let us see if
there be any reason in this and here indulge
me with one word on foreigners.
With the ancient Greeks foreigner was
barbarian, and with the ancient Roman he was
an enemy. In early modern times the austeri-
ty of this judgment was relaxed but under
the influence of feudalism, the different sover-
eighties, whether provinces or nations, were
kept in condition of isolation, from which
they have been gradually passing, until now,
when the provinces are merged into nations,
and nations are giving signs that they too will
yet commingle into one. In our country an
other example is already displayed. From all
nations people commingle here. As in ancient
Corinth, by the accidental fusion of all metals
was produced, better than any individual
metal, even silver or gold so, perhaps,
in the arrangements of Providence, by the
fusion of all races here there may be a
better race than any individual race, even
Saxon or Celt. Originally settled from
England the Republic has been strengthened
and enriched by generous contributions Of pop
ulation from Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland,
Sweden, France and Germany and the cry
is still they come. AT no time since the dis
covery of the New World, has the army of
emigrants pressed so strongly in that direc-
ton. Nearly half a million are annually land
ed on our shores. The manner in which they
shall be received in one of the problems of our
national policy.
All will admit that any influence which they
may bring, hostile to our institutions-calcu-
lated to substitute priestcraft for religion and
bigotry for Christianity be deprecated
and opposed. All will admit, too, that there
must be some assurance for their purpose to
become not merely consumers of the fruits of
our soil ,butuseful, loyaland permanent members
OF our community, upholders the general wei
fare. With this simple explanation, | am not
disposed to place my check upon the welcome
to foreigners There are our broad lands,
stretching towards the setting sun; let them
come and take them. Ourselves, the children
of the Pilgrims Of a former generation let us
not turn from the Pilgrims of the present.
Let the home, founded by our emigranttather
continue open in its many mansions to the en-
grants of to-day.
The history of our country, in its humblest
as well as most exalted spheres, teStifes to
the merits of foreigners. Their strong arms
have helped to furgow our broad territory with
canals, and stretch in every direction the iron
rail They have filled our workshops, navi-
gated our ships, and even TILED our fields.
Go where you will, among the hardy sons of
toll on land or sea, and there you will find in
dustrious foreigners bending their muscles to
the work. AT the bar and in the high places
of commerce you will find them Enter the
retreats of learning and there you will find
them too, shedding upon our country the glo-
ry OF science. Nor can any reflection be cast
upon foreigners, claiming hospitality now,
which will not glance at once upon the distin-
guished living and the illustrious dead-upon
the Irish Montgomery, who perished for US at
the gates OF Quebec,-upon Pulaski the Pole,
who died for us at Sayannah-upon De Kalb
and Steuben, the generous Germans, who aid
ed our weakness by their military experience
also upon those great European liberators,
Kosciusko of Poland, Lafayette of France,
each of whom paid his early vows to Liberty
in our cause. Nor should this list be confined
ty military characters, so long as we grateful
" oh fho Af A ,In,
who was born in the West Indies, and the
name Of Albert Gaatin, who was born in
Switzerland, and never, to the close of his oc-
togenarian career, lost the French accent of
his boyhood-both of whom rendered civic
services which may be commemmorated
among the victories of peace.
Nor is the experience of our Republic pecu-
liar. Where is the country or power which
must not inscrbe the names of foreigners on
its historic scroll 1t was Christopher Colum.
bus Of Genoa, who disclosed to Spain the New
World it was Magellan of Portugal, sailing
in the service of Spain, who first pressed with
adventurous keel through those distant South
ern straits which now bear his NAME and
opened the way to the vast Pacific sea; and
it was Cabot the Venetian, who first conduct
ed English enterprise to this North American
continent. AS in the triumphs of discovery,
so also in another field have foreigners ex-
celled. The Dutch Grotius-author of the
sublime work, "The Laws of Peace and War;
AN exile from his own country-became the
Ambassador of Sweden, and in our day the
Emperor Of Russia has employed in the most
exalted diplomatic trusts, the Italian Pozzo di
Borgo. In the list of monarchs on the throne
of England not one has been more truly Eng
lish than the Dutch William. In Holland no
ruler has equalled in renown the German Will
liam, Prince of Orange. In Russia, the Ger
man Catherine II, takes a place among the
commanding sovereigns. And who of the
Swedish monarchs was a better Swede than
Bernadotte the Frenchman and what French
man was ever filled with aspirations for
France more than the Italian Napoleon Bona
parte!
But | pass from these things, which have
occupied me too long. A party, which begin
ming in secresy, interferes with religious be-
lief, and founds n discrimination of the acci-
dent of birth, is not the party for us.
PATENTs.-The following patents were
Urantp0 IN Mosennhucofta ipuapto-S for tho