The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-05-14


love, and to whom it often happens to mis-
take BARRIERS basins for helmets, and wind
mills for giants, Mr. Edward Bates, of Ais
souri,, is often described AS violent Know
: Nothing and German hater. For instance,
they have given out that be has, on many
occasions openly spoken in favor of length
ening the term OF naturalization.
We now reproduce for the explanation of
his true position conversation which Mr..
Bernays one of the editors of the ST. Louis
Anzeiger des Western, had with him a few
days ago. 1t is as follows:
/ i" iIer the first salutatiOns our converse
/ ton naturally turned on the political con-
/ dillon of the country, and the Republican
National Convention at Chicago. Mr.. Bates
well knew that from the beginning OF the
campaign John G.. Fremont was the prefer
ence, not only of myself, personally, but of
all the Germans; yet he spoke not single
word to change this preference. On the
contrary, AS often design or accident
| turned the conversation on Col. Fremont,
Mr.. Bates was full of his praise. lie spoke
| of him as a brave reliable, gallant and out
and out liberal man.
elf YOU shOuld nominate Mr.. Fremont
at Chicago said he to me only yesterday,
| "there would be no one who would more
warmly support him than |. This however
/ would not render il the less unpleasant if |
were falsely Judged by my fellow citizens.
Since my name mnst needs be brought up in
! connection with the next Presidency, il /
cannot become President, will not lose the
! love and respect of my fellow citizens in my
old age although persons are busy about
me-uaiing it their business to impute
faults and mistakes to me of which know
that am entirely free
! assured Mr. Bates that since his letters
directed 10 me and other party friends, the
opinions held respecting him had greatly
changed TO his advantage; but that myself
was almost ashamed, after 50 satisfactory a
conversation upon the subject, to repeat any
of the vexatious charges of the German
papers against him.
'sLet me hear them at once, said Mr..
Bates quickly; "and if what they say about
me is true and ut the same time AN Dius-
tice they will find me the strongest witness
against myself
"WeH, them SAID !, "they have repeat
edIy charged you with having spoken in
favor Of prolonging the probation before
naturalization from five to fourteen years.
The blood mantled the checks the quiet
old man. He rose, and, wiping his forehead
with his hand, said after il moments pause
i" At this moment feel very plainly that |
have been out of the political field for lhir-
tv years; | had forgotten, alas, that IL such
field lies aud caiumny are weapons. Tell
your friends that have never expressed
this oI,inion-that | rccollcct no occasion
when | was asked such question 10y any
b9dy-and that, had it ever been put TO me,
| should without hesitation have spoken in
favor of preserving the present term Of ma
turalizliion. Al of us who dwell in this
country are either foreigners children of
/ MD IL = h4t
certain forms necessary III order TO quail
| ify citizens Of so powerful contcderacy as
are the United States. still know, indeed,
no ground for further distinction between
native aud naturalzed citizens than the
Constitution of this country provides. One
distinction only occurs TO me between ma
tive and natur,tzed citizens, and that is
J that n foreign born person cannot Income
President of the United States
; q see" continued the Old man, who had
, become more composed, " that to me, at
least, this privilege brings no roses, but an
abundance of suspicious and SANDERS
And suddenly passing into the pleasant tone
of familiarity which is SO characteristic OF
Mr.. Bates, he sat down, and said smilingly,
Yes, my friend it contains one distinc-
ton had AN acquaintance who was very
proud OF his Irish origin. lie WAS IL Colo
mel i'll our militia. ] told the good man on
"a hundred different times, that he had ccas-
ed To be an lrishman, SINCE he had become
D an American by naturalization. IL did no
{ good lie stood obstinately on his priv
/ lege that he could be an American and still
, remain an irishman. had for Il long time
been accustomed to carry on the contest
with the old officer in good humured way,
f until certain occasion very malicious
~ asked him; What, do you mean TO com
LII 70, III -
American boru? Indeed, there most he
d something in which we differ 1 had TAX
j en- the precaution To keep Il brOnd table be
4 tween US. for in his anger the high strung
soldier might very probably level a blow
against me, the moderate civilian.
: "And what is it?' clustered ont the
e lrisbIDan.
answered linn coolIy and laughingIy
'lf | begct child in America, he is Amer
lean but if yon hegct one here, lie is irish =
e We shook hands warmly, and have never
c since spoken OF this national weakness o.
q his.
Mr. Bates then discoursed circumstamtiall,
: of his relations with the Germans as vel
J as of their character. He named 10 mC
l. more Than dozen Germans in this city anc
a in the country, with whom he was on tht
most intimate footing. Never the re
mark made TO him that he Was obnoXiou:
% to the Germans, or the reproach hrouoh
v upon him that he was hostile to them Ht
~ alluded TO the strong German immigration
into Missouri aS II true blessing to this State
The persevering, substantial liberal char
acter of the Germans, were it rightly appre
ciatcd. was necessity to This State, and h,
.2 could hardly conceive OF ii better constituent
le for the population of city ar country, or +;
le better element Of mixture in The nation n
= large than the Germans
d sE3F+ MIR. Bell was Secretary of War il
:, the Cabinet OF Gen. Harrison, but resigned
~ with Mr.. Webster and the rest after tlt
g accession of MIR. Tyler. In 1887, he wa,
q elected TO the United States Senate, where
: he remained until the 4lh of March 1859
State Sentinet
=, The historical knowledge exhibited it
! IL L IL q =. !