Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-29

, course, as it seems 10 me, being 10 leave t"
i Congress the determination OF sonls uniform
system Of naturalization. I am willing t.
leave tho whole subject with them, where, as
. understand, the Constitution of the Confede'
: rate States leaves it.
As said before, sir, will not change now
the opinions, upon this question OF naturaliza.
ton, which have always held. will not con.
sent or BECOME party TO 4 c!,ange in the sys,
! tenn which have uniformly opposed hereto.
/ fore, and truly believe it will be an unwise
policy to inauguratc any. would ask gentle
men to pause aud reflect, lest in their zssl TO
escape from one evil, as they suppose, they
may fall upon far worse one. While cd
nit that the present Constitution ought to be
amended in many particularsfI cannot ad,ai'
that it needs any change or amendment IN
the particulars to which these propositions re
fer
| make these suggestions With view that
they may receive the copsiderat,ou "f ~.
vention, trusting thesI-thHy "'l aSe NV r
tp,ltly or IUregoing oil action upon idls mattel
aad Of leaving it altogether 10 the Confederate
Congress, where the Confederate Constitution
places it, in my judgment
Mr. WOODS. study 81 political history
is n ali times profitable ard nstrucilns, and
especially SO TO statemen 1t this important Pc
ROD. II there has been any line CT policy that
iius pcrulio!y distinguished the political his
tory CT the Government Of the late United
States from its foundation down 70 the pericG
OF iis disruption, it vas that it held itself on.
as an asylum for tho oppressed OF all nations.
| This pDhcy vas not adopted in day, nor
without the most mature consideration. IL
was not adopted by men less wise than we;
bn. by men whose wisdom We cannot expect
10 excel, and scarcely emulate
The settled policy Of the Government Of the
Uni!ed States, encouraged emigration from
! foreign countries us source OF %ealth, as
means vi intelligence, as T. rpeaas OF Industry
| and political and martial power. Vixen we
reflect upon the political history Of that Gov
srnGiamL great and glorious az il became, it
urGst be admitted that tha. policy was emf
neatly wise and patriotic; and that to it, il 10
DO attributed much Of the glory, wealth and
! power which characterized it among the na-
! tions Of ,ho earth. Political parties grew up
lGJer lha; Government commencing with rs
formation and continuing down 10 this day
and although we ali profess 10 be willing TO
,:ivcst our minds OF fl! biss tia. We lnay be
supposed 10 have derived from the infu.
ence Of their principles, Yet ii is wei! To re-
member that we are only lhcn, aud tnat as
such, we will always be controlled by such ir-
terests as control men.
cannot but observe that there is party
in this Convention to day holding tue very ser.
tilnents which one OF the late political psrtics
denounced, and which is anxicus nnd willing
to resort to every means 20 tall back upon those
pernicious principles which have been assi.
and again .epudia.cd BY the people Of Virginia.
It matters nothing ~ mo where correct ir;n
! cipl;s come from. Ii they be correct, am
wiling to receive them, and follow them il al
their legitimate deductions. | am TO: TO bs
deferred from following such principle, b
means CT the prejudices or passions C! the hour.
| know there is no tnan III tins oaGE %r.JSr
mind is not moro or less Influenced 5I the pas
sion Of the present bour. know, rOa my
own experience, that these passions c""r"l,
in great degrea, our judgment Wr should
rememoec that the people ot oEr great syc'r2
o! our country, through the partial lrgi.iatun
of the late United States, were enabled TO en-.
gross the whole Of the public lands, as well as
nearly all the revenues Of the country. Tuis
policy induced that tide Of Immigration which
carried to our shcres million, Of Immigrants,
vino were thus induced to settle in particular
localities, by which means they obtained 70!
that section an ovcrpcwering Influence in the
| SOuIIClIS Vi llC SVuHli 1bn- Ii'd 1SiS'f hheo
localized and concentrated, welded by Emb-
ticus men for their own advancement, has
tended in q great degree to produce that stetc
of public opinion which has compelled Virginia
and othe. Southern States 10 staol srinsd in
their own defence.
But desire to call tho attention Of INC Coz
vention to what is q matter of public history,
and challenge its successful refutation.-
Until 1855, when the sentiment which is now
attempted to DC embodied in the Constitution
by this amendment, was developed as the policy
of an Independents. political party, there Vas
prevailing ell over the length and breadth c.!
the land the most fraternal ard harmonlcis
feeling; ard eTcTJ section rested secure in .he
erjOyuen! olits equal and j'lst rights.
AS org as -eiu:lIhsr ti.e struggles 81 tEc
know Nothing" party OF lS55-tnc vigorous
aud persevering efforts with which it sought
to obtain control Of our ogm STATE government,
and the crushing effect win which the voice OF
Virginia consigned il 10 oblivion, cannot con.
sent TO change the sentiments of my life, and
vote for the revival Of policy thug enphaticaly
condemned by the people at The polls. can NOT
consent TO stand up bsore the people and say
that what was six years ago dangerous and re.
pulsive is to-day innocc!. and acceptable.
| "Uuid ldl tuC dstShslOu u lhO NOilFCh.'S''
to the fact tha, that political party advanced
successfully from those \ orihern States which
are now abolition Sta.cs ard wherever it Or
tanned ioot-hUd, il Tas proud TO be the cdr-
guard ui BOLTON i:natiosm. Il was me: uf
Oh the threshold OF Virginia, ana by the voice
Of her people, vas driven back to the places
OF it's origin and triumph, which 1t has since
held as the ground upon which the hosts Of
fanatcism have waged cruel and uDrelenting
war upon the freedom and the institutions OF
the Southern States
The political condition Of every Northern
State where it attained Lbe ascenaoncy. fully
attests this fact From th4t .ia1 to ;h's thu
Southern people have han 10 assurar2c OF
hcir rights nc the hands Of the Northern
people.
These ara historical facts which nrc patent
to all 1nen yet 10 fu! :iew 0i .ncn, re are
asked tc-duy to Introduce into tie CGEati;u-
ton of Virgins the SAME p.oscTiptire DrlEcI-
} pie, which assuredly will dcfes1 i. beiorc TIE
people. IT. under the influence Of the pessiOrs
OF the hour, it succeed ten years viii no. have
elapsed before i. will produce such Z coavni-
sion as will inevitably lead 70 change il tic
Constitution Of the Suite.
It is neither wise nor jus: n statesmen TO
introduce inio the oTgeaic law doctrine 4 hich
invites aIncng Us the lNte!i!senG ara si.iiul and
! industrious Of ell tue Nations oi the earth, and
. allows them to accumulate property, and ST the
same time deprive them o the highest induce
, ment to become good and lsithfu clizcHs of the
} State in which they live, by daryit;y them all
participation in the administration Of the gov
ernment.
: Sir, would rather give my voice to exclude
from this day and forever all foreigners, than
to admit them subject 10 such restrictions IS
, these propositions impose.
trust it will not be the pleasure Of tho Con-
: vention to adopt either the amendment to the
amendment or the original amendmsn! tffsrcd
: by the gentleman from P!ttsyivana, (ar.
} IREApMaYl rs hatn seem % mn g: D. scu.!lT