Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-03
The call Was sustained,

Dir. BRooKE.--l desire TO offer RI amend
ment, by way Of substitute for the amend
ment offered BY the gentleman from Ulark,
It is as follows:
"But no naturslized citizen Of the Ststt
who shall hsvo become such after the terlnint
tion OF tho existing war, SHALL be privileged I
vote until he shall have previously resided fo
ten years IN some orc Of the Confederat
States"
desire to submit few remarks upon tn
subject now before tho Convention; and per
nit ME to say, in explanation Of the amend
ment which have submitted, that il does nc
present to the Convention toe real Questio
which Tas under consideration, .nd which
claimed to have been decided on yesterday,
The amendment which | have subuit,e
does not look TO any interference upon III
part Of this Convention with the laws reguia
ting the naturalization Of foreigners II pre-
scribes no time af.er the naturalization uf
mitted to exercise the privilege Of a voter; bu
provides that although foreigner may b
naturalized today, he may yote tomorrow
provided ho shall have resided within some
one Of tho Confederate States for ten years
as foreigner or nsturalized citizen. In othe
words, the amendment which have propose,
merely requires resiSencs for the term indca
ted, whether as foreigner or naLurslzct
citizen, it matters NOT which, SO that, at III
time of voting, the voter bs na.uralized cit!
zen.
think the vote which was taken YESTERDAY
upon the general proposition, manifested dis
position, upon the part oi this House. 10 dc
something 10 guard tbs CnmmonE eal:h C
Virginia agsinst tho dangers OF ioreisn in
Auence cannot believe, for one moment, TIM
there is a gentleman upon this foor y7hc
has studied the political history Of parties il
the North, or who will examine the natione
complexion Of those hor1es OF bsrbaria,ls VIII
are now invading Cir borders-tho men agGias
whom we hars 70 fight, and 10 encounter
whom ~e have to sond OUT TO fields Of biocdsheC
and of death the best sons Of our Common
weslth-who will not come to the conclusiUI
that foreign influence is AZ evil TO FREQ gov
ernneDt, and one against which it behooves thu
free people OF this Common wealth to guarc
themselves and their pesterity. Sc fer az nv
vsvs upon this subject a-s concerned, ar
proud that it ia my privilege, ct this, tho cut.
set of the discussion upon this question, &C
place myself upon ths rrcc.d as having voted
for every proposition, from first tc last, having
for it's object tine prevention Of this great aat
d.mning evil of foreign influence.
Gen.lenen have, unfortunately, ss it seem;
to me, made alu.iGns hera 10 cid pnr;y Gyi-
sions. think it is unfortunate. had hoped
that tho tine had come when the people o
Virginia, in sicw Of their COMMON interest.
aud the common sacriflcss which they Rrs nov
npbiy making in defence oi their rights o: pro
pcrty and Of liberty, would bury oil these Ole
party feelings and preiulices, and sacrifice
them upon the altar oi our coaEtTy's wss.-
Blu: as one gentleman has seen Il, .e Iefei Il!
terms, as consider, Objectionable st least in
their character, to one Vi toe parties that tine,
existed in this country-lhe American party
II beg leave 10 call the gautleman's al
tentioE to The fruits Of the victory which h
claimed to have participated in promoting IL
said, on yesterday, that 1.-THE State OF Eirgi
MIA had driven back that wave 0f Know 40
thingism which flowed in upon the Stale iron
the North" congratulate the genliemar
upon the fruits Of tho victory which he has
achieved. congratulate him upon tie course
of that element, whose rights be sought tt
protect from what he supposed 10 be unlsw lu
invasion. congratulate him that that ele
ment has been the agency which has bn:lt uE
snd established the great Republican party G
the North, that first inaugursted the pclicy O
invasion upon onr rights, and utimstey fYrcet
Us to sunder tie bonds of the sta Govern
ment. / congratulate him that that very Gle
ment now constitutes the bulk Of the Wanda
horde which is now assslling our Confederacy
and which is noT threatening our subiusaticn
II the gentleman can find in these reflection!
any subject OF sclf,congratulaton, he takes
very different view OF the autiect !-clu tha
which entertain.
l regard the danger Of foreign Influence a:
one against which every free gosernBer
should guard ain od-fGshioned enough t.
believe that even the native born citizens O
every fres government constitute. sa.s defos
tory Of political power.
do not consider il necessary to the perpc-
tuity of our Common wealth that ve shculc
furnish any further Inducements for the inmi
grafton Of foreigners, Yankees included, into
our soil. They will come in numbers enough
without any inducenen! in Tue wGY oi til,
right to exercise tha elective franchise There
is no fear of our breaking mp The yield Of i'm
migration. The danger is, bcle"a, lha. th(
tins will come when this Corfederacy viii
share the fate of tbs late American Union, arc
when the influences which cccusiunel the dis
solution Of that Union viii surdcr OURS
That is the great danger, and it is against thu
that propose to guard, and by requiring the
u,an naturalized Shall remain any length o
-, lofo t,o chalf m I'D t,
but that he should have resided within THU
Commonwealth long enough to have acquired
knowledge of our institutions aud to have
become well enough informed in reference t
our system Of government 10 exercise th,
right Of suffrage. That is al that require
and it is with view of securing these safe
guards that have offered that Amendment
Mr.. HArauND.-The remarks of the gentle
man evidently apply 10 some remarks which
made on yesterday. Ii is not my purpose nc7
tc detai1 the Convention with any discussiul
upon this question. ! d. not regard si.is u
the propar time 70 do so.
Sir, hsye no political preiudices sgains
anybody. The only feeling | have is Tor M,
oountry's prosperity, aud that i. may be dc
liYered from the calamitiea that nov inper'
OscI IL law " o6Jf dOnNfSlI opob III
subject Of this amendment, ths: the inslru
mentality attributed to foreign influence il
bringing shout the state If things that is nov
upon US, has 10 foundation in fact Why, sir
it has not been very long sihce our iathe?
were foreigners, and we are ourselves br. som
few degrees removed from that class to whom
this designation is applied. The privileges ez
tended to them in the matter of suffrage, hs
produced no evi!--nay, sir, i: has proved /
this country tie very life and soul OF its pros.
purity snd unsurpassed development, Tnc.
il, venture to say, at this E1ouieni IS muc
conservatism, as much fidelity 10 our iEstitu
tions, rs much practical Zeal manifested on tn
part of the adopted ctizens OF toe South a
we find among the general run of our nativ
citxsna. They ere in the field, fighting in you
defence In proportions fully equal to the con
tingent furnished from any other source. Yo
must remember that while foreigners are ii i,
United States service, they are citizens Of tn
the United States and, IS such, are compsilc
to take up arms in defence Of that country
The adopted citizens among Us, venture t