Year: 1863

which is strong enough to Justify US in prosti-


tuting our political privileges by conferriDg


them carelessly aud indiscriminately on any
| individual who may reside here for two OF
three years-become naturalized Citizen
and then command our Offices /? There are


very many of these emigrants who know moth
ing of political privileges in their own country
before they emigrate 10 this. The word is
unknown to them, or if they hear of it
at all, they hear of it something in which
they have on participation. Is not this the
fact Sir, we all know that it is We know


that very many OF these emigrants never en-
Joyed any political privileges themselves
that they have no knowledge of them-and,
least of all, have they any knowledge of our
people, our government, or our institutions.
The requirement of this knowledge is not the
work of day. They have no sympathy in CON-
mon with ; they have no qualifications to
render them fit recipients of these high politi-
cal privileges. If any of us choose to pass over
to England, Ireland, France, and to settle
ourselves there, Whist do We gain by the
change mean in a political point of view.
Nothing we lose all. We are not suffered
to acquire any political privileges such we
bestow upon them. This is not reciprocacy-
the advantage is all on one side and what


ever may give TO them, We ourselves can
acquire nothing of the kind Why should
this be so Or, if the adoption of such sys-
TEN was necessary at one time, why should il
still be adhered TO, when everything in the
form OF necessity has long since passed away ?
L can discover neither wisdom policy in so
doing.


The idea, Mr.. President, is simply this-I
would afford to all foreigners who shall come
to this country after the date of my amend
ment, protection in their person, their proper
ty, and all the natural rights which they could
enjoy under any civilized or we'll ordered gov
ernment. would permit them to acquire
wealth to pursue objects of their own am
bition; 1 would, in short, allow them to be-
come in all respects equal citizens with us,
except only this one matter of political privi-
leges. All their natural and all their civil
rights, should be amply guaranteed and pro-
tected and they should become citizens in
common with us in relation to all objects, ex-
| cept voting and holding office. And do we
not hold out sufficient Inducements for for
eigners to make this country their home,
even if We take from them these political priv
ileges Surely, sir, we do-such, indeed, as
no other nation upon earth can proffer.


But, Mr.. President, it is not my design to
enter into the discussion of this matter at the
present time and owe an apology to the
convention for having said so much in regard
to it, l have a feeling on the subjecti though
/ confess that entertain doubts W neither this
convention has the power to act. | AM well


aware of the nature of the provision in the
constitution of the United States, and which
has been referred to by the gentleman from
the county of Philadelphia, (Mr. Martin) i
| would do nothing in contravention OF that
provision | merely wish that the question
should be referred to committee, that they
may inquire whether this convention has the
power to act at all in the pretni ses and if


it has the power, whether it would be expedi-
ent to act. l am, however, surrounded by ma
| ny valued friends whose opinions and judge
| ment 1 appreciate; and it appears that they
| are unanimous in thinking that should with


draw it. I, therefore, yield my own judg-


ment to theirs, and, having explained my
views, | withdraw the amendment.