The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-10-30
From the Boston Courier.
GOV. BRIGGS AND THE NATIVE
AMERICAN PARTY.


About three months ago we were not little
surprised that the leader of the Native American
party were searching the Commonwealth to find
a candidate for the office of Governor-knowing,
| as we did, that the incumbent of the executive
chair, George n. Briggs, was, heart and soul,
! Native American, and conscentously opposed
to that foreign potentate, who, under the pre-
tence of mere spiritual jurisdiction, controls,
through his subordinate agents here, the votes of
more than hundred thousand persons, claiming
to be free citizens of our republic. We were
made to understand that committee had written
to Governor Briggs letter of inquiry touching
| his views in regard to this NATTER and that his
reply not altogether satisfactory and we
have looked with some Impotence for the publ
cation of this reply, which we supposed would
present something that might be constructed as
an apology for the nomination of another candi
date by that party. But no such publication has
yet 0een made. We have, however, in conse-
quence of personal application to the Governor
himself, obtained copy of his reply, and here
insert it =
Pittsfeld, 26th July, 1914.
A. B. ELY, Esq,
SIR,-I have your letter one of the commit
tee of correspondence, of the 23d instant, and
with it the ''resolutions and address of the Ma
tive American Convention, recently held at Phila-
delphia.' You say ''you desired to solicit
my opinion, as to your principles and objects, par
ticularly as to the proprety of your organization
as party, State and NATIONAL at this iuncture."
| The evils resulting from our present. laws of
naturalization, and the best mode of procuring
thorough revision of those laws, are leading top
les in the address and resolutions Of that conven
! ton. For my views in relation to that matter |
respectfully refer you to the accompanying re-
! solves, passed at the last session of the Legisla-
| ture of this Commonwealth. | not only gave
my official sanction to those resolves but the opn-
ions which they assert, entertained long before
there was any organized movement in relation 10
the mischiefs growing out of the administration
OF existing laws In justice to the citizens Of
our own State, ought to say, that so far as | am
informed, we have been almost, if rot entirely,
exempt troTn those frauds and imposltions which,
we have reason to believe, have been practced
to an alarming extent elsewhere With regard
to the propriety Of organizing party State and
National, for the purpose of remedying the evils
complained OF, must frankly say, that, in nv
opinion, such organization would not hasten
the revision and modification of those laws, which
you and your friends so much desire and which,
in my opinion, the purity Of our elections and the
public interests so clearly demand. The enclos-
ed resolves, believe speak the views of the peo-
pie Of Massachusetts, as to the necessity of such
arevision. Respectfully yours,
GEORGE N. BRIGGS.
Whereas, the purity of the ballot box is in
dispensible to the security of the rights and free
and full expression of the will of the people and
Whereas, experience has clearly demonstrated
that the naturalization laws of the United States
are loose and defective, affording opportunities
for the preparation of gross frauds, destructive
alike of the rights and morals OF the citizens
therefore
ResoIoed, That the rights, interest and morals
of the people demand an immediate and thorough
revision OF the naturalization laws and we re-
gard it as the imperative duty of Congress, so to
amend those laws that, while liberal and lust
policy shall be adopted towards such foreigners
as are, or may come among us, the rights and
! privileges OF our country shall be kept uViolate
and the ballot box permanently guarded against
any improper influences.
ResOIUed, That Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress are hereby requested to use
their utmost exerton, forthwith, to procure such
amendments in the naturalization laws, as shall
carry out and perpetuate, far as possible the
! principles indicated in the foregoing resolve
Our surprise at the suppression of the letter.
and the nomination OF another candidate by the
party, is not in The least diminished on reading
| this letter. The Governor avows his opinions
upon the evils which the party complains of with
undisguised candor-with an independent frank
ness characteristic OF true patriot and sincerity
| and straig htorwardness, which it would be well
for the people If candidates for public office
would more generally initiate. What more can
| the Native Americans want They call for the
organization Of new party, to secure chance
means of such organization, or by any other
means, they secure the proposed change and pre-
vent the naturalization of every foreign immi-
grant, till he shall have lived in the country
twenty-one years-a change, which we as heart
lily desire as the sturdest member of the new
party; but that will not secure the ballot box
against the votes Of the ignorant and pronigate
foreigners, WHO crowd around them and vote
agreeably to the orders of the political and eccle-
siastica demagogues, who rule and sustain them.
Each State prescrbes the qualifications of voters
within lis own limits, and may, at its pleasure
import voters from the prisons and penitentiares
the warehouses and galleys, the haunts of ban
dit and all the receptacles of ignorance and vice
with which Europe abounds. The remedy against
these evils lies not within the power OF Congress,
but in the States themselves
Now what want, and what believe
Governor Briggs would make any sacrifice to Sc
cure to the country is, that the great political
parties should adopt the principle of entire cxclu-
sion from the ballot box, and from the privilege of
holding offices of power and trust, all foreigners,
of whatever nation or sect! And especially all
those, who, whether naturalized by national
laws or not, still owe allegiance to a foreign
prince and avow their adherence to his spiritual
/ O,,r atta N tha al