American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-13

statement of the grievances of which thcy
complain, and of the principles by which the,
design TO be governed; and this was considered
4All that was required upon the present occa
4l1n.
ADDRES
OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICAN CONVEN
TION OF BALTIMORE TO THE PUBLIC.
IN coming before their fellow citizens with a
brief exposition of the causes which have i'm.
PEELED them TO associate as American RepublI.
c2us, and declaration of the principles by
which they intend tn be governed, the members
~! the American Republican Convention OF the
City of Baltimore are fully aware OF the re-
spOusbties which they assume and the I'M
pnrtance of the position which they oct upy.-
Vet, as American citizens, deeply sensible of
Gheir OBLIGATION to maintain the free institutions
which are their boast and glory, they willingly
encounter the labOrs which will necessarily at
lend the effort to introduce into the administra-
sion of government, general, state and munich
pal those reforms which are required TO restore
pnrity, econuny and safety.
Ia the progress of partizan conflicts, the hon
or, the interests, aud the welfare Of the nation
have been sacrificed. In the struggle for vic
tory, abuses have been introduced and tolerated
strike at the foundation Of American liberty
Foreign influence has been courtcd and adopt
o i citizens encouraged to band together as dis
tuct orders Of society, and having interests
separate from tho mass of their ielloW-ctizenS
uunaturali2ed foreigners have been urged to par
Licipate III our internal contests: thousands
nave been Illegally naturaliZed TO answer par
" purposes; and even men transported to this
country for their crimes, have been received in
10 our community as fellow citizens, and en-
bowed with the privilege of aiding in tho Sc
lection of our rollers of every grade. The cleo
i've franchise has become degraded and con-
temptible, and our elections no longer express
the sentiments Of the frcemen of this country.
The ballot-boX is corrupted by illegal votes;
and in short, every engine of fraud and cor
fuption has been set in motion, to disgrace the
american character, and to pave the way for
the overthrow of our Liberties.
Under these circumstances, and impressed
@ith the indispensable necessity of checking
Che downward course of the country, and Of re-
animatng the people with the principles which
characterized 0urrevolutonary sires, the Amer
ncan Republican party has been brought into
existence. They come before their fellow-citi-
Iens as body OF Americans, having no selfish
SE interested motives, but with the stern resolve
10 correct abuses; retrench expenses; and purge
The nation of those influences which are des-
GToying the public happiness and impairing con-
fsdence IN the efficiency OF our republican insti-
tutions.
They entertain no hostility to foreigners nor
tiaVe they any disposition whatever to prescribe
them from the full and free exercise of all the
privileges and advantages Of our common coulI-
try; but they do contend ''that the peculiar
form and nature of our government require,
that the right of suffrage should not be extend
ed to the foreigner until he has resided among
tbs, not only long enough to learn the letter OF
our constitution and spirit of our laws, but I'M
I'll he shall have had sufficient time completely
and entirely to diVest himself of all prejudice
tor the government and country of his birth and
education and to have become so incorporated
with the genius of our Institutions so imbued
with q love of our country, and SO identified
with the welfare and perpetuty of our govern
nIent, as 10 be in spirit and in fact, as truly
American as though to the "manor born
Then, and not till then, should the foreigner be
privileged to take part in making our laws,
maintaining our government, and conducting
che great interests of our nation. Entertain
ing these sentiments, the Convention believe
that a change in the naturalization laws is i'm
pcriously required, and will use their best en-
beavers to procure it.
They most distinctly and unequiyocaly disa-
vow any intention to interfere with the reli-
gious opinions of individuals They hold reli-
glon TO be matter exclusively between man
and his Creator, and for which he is not respon-
sble TO any human tribunal, so long he does
not disturb the order of society or violate any
law. They are hostile to any combination be-
tween Church and Statc-politics and religion
AS destructive of human rights, and danger
10 Thn g,
kind has shewn, that power cannot be safely
entrusted to any sect; and happily for the peo-
plc of the United States the constitution has
wisely guaranteed a perfect liberation of reli-
giOus opinion.
The members of the Convention are aware,
that distinctions have always existed and must
continue to exist IN society; but it may not be
unworthy of consideration whether the mass of
the people have Ell Dyed all the rights and pri-
vileges to which they are entitled. They are
Impressed with the conviction that il would be
advantageous to the public interests, if modest
and retiring citizens were more frequently re-
CURED to serve in public stations, to the exclu-
sion of the forward and ambitious asprants for
office, who too often look to distribution of
the spols of victory for compensation for
their labols, rather than to an approving con-
science, OF the respect of their felow-citizcns
II is apparent that the violent and vindc-
tive political conflicts in which the people of
The United States have been engaged for about
twenty years past, have been most injurious in
their effects, by weakening confidence in our
institutions deterioratng morals; and introduce
,ng corruption of the most fragrant character
1T is time that power should be exercised for
the common benefit of the country. and not for
the reward OF partlzln services; and that the
patriotic and vlftuous of all parties should unite
to cxtnguish selfish partzan warfare, and to
raise the nation from her degradation. On the
subject Of party spirit the American Republican
Convention of Baltimore, adopt the language of
the Father of his country Georgo \V,sIins..