Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-15
Z s.rs,zsaxa .ese ron THE AMERICAN ORGAN
yindication Of the Know-Nothings'' OF
Ingratitude TO Foreigners.


vindication Of the ssKnow-Nothings" Of
Ingratitude TO Foreigners.
Some Of the leading public journals Of the coun-
try accuse the Know Nothings of ingratitude To
foreigners, at the same time they portray, in
bright, glowing, and living colors, their eminent
and important services in glorious struggle for
independence Without stopping to discuss the
rich details OF moral learning the grateful emo
tons Of the mind, the glowing sympathies OF the
human heart, shall content myself with plain
and faithful detail Of historic facts leaving an en-
lghtened people to deduce therefrom such conclu-
sions as their good sense and sound judgment
shall indicate. The concession Is willingly and
cheerfully made, that foreigners did render the
country important aid and assistance in onr strug-
gle for independence. This has never been de-
MED, but the obligation no longer remains, as we
expect to demonstrate.
History informs us that soon after the declara-
ton Of independence in 1915, England lost no
time in the attempt to punish and humble her re-
bellious subjects las she was pleased to call them)
for daring to be free
Fearful, indeed, was the situation Of the colonists
at the time, gloomy in the extreme the prospect
ahead for their success without the necessary and
indispensable munitions Of war; or the means Of
procuring them The country divided between
Wing and Tory, and England never more power
full both by land and sea, country has little to
hope for and everything to fenr. Bloody and ter
rible conflicts very soon followed. The country
devasted, the dwellings Of the opulent reduced to
ashes; fire, sword, rapine, plumber, and the most
savage warfare, was the order Of the day; and in
this great extremity we invoked and obtained aid
and assistance from France, the old and steady en-.
envy Of England.
This nation has repeatedly and frankly ac-
knowledged foreign merit, military skill personal
bravery, and eminent services in the war Of the
Revolution.
Did Congress ever enact law rewarding revo-
lutionary services exclusive of foreigners wherein
they fought and bleds Did Congress, or the peo-
pie, forget LafayetteS And where now are the
heroes of the Revolution to be found! The an
swer is, in the silent tomb, to which they have
nearly all, if not all, descended, swept honored,
and sung" "Peace to their names, honor to their
dust" If this is true in point of fact is not the
The several acts of Congress placed all the officers
and soldiers of the Revolution of equal grade, rank
or merit upon an equality, and equality is equity,
a maxim as old as equity ITSELF Wherein then,
consists the ingratitudeY 1t is not perceived by
the writer. This government recognises no in
heritable rights, no privileges, no immunites but
equal religious rights and protection of person and
Ill
Every citizen, therefore, must stand or fall, on
his personal merits--his virtues--his talents-his
love of country, and its free, and enlightened in
situations; this is the only rule of decision, and 1t
is believed to be the only true and proper rule Our
sonscript fathers Patres conscripti] lin great
humility of soul duplicated the protection and
tender mercies of Almighty God, in their struggle
for freedom, and, it would seem, that it was His
good and divine pleasure to turn the hearts and
minds Of the people, in love and confidence, TO the
immortal Washington for their Achilles, in war
their Ulysses, In council The Lord God selected
him for his anointed; he filed his heart with piety !;
his mind with great fortitude and irmness, virtue
and patriotism; elevated his thoughts and strength
ened and enlightened his judgment; at the same
unie ChhiliB MS DRIVE anu hoDfe comphtriob IN
arms, to rally around him-to listen to his sage
council; to feel as he felt and to love the country
which he loved, and freely to pour out their blood
in its defence. Success crowned the glorious
struggle. The angel Of mercy lowered around our
little, noble Spartan band, while God, through his
servant 1.-THE commanderin-chicf) guided and d.
rected its glorious efforts. IL the Lord God was
for us, what arm Of fesh could fully oppose usf
Upon the consummation Of this great and glori-
GUS epoch in our counrys history, the whole peo
pie [exclusive Of the tories with one voice, one
heart, one soul, hailed with inexpressible JOY the
newborn national day Of American Independence,
while there fingered on the walls Of Gods holy
temples the sacred and hcavcn-kindling anthem of
praise and glory to God on high, for his infinite
goodness and mercy toa struggling and oppressed
people. To whom, then, is gratitude and alteration
properly duo' Fiat jsstifia, r,aat eaiups."
AnrIE.