Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-07
Reply of Mr. Clayton.

iss
Ny DEAn SIN: Protracted and severe sickness SINCE
the receipt Of your letter Of the Sd utmo has
me from keeping up my answer
Let begin then, by replying to your principal ques
ton respond to that by declaring, frankly, that
was, not now, and never shall be candidate
for the Presidency Ihaye seen enough Of it to form
decided opinion that for there is no position in this
country less desirable shall be content with the seat
in the Senate of the United States which the kind par
TALLY Of friends in my native State has assigned to
Indeed would not exchange it for any under the Gov
eminent
The year 1856 must decide momentous issue in this
country. Are the American people prepared to share
with aliens the right Of governing this nation, at the bal
lot-box, these aliens make declaration OF
intention They may, and often do make such decara
ton within week, day, after landing on our
soil Again are the American people prepared TO share
with aliens every blessing and benefit conferred upon
them American citizens and to give them share
of the public domain? By the Nebraska bill Congress
has conferred upon them the right Of voting and by the
homestead BILL which is still pending and to be decided
upon winter thoy to have equal share Of the
public domain, the terms with native and ma
turalized citizens Again the American people must de-
eide whether other circumstances being equal, the
tive citizen is or not fairly entitled preference in
the distribution Of honors and offices in the country which
gave them birth. I
The state Of my health will not permit to discuss
these questions in letter. Our naturalization laws
unquestionably defective, almshouses would not
now be filled with paupers. OF the one hundred and
thirtyour thousand paupers in the United States sixty
eight thousand foreigners and sixty six thousand ma
tives The annals Of crime have swelled the as of
Europe have poured their contents into the country and
the felon convict reeking from murder In Europe or
who has had the fortune to escape punishment for any
other crime abroad easily gains naturalization here by
spending part Of five years within the limits of the
United States. Our country has become Botany Bay
into which Earope annually discharges her criminals Of
every description.
have no prejudices against the honest foreigner who
comes here to seek an asylum from the tyranny of rulers
abroad All my sympathies are with them, and when
they become naturazed will defend them as American
citizens in all their rights, fully as those born on the
soil would nculcate and practice religious federation
in its broadcast sense bat would see to that no men
of any sect whose creed teaches them to deny religious
liberation to and my countrymep should ever hold
Office here power Of any kind to persecute US for our
religious opinions No who acknowledges allegiance
to any foreign potentate power or who holds himself
under obligations to obey the edcts Of any such poten
tate or power shall be by my vote placed in any post
Office under the American Government would defend
AAAA S~SSAs -
which those rights are guaranteed by the American Con-
stitution But while l would advise every American
citizen to defend the religious rights of all Others even
at the hazard of his c would at the same time advise
him to peril his life not less freely in defence Of his own
do not undertake enter into the subject how far
foreigners who are not naturazed in this country
should be permitted to hold office. You will ind that
YOU can lay down no general rule upon this subject to
which there will not necessarily be exceptions. It is
sufficient for my purpose standing as do without the
power and without the wish to have the power to confer
Offices upon others, say that in my Judgment native
American citizen under equal circumstances of quahca-
tons and merit is better entitled to the honors and Offices
Of the country than foreigner whether naturali1ed
or not.
And now, seeking Office from You or your friends,
or any body else, have the honor to subscribe myself
Very sincerely and respectfully, your friend,
| JOHN NJ. CLAYTON.
| D. RODNEY KING, Esq, Philadelphia.