The daily union., 1854-10-20
TO THE HON. JOHN NJ CLAYTON, UNITED STATES
SENATOR.
WASHINGTON, October 10, 1855.

held by most private individuals Such seems to have been
the view taken by Mr. d. Rodney King and in his judg
men you have coneurTed by furnishing him with letter
for publication upon Of the important issues of the
day But you should remember that there are Others who
take interest Ia what you may think besides the gentle
man who has, on his part and suppose with the
sent Of his particular friends rendered you the nomna-
ton for the presidency On behalf Of Of my partcu-
lar friends also take the liberty offnquirng further into
those topics upon which by Of your late sickness
you have not expressed yourself fully could have
been desired by your admirers.
regret learn that YOU to be regarded as a
candidate for the presidency At this late period in the
it is certainly eNpeden that the great Of the
country should declare their wishes their friends and
the public But nevertheless il is impossible to do other
wise than appreciate the of your deenaton Dur
ing the time that You in the cabinet of General ay
lor the position of political affairs certainly did not make
the presidential chair desirable office did subsequent
demonstrate that such charms had readily
atainable.
am surprised TO hear that the year 1856 is present
such extraordinary questions TO the popular judgment
do well how the Willingness of the American peo-
pie share with aliens the right of governing this nation
the baot-box, these aliens can make dec
aratou of intention then arise In other States than
Delaware the alien cannot vote until he has resided for
fixed period in the country after having declared his
ton 10 become citizen. that any party
has proposed abridge this of probation and
constrained inquire what Syblllue volume you
have derived the intelligence Of this coming movement.
Nor understand precisely what you by inqui
ring if the American people prepared share with
aliens every blessing and benefit conferred upon them
American citizens and to give them of the
public domain; for independently of the grammatical
inaccuacy of the sentence advantage blessing has
proposed for such have entered upon their proba
tionary of citizenship that intended for the
advantage of the unsettled portions of the country
which they might thus find their WAY
But my dear sir you peculiarly indstnct upon the
very subject concerning which "n. Rodney King was
most soicous to have your views Now there no mis-
taking his meaning He the part of himself and his
friends desires TO know if you will pledge yourself
cude from all civil Offices persons who do possess the
requisite constitutional qualifications for President and
Vice President of the United States except in the case
foreign diplomatic commercial agencies Othertciss
What does 'oterrise' Hean? Now the President must
be BatiUs born and what D. Rodney King desired know
of you you would not when you were elected Pres-
dent exclude from Office all except nave-born citizens
But what have you said Why that "oLer circumstances
bsag equal" the native citizen is entitled TO preference in
the distribution of honors and Offices"
Ny dear sir cannot think that this reply will be sats-
factory to I'D. Rodney King Suppose that other crcus-
stances not equal If language anything you
intend to say that you will then give preference TO the
forsgnborH citizen provided be happens have superior
qualifications the native applicant fhis resolves it,
the applicants who may in the judgment of the APP
pointing power be best fitted for the duties of the office
without respect TO his place OF birth No has said
than this and YOU, of all men, should not fall into
creed deusive sustained you by the appreciation
of ID. Rodney King and his friends who think other
wise
curious also to know the precise relation existing
between The present Of or NATURALIZATION laws and
the number of foreign paupers in this country According
your view il is the arrival of the pauper that is the evil
II you prevent the paapec from becoming citizen during
his lifetime from holding places of trust and honor
will that hinder him from coming here, from being
pauper when he does come 2 You that you
desire place check upon the immigration of pauper
The naturalization laws mentioned by mistake Be
ing citizep does not bring wealth. enable
keep his money. wish tptd B2uld it rot be a happy
circumstance
Nor my dear sir can see how change in the natural
iEaon laws will prevent criminals from sometimes taking
refuge in this country. We have laws which could re-
strain this now and Congress pass more but you
cannot hinder thief who the prison behind him,
from flying from his country and this land If
you tell him that he shall vote when he is in safety
Tie for general enanchsomeut and in pursuit
Of the elective franchise, YOU would seem insnuae
The peace of society would be equally danger from his
presence If I'll tip naturalization laws were repealed
wonder sir with you, 0pniO. that the country has be-
,hg Botany Bay Or Europe aud that 4le loa coa
vic reekng &c obtains access so readily TO this
try you have proposed remedy during your long
gressiona life for such evil You have been sentinel
the wach-ower for years We should have heard
your alarm before if you sincere In your appr
hension OF danger or had been an industrious patriot
You say, sir, that you would to it that Of
any sect whose creed teaches them to deny religious ol
RATION 70 yo should bold office power here perse
cute for our religious optnions gqw sir is this meant
or Is it idle language only take il or graHsd yCu
to Catholics though ypn DO not say 80. Are you aware Of
any Office that Catholic hold IL ihs pauntgy which
will enable him to persecute you or mo? Can he obtau
any power by which lie do it? You know, sir that
he cannot and that this strong rhetorical expression of
yours mas really glnanng point whatever There Is
not the least necessity of your eEpo-ig yogr valuable life
in the cause oil Protestant Freedom or as yQO aEo tEat
you arc wng in behalf Of The pcrsrcned OF the Catholic
church You expose it, sir, unless YOU impFu
dent enough deliver oraons IN e opeu air these cool
October evenings There Is in such OF Lgsl
even more risk Of catarhs than OF marty riom.
But, sir the closing paragraph Of your letter sou y
that a nstive-boru citizen under equal qualifications Of
merit is better entitled 2 the honor and offices ,hs
country than a foreigner whether naJurGlzed % Hgt
will not repeat what have already said the uncertainty
in which you leave the question by deciding between those
ouv who have eqpa qa1i!fe1ttons twould be however
very agreeable to me il could learn from you shat Offices
foreigner car hold in this country il be is natural
lied either by the laws Of the general government
any Of the States or under the constitution that
domestic ofces-for you have yourself justified the ap-
pontment in certain contingencies of foreigners
suIates and to positions requiring familiarity with the
countries in which they may act think you will admit