Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-10-19
John NJ. Clayton on Foreign Influence aud Nat
unlint0n.

fz1--------
John N. Clayton on Foreign Influence aud Nat
uraliZation.
D. Rodney King Esq, Of Philadelphia.
in July last. addressed letter 10 Mr.. Clay.
ton. on foreign influence and the natural
ization question, also in.imating that there
were many citizens who wore DESTROYS Of
electing him (Clayton) President of the
United States. to which Mr. Clayton re-
turned the following answer, which has
just been published in the Philadelphia
Enquirer. il possesses considerable in
terest:
WAsuISGroN. Aug. s. 1854.
D. Rodney KINo. Esq-My Dear Sir:
--Protracled and severe sickness since the
receipt Of your letter Of the 81 ult., has
prevented mo from keeping up my cores
pondence. But for this your letter would
have received an immediate answer. Let
me begin then by replying TO your prnci-
pal question. respond to that by declar-
ing frankly that | never was.an no, now.
and never shall be. candidate for the
Presidency. have seen enough Of il to
form decided opinion, tina, for me. there
is no position in This country less desira-
BILE. | shall be content with the seat in
the Senate ofthe United States. which the
kind partially of friends in my native
State have assigned to me. Indeed, l
would not exchange it for any under tho
government.
The year 1856 must decide momont-
Gus issue in this country. Are the Amer
lean people prepared to share with aliens
the right Of governing this nation. at the
ballot box, rs soon as these aliens can
mako declaration Of intention? They
may. and often do mako such declnra
ton. within a week, or even day, after
landing on orr soil. Again, are the Amer.
icon people prepared to share with-aliens.
every blessing and benefit conferred upon
them as American citizens, and even to
give them a share Of the public domain?
BY the Nebraska Bill, Congress has con-
ferre1 upon them the right of voting. and
by the homestead bill, which Is still pen
ding, and 10 DO decided upon next winter.
they are to have an equal share Of the pub
lie domain, on the same terms with native
and natufalized citizens. Again, the
American people must decide whether,
other circumstances being equal, the ma
tive citizen 10 or is not fairly entitled TO q
preference in tho distribution Of honors and
Offices. in the country which gave them
birth.
The state OF my health will no, permit
me to discuss these questions in letter.
Our naturalization laws are unquessiona-
! bly, defective. or our almshouses would
no, now be filled with paupers. OF the
$4,000 paupers in the United States, 6S,-
600 are foreigners, and $4,000 natives.
The annals If crime have swelled as the
jails Of Europe have poured their contents
into the country. and the felon convict,
reekipg from a death 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 Bota-
ny Bay, into which Europe annually dis
charges her criminals Of every discrip-
ton.
have no prejudice agains, the honest
foreigner who comes hero to seek an nsy-
lum from the tyranny Of rulers abroad
All my sympathies are with them. and
when they become na,uralzed, Twill de-
fend them as American citizens, in oil their
rights, as fully as those born on the soil.
| would inculcate and practice religious
federation, in its broades, sense. but l
would see 10 il that no men Of any sect,
whose creed teaches Thorn to deny reli
gious liberation TO me and my countrymen
should ever hold office here, or power Of
opinions. No man who acknowledges al
legicnce TO any foreign poton,nte or pow
or. or who holds himself under obligations
TO obey the edicts Of any such potentate or
power. shall be by my vote placed in any
post or Office under the American Govern
mont. | would defend tho rights Of mon
Of all religions TO the full extern, to which
those rights are guaranteed by the Ameri-
can Constitution. But whle would I'D
wise every American citizen TO defend the
religious rights of all others, oven at the
hazard Of his life, | would at the same
time advise him TO peril his life not less
freely in defence of his own.
do not undertake to enter into the sub
ject how far foreigners, who arc not nat
uralized in this country. should be permit.
ted to hold Office You will find that you
can lay down no general rule upon this
subject. 10 which there will no, necessari-
ly be exceptions. 1t is efficient for my
purpose, standing as do. wi,hou, The pow.
or. and without the wish to have the power.
to confer Offices upon others. to say. that
in my judgement. a native American
citizen. under equal circumstances of
qualification and merit, is better entitled
to the honors and Offices Of tho country
than foreigner, whether naturalizod or
not.
And now, seeking no office from you
or your friends, or any body else, have
the honor TO subscribe myself. very siL-
cerely and respectfully. your friend.
JOHN Nj. CLAYTON.
D. Rodney King. Esq. Philadelphia. J