The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-10-19
Esr. CIaytOn on the Amcricam
A Principle.


Esr. Clayton Os the American
s. Principle. @
The following letter was written by Mr..
Clayton, in answer to Mr.. D. Rodney King,
of Philadelphia, who addressed him on the
subject Of the next Presidency. 1t is rem
dered interesting at the present time be-
cause supposed to contain an exposition of
the principles Of the Know Nothings, about
whom the public hear much but kaow lit
tie.
WAsnrNeroS, Aug. 8, 1854.
ID. RoDSEY KINo, Esq.-My dear Sir
Protracted and severe sickness, since the
receipt Of your letter ofthe Sd ultimo, has
prevented me from keeping up my cores
pondence. But for this your letter would
have received an immediate answer. Let
me begin by replying to your principal
question. Irespond to that by declaring
frankly, that never was, am not now, and
never shall be, a candidate for the Prisiden-
cy. l have seen enough Of it to form a
decided opinion, that for me, 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.
tialisy of friends in my native State has as
signed to me. Indeed, l would not ex-
change 1t for any under the government.
The year 1856 must decide moment.
Gus issue in this country. Are the Amer.
lean people prepared to share with aliens
the right of governing this nation, at tn,
ballot box, as soon as those aliens can make
declaration ofintention? they may, and
often do, make such declaration, within
week, oreven day after landing on ou
soil. Again, are the American people pre-
pared to share. with aliens, every blessin!
and benefit conferred upon them as Amer
lean citizens, and even to give them a shar
OF the public domain? BY the Nebrask
bill, Congress has conferred upon them tn
the right of voting, and the Homestead bill
which is still pending, and to be decide,
upon next winter, they are to have an G
qual share of tho public domain. on tn
samo terms with native and naturalized cit
Izens. Again the American people mus
decide whether, other circumstances bein
equal, the native citizen is or is not fairl
entitled to a preference in the Distribute
OF honors and offcesin the country whic
gave them birth.
The state of my health will not PERM
me 10 discuss these questions in lette
Oar Naturalization laws are unquestionabl
detective, or our almshouser would not b
hlied with paupers. OfLhe 1874, 900 pau
pers IN the United States, SO, 900 are fol
eigners and 66 900 are natives. The ar
nsls OF crime have swelled as the iails {
Europe have poured their contents int
the country, aud tho felon convict, reekin
from murder in Europe, or who has ha
'he fortune to escape punishment for an
otner CRIME abroad, easily gains natural
zation here by spending part of five yeal
within the limits of the United States.-
Our country has become Botany Bay in
TO winch Europe annually discharges he
criminals of every description.
have no Prejudices against the hone.
foreigners who come here TO sock an asy
lum from the tyranny of rulers abroad. =
All my sympathies are with them, an
when they become naturalized | will dt
fend them,as American citizens, in all the
rights, as fully as those born ON the SOIL
l would inculcate and practice religion
liberation, in its broadcast sense but woul
see to It that no men Of any sect, who's
creed teaches them to deny religious toll
ration to me and my countrymen, shouI
ever hold Office here, or power Of any kin
to prosecute us for our religious opinion
No man who acknowledges allegiance to
ny foreign potentate or power,or who hol'
himself under obligations to obey the
diets of any such potentate or power. sho
be my vote placed in any post or Office Vi
der the American government. wou
defend the rights of mon of all religions
the full extent to which those rights a
guaranteed by the American Constitutio
But while / would advise every America
citizen to defend the religious right of q
others, evenat the hazard Of his life. Iwou
at the same time advise him to peril h
life not less freely in defence of his ow
do not undertake to enter into the sui
ject how far foreigners, who are not ma
uralized in this country, should be permi
ted to hold office You will find that yo
can lay down no general rule upon tn
subject, to which there will not necessaril
bo exceptions. 1t is sufficient for any pu
pose, standing as do, without the powe
anl without the wish to have the powe
to confer Offices upon others to say, that
my Judgment, anative American ci,ize
under equal circumstances Of qualification
and merit, is better entitled to the honol
and Offices of the country than foreigne
whether naturaizad or not.
And now, seeking no Office from you c
your friends or any body else, have IL
honor to subscribe myself, very sincerely
and respectfully,
Your friend,
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
D. Rodney King, Esq, Philadelphia