Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-30
he NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
RICHMOND WING.
10 CORRESPONDENTS.
Know Nothing Platform.


the following preamble and resolutions, which
adopted with great unanlmtyn by meeting Of these
people in Washington on the 21,h
where's, We believe In tho competency, ability, and
right OF Americau-born citizens to govern their
country; therefore
Resolved, That will not vote fol- assist in ele
waiting foreigners BY birth to Offices Of trust emoumen'
honor under government will vote for or
assist In eevating to such Offices suy American born c
zsns who recognise hold themselves under any allie
glance whatever to foreign prince potentste power
or authority
Resolved That the naturalization laws ought to be
totally repealed or materially altered and the term OF resi-
deuce before admission to the rights Of citizenship be e1
tended to the period Of twenty.one years.
These revolutions proposed by Mr.. Vespasian Els
LIS 'the selected aud prospective editor" of the forth
coming Know Nothing Organ; and, may be taken as an
accurate exposition Of the spirit and principles Of the as
ISOLATION The proposition respecting owing allie.
glance TO foreign government will command universal
assent Does the Phg endorse the balance Of the plat
lormf Will the Wing consent TO the exclusion Of all
foreigners by BIRTH from all offices Of trust emolument
or honor under the government" Does the Wig advo
cate repeal Of the naturalization laws extension OF
the terms OF probation TO twentyone years! We await
q response"
We take the above extract from yesterdays EnQni.
Ter. We give the entire article as it published
in the Enquirer, that it may be SEEM noted and
marked by every freeman OF the land, on what
grounds, and under what circumstances the, Enquirer
proribes ndre born american citizens Let it it not
be forgotten or overlooked, that the Enquirer has
now assumed that the above resolutions as published
by itself is 'the most out spoken and authoritative
enunciation of tile principles of the Know Nothing
party" And ito this complexion has it come at
las'" that free born American citizens are to be pro-
scribed, mathematical, denounced, read out Of the
pale of all political afintes," because they choose
to pledge themselves to the rule of action in primary
meetings." that will not vote for nor assist in ele
M
ment or honor, under our government nor will we
vote for or assist in elevaing to such Offices any
American born citizens who recognise or hold them
selves under any allegiance whatever to any foreign
prince potentate, power or authority" This SAYS
the Enquirer is the most out spoken and authorta-
tive eunnciation of the principles Of the Know Noth-
ing party" and for this the Enquirer denounccs the
Know Nothing party Be it so. As we have said
all along, we are not nor do we intend to be the
apoogsts or defenders of this know Nothing party,
But this we do say, in all candor, that there is moth
ing in this resolution for and account OF the adop
ton Of which shall prescribe, denounce, and out
law American citizens As republicans we adhere
IN good faith to the old rule of action "hat error
ceases to be dangerous when reason is lief, free to
combat it." Each citizen has right to his own rea-
son and the free exercise Of it. individually or in es
ISOLATED meetings with mis- fellow republicans and no
one has the right long as he or they are guilty of
no lawless invasion Of private rights or personal
privileges, and act within the restrictions of the laws
and constitution, to prescribe him or them for it, l.
does occur to us, that the prescription or tie Eagni
T6r, in this behalf is to say the least Of it, fully as
hsterodox and antirepublcan as is the rule of ac
ton" adopted by this resolution We can see no
difference in point of reason, right or Justice, in
American citizens agreeing to exclude foreigners
Tom power, because they foreigners, and the
Enquirer's prescribing American citizens because
they thus exclude foreigners Now two wrongs never
make right If the Know Nothings are wrong, is
not the Enquirer equally as much soY We leave this
question to be answered by others.
While on this branch of the Enguirers article and
before we proceed to the second resolution, on which
1t SO particularly catechses US We will observe that
this question of foreign influence is assuming most
serious ana alarming aspect, and challenges the
deliberate consideration Of rciectirg minds The
annual influx OF foreigners to this country is not
only alarmhgly increased, and is yet on the increase
but the character and moral worth of many of the
emlgrants IS becoming worse. We are not so blind
undscd who can be p as not to that the revolu.
hons IN Europe are causing the exodus Of large por-
ton oil The worst Of the European population This il
aetWhich requires cautious, sagacious far-reaching
snd patriotic legislation. Will the Enquirer assert the
ooctrne that the vast concourse Of uncducated des
tute foreigners, who daily land on our shores are rs
Bood citizens, aud as worthy to be trusted az our
naive born citizens? This il will not do This fact
Deing admitted, IS 1t treason to the Constitution
or rebellion against the republican spri. of our in.
sutuuons to ascertan,aualfy and restrict the political
lnot civil or socaD rights and privileges Of these
Foreigners? We think not, and however much we
may differ as to the scope, intent or extent of this
restri ctve policy, we unhesitatingy say, that we
would not aud do not prescribe its authors or those
who agree with them
We feel no embarrassment in answering tbo ,,,a,
tons propoundedb the Enquirer 1st Does the jy5g
endorse the balance Of the platform? Answer: We
DO not ID Will the Wig consent to the exclusion
OF oil Foreigners by birth" from all Offices Of trust
emoument or honor under the Government We
enter into no argument or Concert about such mat
and VIC adherct to the principles of action befor,
laid down, and do not intend in our support Of or
opposition to the candidates for Office to be in0u
snced the ono way the other by the question il h.
hnoW Nothing or an anti-Know Nothing il HI,
native born or adopted Sd. Does the Jyhig advo-
cate the repeal Of the naturalization laws or an
sion Of the term Of probation to twenty.one vo,r,
we do not advocate the repeal Of tho naturalz,Go,
""S' out VIC DO advocate material changes in the
naturalization laws and had supposed that the Ea1u
=" was convinced that the existing state of the pre-
sent laws on this subject required PROMPT and material
alteration in many particulars. The law. nc il no,y
stands, is imperfect and the source of great and
serious frauds
Having answered the Enquirer We will crave Ieavc
to ask 1t few plain, practical questions VIII the
enquire, oppose the alteration Of the naturalization
laWs' Does the Enquirer dsallow the right If
American citizens to prefer native born citizsns n,
Office TO foreigners by birth ?" VIII the Eaguiyey
support foreigner by birth" in preference to
native born citizen, who is in every way qualified for
the office, but who is a Know NothingY Does tho
B"7ur~ intend to be understood, that IL would pro.
Ter an hnti-Know Nothing, Freesoil politician 10 a
Know Nothing pro slavery Democrats How would
the Enquirer act in such an issue3 ave await
response"
Virginia Whig Sentiment
w. .ss.... r.