The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21

AIIer the Close Ot the heVOlutlon, w ASH
ingsonsaid -
"The Irish volunteers merit the warm
est thanks OF America for their patriotism
and l hope that their countrymen who
have long struggled for liberty will
be Hospitality and cordially received
here"
Again on another occasion he used the
following patriotic languagc:-
+. "The bosom of America is open to re-
,ceiye notonly the opulent and respectable
stranger, but the oppressed and prosecuted
of all nations and all religions, whom we
shall welcome to a participation in all rights
and privileges.
We give also few extracts from Wash
ington, to show his opinion of the For
eigners he came in contact with. We give
the date of our extracts that their genuine
ness may not be suspected.
FoREIG GNERs IN THE REvoLUTToE.
OPINION OF WASHINGTON.
1t is common boast ofthe Catholics and
other foreigners, that we are greatly in
debted to foreigners for the success of Our
war of Independence, It's we'll, once in a
while to recur to the documents, and as
certain the truth of this matter. No man
had so good an opportunity as Washing
ton to know the character and usefulness
of these aliens, and we give some extracts
from his letters to show what estimate he
put upon them and their labors:
MoRRIsrowN, 18th May, 1777.
To Richard Henry Lee:
Dear Sir:-I take the liberty to ask you
what Congress expects am to do with
the many foreigners they have at different
times promoted to the rank of field officers,
and by their last resolve, two to that of
Colonel? These men hare no attachment to
the country, further than interest binds them
Our officers think it exceedingly hard, af-
ter they have toiled in the service, and have
sustained many losses, to have strangers
put over them, aChose merit, perhaps, is not
equal to their own, but whose e6ron!ry tgiH
take no denial. Its by zeal and activity
of our own people that the cause must be
supported, and not by a few Aungry adven-
1urers. am, DC.
G. WASHINGTON.
[Spsrks. Vol. ". p. 432.
MIDDLEBANK, June 1, 1777.
To Richard Henry Lee:
You will, before this can reach you,
have seen M.-D.-. What his real
expectations are, l know not, but fear if
his disappointment is equal to what | have
been told is his expectation, it will be at
tended with unhappy consequences, to say
nothing of the policy of entrusting de-
partment on the execution of which the
salvation Of the army depends, to a foreign
er, who has no other tie to bind him to the
interest Of the country than honors
tta G. WAsHlEdToN.
ESparks, Vol. ". p. 446.
WHITE PLAINS, July "a, 1878.
To Gov. Norris, Esq:
Dear Sr:-The design of this is to toucl,
cursorily upon subject of very great i'm
portance to the being of these States.
mean tho appointment of SO many foreign
ers to Offices Of high rank and trust in oul
service. Tho lavish manner in which rank
has hitherto been bestowed upon these
gentlemen will certainly be productive o.
one or other of these two evils, either tc
make US despicable in the eyes of Europe,
or become means of pouring them in up
on us like a torrent, and adding to ou'
present burden. II The
officers on whom you must depend, will mo-
submit much, if any longer, to the unnat
ural promotion of men over them, whC
have nothing moro than little pladsibili-
ty and unbounded bride and ambition
men, who, in the first instance, tell 20,
they wish for nothing more than the honol
of serving in SO glorious cause as volun
teers; the next day solicit rank withou
pay; the day following want money ad
vanced to them, and, in the course of;
week want further promotion.
lido most deUoutly 0ish that aOe had not a sin
gleforeigner among as except the Marquis
de Lafayette, who acts upon very differen
principles from those which govern tn
rest. G. WASHINGTON.
[Sparks, VOL VI.p. 49,.
TO these remarkable warnings of Wash
ingson we may add his caution, which we
have adopted as our motto, PUT NONE Blu
AMERICANS ON GUARD. Let us now Sc
#hat the Father of his Country thought 0
foreigners after the Revolution had sue
ceeded. While. he was President, wo hay
the following declarations.
, PHILADELPIiIA, Nov. II, 1894.
To John adams, Vice President Of the u S
Dear Sir!-My opinion with respect t
immigration is that, except of useful me
chanicsand some particular descriptions Q
men and professions, there is no need Q
encouragement. am, &C.,
G. WASHINGTON.
MouNr VERNON, Jan: go, 1899.
To John adams, Vice President ofthe y. S
You know my good sir, that it is not tn
policy of this country to employ foreigners
when it can well be avoided, either in th
civil or military walks oflife. There is
species of self-importancc in all foreign Of
ficers, that cannot be gratifed without do
ing injustice to meritorious characters, a
niong our own countrymen, who conceive
and Justly, that they are entitled to the oc
cupancy of all the offices in the gift of thei
government. u. WASHINGTON.
[Same date to foreigner, applying fO
Office
Dear Sir:-It does not accord with tn
policy Of this government. to bcstow off