The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-04
lmpos s~s.1 Letter from John nj, Ciuysun ON
sns PHessdency, Know Noshlnsisns, sc.
PHILADELPHIA, july q 1864

PHILADELPHIA, July 2, 1854
aY DEAR SIR-Mspy of your fellow citizens, deeply
imn-ssd ~ith the importance Of hsving Al the Offices
spd in'. men, free from the prejudice and gao
rs CO Of in utons which foreign BIRTH edu Ation
and influence apt to produce and also fssng high
iespec; tor your personal character aud adupg the
soity disp Jed b. in conducting the s.is OF
nation whilt ling station but little tuero- in res
possibility TO that o. President Of the United States him
sell are ercoursged to hope, from Of ists
speeches 10 the Of the United States
tha, coincide with them In sentiment AID tbat yod
will enSeavcr to carry their vie~s BY soosenng to
be their candidate highest once withio their gift
sr 'SS hs ,a.y 70 = you w con-
yourself to exclude from alt civil Offices persons who do
not poaess the requisite constitutional qusldoa,n
for filing the Offices of President Vice President Of
the United states except in Of foreign iplom4tic
or mercis agencies otherwise whore The services
Of Ierso poee-Ssipg the aforementioned qualifications
ct b5 commanded without detrment 20 the public
interest
The opnion f.esy expressed BY you in deb.ti,g the
question prf minent btfore the opls
fully acquainted with your views in regsrd to tnem.
Ivi M rely add, that Dsith-r myself those for
society or organization, bat are simply actaasrd oy
dshe to what consider avery saussry
s:ss's sS" S; '',
d. RODNEY KING.
MR.. cLAyroN's LETrsR.
WAHISGToS August 8. 1854
severe sickness since ths receipt Of oar letter of the 81
uitimo has prevented me from keeping no my cores
an immediate answer Let bso theo by replying to
your iincips question respond to taat by declaring
frankly that pe7er was am not and shall be
candic ate Tor the Presidency have seen erorgh OF
1t to form decide opinion that for tnsre posi-
ton 10 this country less desirable shall be coutsns
With the seat in the senate Of tbs United States which
the klId psrtiaity OF friends in my native State In
sgred 10 ne Indeed. would not excnGnge il for any
1hs year 1863 must decide momentous issue in this
country Arr the American people prepared to share
with aliens the right OF governing this nation at tie ta
Ali ran max lar. aflnn
Of intentionf ;hey may, snd often do make do
cinrston within week, or evspa d.y, after Landing
our soil Again, are the American PEOPLE eareo to
share with aliens blessing and benebt conferred
uFen th as Ameri an citizens, and to give them
share Of the lpbiic conainf BY the Nebraska I'll
Congress- has conferred upon the the right Of voting
and by the Homestead bill, which Ia still pending
ba1s Of pen nesn b 70 nave :.
With native apd paturalizsd citizens. Again, the ames
car people must cecde whether, other ccumsfa sces
sire equal the native citizen .ct fsirl, eutit ed
to preference IN the distribution of honora eni oces
in tie covntry which gave him birth
The ststs o. my heath VII not PEI nit -as to eiscus
these questions in ette- Our ast1rs,za lion ,aw
urquesansbiy effective orr sinnshausss would 20
nov be hIsd With paupers Or the 1871 900 7sup.rs in
The Crited sttes, 66 eco fore gres and 66 CO
tiyes II as Of havs swsusd TIE jLls OF
Europe hsve poured their contents into the couotr and
TIE feon roDsict reekiDg from murder 10 Europe
who had the fortune to escape punishment .or any
other crime abroad essiy gains naturalization here by
ped states Our souns, has become so.aoy d sy
into Which Europe annually discharges her rmSah OF
every description
have yseiudices against the honest forsigns Who
come here 10 ssek asylum from the tyranny o. rulers
abroad All my sympafhiss with them, and when
they be,one naturaized will dsfenc them. Ameri
car citizens IL ali their rights, fully those born
the so would IL cucste and pra:tce re g.ous tcle'a
tic in it's broacest sene but would to it that
meD CT SECT whose creed teaches them to ~
eious federation to and my country men, should
held 'ce here power Of kind TO persecute US for
our religious opinions No who ackno owledges aIle
glance TO any foreign cotentate power who holds
bse VI DER Obligations TO obey the edcts Of aay ouch
Iotenta'e power shall he by my vots, placed In any
Iest or flee under the Amszic government would
oeeDd the rights of OF al religions to the full
tent to which those rights by the Aneri
csD constitution But shils would advise every amsri
citizen to defend the religious rights Of all others
even at the hszagd of his life voulc at the tins
sovLe him to peril bis LIE not less freely in defsncs Of
his own
do rot undertake to enter into the subject how far
foleigp,rs who not paturaiize5 in this country,
should he permitted to hoid office. You will End that
jon lay down gsrsrA rule upon this subject to
which there Will not necessarily be exceptions 1t Ia
tuhcent for my purpose, standing IS do, without the
power, and without the vish to have the power.
10 confer Offices upon others, to say, that in my
judgn ent native American citizen under equal cir
cumstspcea OF qualifications aud merit is bette,
te to the honors and Offices Of the country thar for
tgner whesber nstpt allied o. not.
And now, ses king office from you your friends,
or any BODY else have the honor TO subscribe myself
yerJ sincerely and res2ectful.y your friend
JOHN CLAYTON.
D. RoDSkY KING Esq PhiladelphiA.