Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-17
From the Richmond Enquirer.
AMERICANISM NOTHING NEW


tsThe American party presents no novelty IN its
creed to the Republican. The Federal Constitution
niadesiR 1857, and signed Geo. Washington is
Native American document all over. Even the " for
egne1so that helped to make that instrument, and
that fought shoulder to shoulder with our fathers
from.1776 to 1888, had the sense and Judgment to
see-that the Executive branch of the Government
that is, one-third of it Legislative branchwith
the power of executing the laws BESIDES must be q
'native" and they insisted upon it. They gave
that native" executive the power of originating
and making treaties and they put in his hands ex-
clusively the Army and Navy of the United States
with the militia of the several States, when called
into action by the United States. The presiding
officer of the Senate must be native" too-that
presiding officer who presides over that branch of
the government which ratlhes treaties, lmpeacheS
Judges and makes all combinations of Office, and
thus holds indirectly all patronage and Federal pow
Our fathers, too, gave Congress the power to
make uniform naturalization laws, and so took
from the States to give to the Federal power the
right of making, not making, citizens of foreign
ers at ALL Upon the qualification of Senators and
Representatives in Congress, our fathers also i'm
posed certain &c native elements, which go a great
ways to keep authority in American hands. What
is worthy of note foreigners themselves, in 1887,
all the justice of and the necessity of, these re-
strictions. Such foreigners as Albert Gailatin, a
SwitZcr man, cheerfully concurred in them, though
they might cut him off from being President or Vice
President"
So, then the American party is no "ism"--no
new light-no novelty-no oddity-but the old Or
ton Benjamin Franklin, &C., of 1887. 1t re-fXes
the public eye upon the polar star Of the Federal
Constitution.
These declarations evince an ignorance, gross
perverson, of the history, spirit and provisions of
the Federal Constitution. Every portion of that
sacred instrume 1T is characterized by the wis
dom and patriotism, and demands the fullest popu-
lar sanction. While it is true that the Constitution
provides that the President and Vice President must
be nativeb born citizens-it is, at the time no
less true, that it leaves every other office in the
Government open alike to the naturalized and ma
tive citizens. Modern Know-Nothings would frame
a very different instrument from what handed
down to US by such men as Washington, Madison,
Franklin and Hamilton. They would patch togeth-
Constitution in accordance with their platform
and the various councconstitutons, by which eUe-
ry office in the Government would be closed against
naturaiiZed citizens.
In the Convention, which adopted the Federal
Constitution, there man who avowed doc
trines similar to those of modern Know othngs-
Gouverheur Morris. While the question of the
qualification of Senator was under debate he moved
insert I" fourteen instead of four years citizen
ship"-but the movement was strenuously repealed
by many illustrious men and patriots in the body.
g Mr. Madison { we quote from the dcbate) not
to restrictions this subject but could
not agree to the proposed amendment. He thought
any restriction, however in the Constitution, I'M
necessary and improper; unnecessary, because the
national legislature is to have the right of regua-
ting naturalization, and can by virtue thereof, fix
different periods Of residence, conditions of en-
joying different privileges of citizenship; improper,
because it will give tincture of iberality the
Constitution; because it will put it out of the power
of the national legislature, by the special acts
of naturalization, to confer the full rank of citizen
ship on meritorOus strangers and because it will
discourage the most desirable class of people from
emgratng to the United States Should the proposed
Constitution have the intended effect of giving sta
bility and reputation to our government, great num-
bers of respectable Europeans, who love liber-
ty, and wish to partake its blessings will be ready
to transfer their fortunes hither. Ill such arouM
feel The mortifcation Of being "uuae,s otth suspt-
cious anticipations, thought they should not covet
the public honors"
Dr. Franklin spoke against the motion of Gou-
verneur Morriss. The people of Europe" said the
philosophic Franklin, are friendly to this country.
Even in the country with which we have been lately
at war, we have low, and had during the war,
great many friends, not ONLY amcng the people at
large, but in both Houses Of Parliament. In every
other country in Europe, at the people friends
We found in the course Of the Revolution, that many
strangers served faithfully and that many natiUes
took part against their country When foreigners,
after looking about after some other country in
which they obtain more happiness, give the
preference for ours, it is a proof of attachment
which onght to excite confidence and affection"
MIR. Wilson said he rose with feelings which
perhaps peculiar; mentioning the circumstance
of his not being native, and the probability, if the
ideas of some gentlemen should be pursued of his
being ncapacated from holding place under the
very Constitution which he had shared in the trust
plexon which the motion would give the system,
and the effect which good system would have in
inviting mertorious foreigners among US, and the
encouragement and modification they must feel
from the degrading discrimination proposed
He had himself experienced this NOR tication. On
his removal into Maryland, he found himself, from
defect of residence, under certain legal ncapacities
which never ceased to produce chagrin, though he
assuredy did not desire, and would not have accep
ted the offices to which they related. He cited
Pennsylvania a proof of the advantages of n
couraging emigration. 1t was, perhaps the young
est settlement Except Georgia. the Atantic yet
it at least among the foremost in population
and prosperity. He remarked that almost all the
general officers of the Pennsylvania line of the late
army were foreigners, and no complaint had ever
been made against their fidelity merit. Three of
her deputies to the Convention (Mr. r. Norris Mr..
FitZsmmons, and himselD also not natives"
Mr.. Madison also stated insthc course Of his re-
marks the qualification of foreigners, that .'Amer
lea was indebted to emigration for her settlement
and prosperity. That part of America which had
encouraged them most, had advanced most rapidly
in population, agriculture, and the arts"
Where is the congeniality of these opinions and
the spirit of the great men, who framed the Constitu
tons with the doctrines of modern Know n 9TH
ingism?
Under the present the Constitution, every office
in the Government but two is open alike to the ma
turaized and native citizens. The Memphis Appeal
shows conclusivey that this is at much constitu-
tional provision that which declares that the
President and Vice President shall be natiUes only.
Now let suppose secret political organization of
foreignborn citizens in this country, banded togeth
and sworn to vote for no man for President and
Vice President, but one of their own order-a for.