The true Democrat., 1855-12-11

Compare the words of the federalists of '87,
 and the law of the modern federalsts of Con- nectlcut, with the remarks of Mir. Rice, as to
 the 4wealthy counties and the 2, 100 ignorant
 voters of Jackson. The only just inference from his positions is, that wealth and learning are necessary ingredients of American citizen ship. This is the legitimate fruit of Know Nottingham. Let the "mass of the people, mark It, and remember that 1t will go hard with them when the staff of Jefferson is broken!
 An attempt IS made to confuse the public mind and delude the unsuspecting into the Know Nothing ranks, by harping on individual changes of position. Men who have been cal led democrats are now Know Nothings. Men who were wings are now democrats Because of these individual changes it is said that Know Nothingism is a new movement, not in consistent with democracy, and not akin to whlggery. Such reasoning is unworthy of a man Of candor and common sense The only just mode of testing political identity is by looking at abstract principle and party action, not by instancing the position of isolated per sons Apply this test to Know Nottingham, and the mind Is forced to the conclusion that it is utterly hostile to the democracy.
 The fact that certain men, once known as de- mocrats, have gone over to the enemy, surely ought not to convict such of us as have scorned to become renegades of desertion. We cheer fully admit that they have ceased to be demo- crats; but we object to any denial of our demo- cracy, based on heir fckleness. A short while back they stood with us, recognizing us as de- mocrats We stand precisely where we did then,-yet they now stigmatize us, for effect, as the "psemCloaemocracy." Such blazen eff frontery has no parallel in all history. When Judas lscarlot bargained away the body and blood of his master, conscience told him he was traltorous wretch, and he went out and hanged himself, in dospair.N Had he, with the thirty pieces in his purse, stih claimed to be a better christian than the eleven faithful disci- pies, he would not have evinccd more shame less Impotence than certain prominent " Know Nothing democrats
 The fact that some men who were Whigs are now ill our ranks, does not weaken our claim to genuine democracy The chivalrous men who have thus come to us, acted with the old whig party under the belief that it was not federal ln its origin or aims. Recent events have con- vlnced them of their mistake in this respect, and they have come to our standard renouncing every doctrine in conflict with ours As well might it be said that the christian church has ceased to be the church of Christ, because for mer non professors have been received into it, as that the democratic party has lost its idcnti- ty, because new members have been added to It. Its principles now are what they always were It IS the same party yesterday, to-day and forever It is the party of Jeiferson Ma dison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, and Pierce. It will live and triumph while the Union en- dures, and its death-knell will be the dirgc of the republic
 The statements of Mir Rice,-which are the immigration are easily refuted That part of the Know Nothing platform which refers to the importation of "felons and paupers' is mere clap-trap, intended to humbug the people, and at least three lourths of the platform is ol the same material and for the same purpose. No man or party i'll the Union desires the trans mission to our shores of beggars or criminals 50 far as the general government can act in the matter, the present administration has already gone. Foreign courts have been remonstratel with, and have promised to send no more con victs and mendcants to the United States. The federal government can do no more in the pre- mlseS. It cannot constitutionally send away a single man, woman or child who may land on our shores. That i. exclusively within the iu. risdiction of the several States So that party extending 10 more than one State ha, nothing l to do with the immigration of felons and pau pera.
 It is common assertion that the native oiti- zens of our scaboard cities, are burthenel with onerous taxes for the support of foreign paupers Mr. Rice instanced New York as case ill point. This is great mistake. Every immi- Srant,-rlch or poor,-who lands 1t New York pays tax of two dollars to the city authorities and the amount thus realised exceeds the sum annually expended for the relefof foreign pau perS. The truth is that in New York, both foreign and native paupers are mostly support ed by the immigrant tax.
 The influx of beggars is small as comparcd with the whole number of honest and aborious immigrants. These last always bring money with them, and, according to neutral papers, add to our national wealth at the rate of twen- ty-three millions of dollars per year. This fact ought to silence the deceitful clamor about 1 "paupers."
 Know Nothings, MT. Rice of the number. say that the five years law is unjust to na- tlves. .-that home born Americans must be 2l years old before voting, and that foreigners should remain here at least as long. These same Know Nothlngs profess an extravag mt love tor the patriots of the rcyolution and for our grand old democratic Presidents Yet they deliberately outrage the memory and attempt to b acken the fame of these heroes ant states men. They say the five years law is unjust Washington made It a law,--J efferSon restored 1t, and hlSsucccssors have kept 1t on the nation al statute book These men are charged with sanctloning injustice! Of all the Presidents, John Adams, the arstocrat and monarchist alone was opposed to the five years law; of all the Presidents, he only Is not censured by the Know Nothings
 Know Nothings pretend to find warrant for their intolerance in that clause of the constitu- ton which excludes foreigners from the Presi- dcncy and Vice-P residency. The truth is, it directly condemns them. The framers of the constitution considered the whole question, and
 intended finally to dispose of it by making the restrictions mentioned. Iftheir sympathies had been as the Know Nothings say, they would have prohibited foreigners altogether from holding oi1ice Some of them were in favor of thls, but only such as were afterwards known and avowed federalists. James Madison made speech againstit.
 Know Nothlngs have patent trick of quot ing garblsd extracts from the old republican fathers. For instance, they use part of Washlngton's farewell address, on the subject of foreign lnfuence," as an argument in their behalf. This is wilful p,rversion. Washing ton referred solely to interference by foreign go- ue,ranaents with onr internal affairs. He could not have referred to the influence ofmmigrants, for his most trusted adviser-Alexander Hamil- ton-was of foreign birth. Any one will per- ceive the correctness of this construction by reading the adnress itself,-no the garbed ex- tract.
 In like manner, Washington's opinion as to giving office to toregn-born men is distorted- During the revolution, hordes of adventures came here from Europe,-many of them were mere mercenaries. They expected to remain during the war and then to return. With the single exception of the Marquis de Lay fayette Washington thought they should not have off, flee; but at no time did he express such an opinion as to foreigners who came with the de- sign of passing their lives among us. Between such foreigners and natives,-as his acts show he made no distinction. The example of o,L, .r .l.