Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-20
Lottar nom D S Dickinson on Nativeis,n


Ny DiAR STR: On my return 10 my residence
n few days SINCE from professional engagement
abroad. found your favor Of "A lutte date inqui
ring fpr my views touching the principles Of the
f" American or Know Nothing" organization.
Before found time 10 answer, | was hurried to
this place 10 attend the Court of Appeals, now
in So sion. where the business in which ann en-
gagged affords little time or opportunity for cor.
responding.
will, however, Us have no conccalment upon
public questions, borrow moment from my
pressing duties To say quite hastily, that have
no knowledge concerning the Qrd'r TO which you
allade, except such Us is acquired from publica'
tons purporng 10 give information upon the
subject, and must. therefore, coniiue myself to
such points a. ARE embraced within this range.
II is generally understood aud conceded TO be
secret society or organizat on, designed to act
politically IN The contests of the day. OF this
s.cret feature entirely dsapprove, aud am una
bic Ia understand by what necessity, real or sup
posed. il was dictated, or upon what principle II
en- be justified.
Free public discussion and open action on nil
public affairs are essential to beheallh may. 10
The very eXi-tence--of popular liberty aud the
day which finds the public mind reconciled Ia thu
secret movements political parties, will find
far ON our way to the slavery Of despoti,m. Il
good men may meet in secret for good pHrposas.
we can hive no assurance that bad men, under
The same plausible exterior, will not secretly SAP
the foundations of public virtue.
Whether am in favor of their platform upon
the question Of domestic slavery, must depend
upon whni il il ; or rather whether they in
fnYnr of minr If their platform is to be IL.
garded as including, uphoIding, or justifying such
political men-trocties rs the "personnl Liberty
Bill" recently passed into "A law by the Massu
ohusetts Legislature over the veto of Governor
Gardner, then pronounce il treason of the deep
est dye treason rank, unhlushiug and brazen-
deserving Of public reptcheu-on and cundgu
punishment. II upon this subject their platform
conforms 10 resolutions recently published pur
porting 10 be the Voice of II majority of The con
Sention assembled at Philadelphia, it is in sub
stance the same upon which | have stood far
years-npon which did not enter without cuunt
ing the consequences, and which intend To re.
lnquish only with life. have not now the-r
resolutions before me; but, as ! rccOllect th.n.
| approve them in substance rs sound national
doctrine ignore part of the Federal Con
stotion, either in theory or in practice, to oonrt
the popular caproes Of the moment, TO gain pub
lie station to minister to the necessities or in
! tirmities Of those in power. Nor can | GisirtSt
the soundness of principles, approved upon lull
consideration under high sense uf duty, becau
others may ehoase to adopt and embrace them.
cannot believe that any good can be accom-
| plshod by making the birthplace test of tidoli
! ~ or merit. II does not accord with, but is al
with the genius of our institutions. -
! Tint abuses have been pructsrd by the opppint
mrnt of fore gners to places of trust not suti
! GENTLY familiar with our constitution, laws, and
| social system, or TO which, from crcums stances.
they were unsuited, is probable. This. however.
! is in some respects common to native as well IA
naturalized citizens, and raises not from d.fec
tive system, bat from its erroneous administra
ton. 1t is in both respects the natural result o
| placing in the bands of the incompetent the dis
| trihaton of public patronage.
Upon the subject ofnaturalized citizens have
boon governed by considerations of justice AN,
! duty, and have designed to observe the spirit o
my ceuntry's constitution. When members o
! Congress engaged in stceplc chase. TO see VIII,
| should propose earliest, give most and vote loud
est, 10 ieel suffering ireland from the fedora
| treasury few years since, not finding any war
rant for such proceedings, | voted against it, an,
let public ealor exhaust itself Upon my head il
denuneiatons. When learned that the for
egner, who had in good faith declared his nten
tons of citizenship by setting his foot upon
foreign shore in of shipwreck, without an,
intention of remaining abroad, lost the bentt. q
| his proceedings, Introduced and procured tn
| passage of a bill to redress the grievance Thes,
principles have covered my public conduct an,
now guide my opinions. The constitution, al
hIinistered in its true spirit is, in my Judgment
sufficient for the protectection of all, whether ma
tive or naturalized, and for the redress of all pc
liical evils which can be reached by human gov
| eminent.
have tho honor to be your friend and servant
ID. 5. DICKINSON
| CHARLES L. DYKE, ESQ
/ Lord