Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-28
NO.xIX.


shew whence they proceed, that the blame
may fall on the substance to which they
owe their origin; on foreign clouds which
have intervened to disturb the serenity of
our native skies.
We are az yet unacquainted with the
principles of the Know Nothings, except as
we gather them from report; but ii these
aim, as We are told they chiefly do. at the
correction of such abuses as grow out of our
|indiscrminate encouragement of foreign
emigration and foreign pretension, we heart
lily concur with them in doctrines so entire
ly IN accordance with our own, and rejoice
in the success which the ballot.b box, the true
test of popular sentiment, announces to
them. There is wide field for reform be-
fore any party bold and independent enough
to attempt to weed out the abuses which
have crept in upon our generous soil, which.
like other soils of such character, is prone,
in ITS luxuriance, 10 encourage brambles as
well as fruits. The fault is in our own hus-
bandry. Not satisfied with plants of native
growth for our comfort, and weeds of natu-
raj production for our toll, we have added
immeasurably to both by importations from
abroad, and the question may now well a.
rise, whether we have lost or gained by the
accession. Moreover, every earthly good
| is said to have its concomitant evil. IT. as
| lphysiologists tell US, every plant has its pc.
culiar enemy; every substance its bane
why may not every man have his venom ?
With wheat, came the Hessian fly from Eu-
rope. and Peru, it is supposed by seme, is
sending us the joint-worm with her guano;
to France we are indebted for Monsieur
Genet to endanger the peace her heroes had
helped to consummate ; and 10 Hungary for
Monsieur Kossuth and his fine speeches,
which had we'll nigh set the country in
blaze; while from Ireland, we have Arch
bishop Hughes to bring exaction inte the
church her sons once thought abundantly
endowed. True, We have, in our own ia
digenous productions, the ingredients ofill;
but why not rest satisfied with controlling
and counteractng these, rather than in
crease calamity by the unguarded adoption
of exotic and anormal elements of discord
and disaster?
We have often deplored as deficiency
in American character, the want of orIgi-
nality in customs, manners, uses, and,
we might also say, in sentiment. This e.
vii grows with our growth, and increases
with our strength. Had this existed in
the day of our revolaton as it does now,
our constitution, instead of being as it is,
primary in its conception, and uniqe IN its
wisdom, would have been mere patch
work, made up of here little and there a
little, from the established systems of the
old world. 1t has already ceased TO be
what its trainers, our fathers, designed it
should be; adapted to people alike in
sentiment, alike in sentiment, alike in prin-
ciple, alike in contentment, with rational
and noble liberty. Our foreign citizens
think we are not free enough. Our. for
eign churchmen want control in the State.
Our foreign diplomatists would extend our
empire, and force our principles on ma
tions sure to abuse them. Foreign aspi-
rants, denied authority abroad, and accus-
toned to serve, eyince their desire. to con-
troll, and betray their unftness for rule,
whenever opportunity is afforded them; in
city rows; in our national hall, which
their sauabbles have converted into bear
garden at foreign courts where they have
brought reproach on the reputation for tai
ent dignity and decorum obtained for US
abroad by such native representatives as
King, Pinkney, Adams and Everett. In
the agitations Of these extranerous inauen-
ces, Native Americanism is fast dwlndling
into the shadow of its former importance
and consideration, and will soon be less
than that shadow, if some unanimous and
powerful effort be not made by her sons
for the rescue. We discern, we think, in
dications of such in the party, now occu-
pying public attention, and whilst we re-
joice in the principles it holds out OF re-
form, we enjoin on it to beware, lest, In
the exutation of early success, it neglects
prudence, and becomes, as others have,
the tool of demagogulsm, and the prey of
faction. Wisely, warlly, and dispassion-
ately let it choose its ministers. Not
from the wasted ranks of hackneyed poll
ticians. Not from the files of hardened
diplomacy. Not from public haunts, and
popular assemblies. Not among such as
crowds have huzzard, and masses applau-
ded bat from the business and practical
walks of life from the mart, the desk, the
counter and the farm from such as hav-
ing administered their own affairs with
honesty, discretion and success, may be
supposed competent to the higher respon.
sibiilties of their country's direction and
destiny.
We might enlarge this article, thus has
tily thrown together, by enumerating other
abuses other attempts at supremacy, which,
we are told the Know Nothings design to
correct. But we have endeavered 10 show
the source of corruption and its remedy,
why dabble in the streams! Purify the
fount, and the issues will be placid, limpid
and benefcent, bringing to our native
sons the blessings oi Union, harmony,
and abundance, and gradually extending
to our adopted, as they are qualified to re.
ceive, appreciate and exercise them, all
the invaluable privileges we ourselves are
entitled 70. REFORM.
|. A SHORT AND SENSIBLE SpEEcH.-Half
eur Congressmen, who talking for Bunkurn,
allude TO dissolution Of the Union as if
thew had the power to will such catastro-
phe. and the poor people have nothing to
saw in the matter. In the Senate, last
week, Mr.. Clayton. in the course of re-
ply to member who talked loudly Of dis
union said: "You talk of disunion. If you
Senators-you, and each of you-and the
Representatives in the other House, should
resolve here that the Union be dissolved,
the great body Of the people are SO attach.
ed to the Union that they would come here
and hang you all, or else throw you into the
Potomac" That was good shot, and will
doubtless induce some new ideas in The
brains of certain Senators who have. becn