The American patriot., 1855-08-11
THE AMERICAN PARTY DEFENDED,
Letter from Col. Clemens ON the American Party



Dear &r-I have not before had time to an.
swer your letter in relation to the new order of
Know Nothings, nor have now at hand all the
statistic which are necessary to a full elucida-
ton Of the subject. Very possibly in the opin-
ions am about to advance shall find myself
in antogonism to yourself and some ofthose old
friends to whom you allude. At all events
there is no impropriety in asking you to read
carefully, not for the purpose of contradicting
or finding fault, nor yet for the purpose of i'm
plicltly believing, but to reason to consider, to
reflect. If there is truth in what write let no
previous prejudice dim its brightness-ifthe there
is error let no personal partiality prevent its
detection and exposure.
The violence which has heretofore character
ised the discussions on this subject unbecom-
ing at all times, and particularly SO upon a
question involving SO much about which men
may reasonably differ. l know not why
should think less of any one for differing with
me upon Know Nothingism, than upon Demo-
cracy. He has the right to the maintenance of
his opinions, and if he is honest no just man
will denounce him.
It is proper for me to say that never was in
a Know Nothing Lodge but once-that l do
not know single sign or password, and could
not to-day obtain admission to any Council in
the State, unless it was through the intervention
Of friend; but endorse their platform and
propose to defend their principles. They are
the principles of Washington, and Jefferson,
the principles of the Constitution.
When one of the seven wise men Of fGreece
visited the Court of Periander of Corinth, he
was asked ''what is the most perfect popular
government" He answered that in which
the law has no superior" This answer, which
contains whole volume of truth and beauty
in single line, is the foundation of the Know
Nothing creed They made it in the beginning
the basis Of their platform-not designedly, for
very probably the answer of the Sage was not
remembered, but reason, reflection and an ear
nest patriotism led them to the same result
Accordingly we find that every member is inn
peratively required to acknowledge the law, as
established by the Constitution, to be supreme.
Obedience to its mandates is inculcated as the
highest duty, and disobedience is certain to be
followed by expulsion. Thus far am sure the
most violent will agree with me that there is
nothing to condemn-that there is something
to applaud.
The remaining portions of the platform may
be disposed of as satisfactorily, think, if not
as briefly as the first. Americans shall rule
America-Tn other words-for mean to deal
nothing, dodge nothing, deny nothing. In
other words then that native born Americans
shall fill all offices of political Importance under
the government. do not mean mere money
offices such as President of a Bank-Rail Road,
or other Corporation, but every Office which
gives to its holder an influence on the legisla-
ton of the country. These are the offices from
which we are pledged to exclude Foreigners,
and this is the position am prepared to main.
tain It is not denied that we have enough,
and more than enough competent Americans
to fill every Office we have to bestow, but it is
urged that such distinction is odious and un-
just to our Forerign population. How is it
unjust? He has been deprived Of nothing by
his emigration here. In his own land he did
not even have the right Of suffrage. His prop
erty was never for an hour secure. His per-
sonal liberty was constantly in danger. He
could not write or speak his sentiments with
impunity. He was ground down with taxes
A press gang might at any moment tear him
from the bosom Of his family, or an oppressive
Landlord turn that family houseless upon the
world. All this is changed. We have given
him the right to vote. We have given him
peace. We have given him security. We
have given him independence, and now because
we will not give him the right to make the
laws by which we are to be governed he for
gets in his arrogant ingratitude the hundred
blessings we have showered upon him, and
repays the safety of the Altar BY malignant as
PERSONS Of the Ministers to whom he owes his
protection. It is a delusion to talk about the
rights Of Foreigners. Privileges is the proper
word. We were not bound to extend to them
the right of suffrage. We were not bound to
give them protection, liberty, peace, indepen-
dence. All these were voluntary gifts. 1t