Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-15
Letter from ID. $. Dickinson on Nativisin.


Ny DEAR SIR On my return to my residence
a few days since, from professional engagement
abroad, found your favor of late date inquiring
for my views touching the principles OF the
American or 'Know-N Nothing" organization. Be.
fore found time to answer, was hurried to this
place to attend the Court of Appeals, now in SEES
sion, where the business in which / am engaged
affords little time or opportunity for correspon-
dence.
! will, however, as have no concealments upon
public questions, borrow moment from my press
ing duties to say quite hastily, that ! have no
knowledge concerning the Order to which you
allude except such as is acquired from publica-
tons purporting to give information upon the sub
ject, and must, therefore, confne myself to such
points as are embraced within this range. 1t is
generally understood and conceded To be secret
society or organization, designed to act politically
in the contests the day. OF this secret feature
entirely disapprove, and am unable to understand
by what necessity, real or supposed, it was die
tated, or upon what principle 1t can be justified
Free public discussion and open action on all
public affairs are essential TO the heath-nay, to
the very existence--of popular liberty; and the
day which finds the public mind reconciled to the
secret movements of political parties, will find us
far on our way to the slavery of despotism. II
good men may meet in secret for good purposes,
we can have 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, mus. depend upon
what it is or rather whether they are in favor Of
mt,,c. III their platform 10 be regarded as in
GLIDING, upholding or iustifying such political
monstrosties as the " Personal Liberty bill" re-
Gently passed into a law by the Massachusetts,
Legislature over the veto of Governor Gardner,
then pronounce it treason of the deepest dye
treason rank, unblushing and misunderstanding
OF public apprehension and condgn punishment.
If upon this subject their platform conforms to
resolutions recently published, purporting TO be
the voice Of majority of the convention assem-
bed at Philadelphia, il Is in substance the same
upon which have stood for years-upon which
did not enter without counting the consequences,
and which i intend TO relinquish only with life.
have not now these resolutions before me but, Us
| recollect them, approve them in substance as
sound national doctrine. ignore no part Of the
Federal Constitution, either 10 theory or in prac-
tice, TO court the popular caprices oft the moment,
to gain public station or TO minister to the neces-
sites or infrmities Of those in power. Nor can
distrust the soundness of principles approved up.
on full consideration under high sense of duty,
because others may choose to adopt and embrace
them.
cannot believe that any good can be accom-
plished by making the birthplace test Of fidelity
or merit. Ii does not accord with, but is at war
with, the genius Of our institutions. That abuses
have been practised by the appointment Of for.
egners to places Of trust before sufficiently famil
lar with our Constitution laws, and social system,
or 10 which, from circumstances, they were insult
ed, is probable. This, however, is in some respects
common TO native as well as naturalized citizens,
and arises not from a defective systt m, but from
its erroneous administration. II Is in both re-
spects the natural result Of placing in the hands
Of the incompetent the distribution OF public pat
ronage.
Upon the subject Of naturalzed citizens have
been governed by considerations Of justice and
duty, and have designed TO observe the spirit Of
my countrys constitution. When members OF
Congress engaged in a steeple-chasc, to see WHO
should propose earliest, give most and vote loud
est to feed suffering Ireland from the federal trees
ury q few years since, not finding any warrant for
such proceedings, voted against it, and let pub
lie clamor exhaust itself upon my head in denun-
ciations When learned that the foreigner, who
had in good faith declared his intentions Of citizen
ship by setting his foot upon a foreign shore in
case Of shipwreck, without any intention of re-
naming abroad, lost the benefit Of his proceed
ings, ! introduced and procured the passage Of a
bill TO redress the grievance. These principles
have governed my public conduct, and now guide
my opinions. The constitution, administered II,
its true spirit is in my Judgment sufficient for the
protection Of all whether native or naturalized,
and for the redress Of all political evils which can
be reached by human government.
| have the honor 10 ne your friend and servant,
ID. S. DICKINSON.
CHARLES +. DYKE, Esq,
Editor Floridian and Journal