The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-11
Prom the Boston Daily Advertiser
WASHINGTON NOT A KNOW NOTHING.

WASHINGTON NOT KNOW-NOTHING.
Since the American" party has sprung into exist
enc attempt which originated in the days of the last
excitement has been renewed add the
sanction OF the great name Of Washington the hatred Of
men of foreign birth. pretended order Of his has been
running the rounds of the newspapers and used for the
purpose Of usfng the ignobe upon foreigners into
which portion Of the American people have unwsely al
lowed themselves 10 be drawn. " Place bat Ameri-
cans guard" This pthy expression Of exclusive Amer
ansm accordant with the policy OF the party
Of secrecy intolerance and real hostility 10 tho broad pn
cples Of American liberty, has been unscrupuously pned
upon the llusIrious founder OF the republic Fancy Gen
Washington the head of army in which many of the
most faithful soldiers Of foreign birth-wth
such officers the Marquis de Lafayette Baron Seuben
Lord Steng Gen Lee and above ALL his trusted friend
confidential adviser, and ables coadjutor in military a
fairs Alexander Hamilton not natives of the country
with allied army Of French troops commanded by the
hgh-sprted and chivalrous gentlemen Of France, by
whose aid he brought the of the revolution TO tr
nmphGp close-fancy him. surrounded and supported
issuing al order to 'piace but Americans guard
The very statement is enough 10 show its absurdity
The maxim, aPlace but Americans guard GER
ainiy never was used by General Washington. An at
tempt however has been made make 1t appear that he
used words OF similar import viii be observed by the
following paragraph from the Boston Journal OF yesterday
morning;
"PLAcE NONE AMERICANS euARDN--Proiessor
Sparks las recently stated that in ali the writings and
manuscripts of Washington he has never mel wlth inc
above quotations. famous with our know-nothing
friends. The original order containing the quotation,
which in the possession Of the late General Dearborn
of Roxbury has been published and reads as follows
aCamBRIpeE HEADQUARTERS, July II, IT'S
aGKsEaAL OapERTThe General has great reason to be
dpsed with the negligence and nattenton OF the guard
who have been placed sentinels the oupostsmen
whose characters he is not acquainted with He therefore
orders that for the future none out naires q ms country
be placed on guard sennes the outposts. This
dart In n
'FoX, Adj of the day
aCountersigned Exeter payroll, Dorchester"
If President Sparks as here affirmed, has been unable
to meet With the pretended quotation, Place but
Americans on guard in the writings Of Washington il is
for the good and sufficient that it docs not exist
there The pretended order is Justification of the words
of Washington which has all the moral guilt OF forgery
We suboin rs contrast TO the mutlated document the
exact words which found in Washingons general or
der Of July 4 not H. The substitution of "pay-ro for
aros is an amusing illustration Of the turn of mind in the
know-nohing orger Not content with this specimen Of
know-nohingsm he evidently did not understand the
meaning Of the military term eountersgn which
he changes counrsged if he supposed the pass
word Of the day Exeter the of officer,
4. was TO counersign the general orders of the
whose any essage in question is found in
eommander-n-cbief Thu p~-- Quarters, July
the General Orders, dated cambridge, Heaus
ira parole Dorchester couarsign Bseer and printed
Ia Forces American Archives vol. il, p 1884:
THE General las great and highly dspeased
With lbs Negligence and inaenton Of those officers who
Aaps placed sehyes he oatposts nth ohose char
lsets TIER ate acquainted lie therefore orders that for
the future no shall Be appointed 10 these Important sta
ions cto Ratige Of This country has rife fan-
10 in 10 soom he knocR be attached the order is to
be considered standing one and the officers pay
obedience 10 il at their peril
The circumstances of the moment fully explain the
purpose Of the order Washington had arrived at head
quarters in Cambridge only three days before and find
ing want Of care in the military arrangements and
having reason to fear that there in camp persons ia
voraby disposed the British then holding possession OF
Boston, and watching their opportunity to communicate
information the enemy, directed certain precautions
taken in the selection of sentnes against foreign
ers SUCH against and spies in disguise The
words omitted altered by the know-nothing forger
which have italicized place the intention Of the Cen
hral in the crest light and Prove beyond question the
dishonesty of The purpose FIR which this INITIATED docu-
has been put into circulation II is altogether very
curious instance of the base which anaticsm
and party spirit will not hesitate to stoop.
We may add that every student Of the writings of Wash
ugton knows that they abound in the expression of sen
ments sympathy the distressed of foreign lands and
cordial welcome for those from abroad casting their lot in
America which the entire of the doctrines held
by organization which petends hold his
in peculiar reverence