Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-01-15
I'M. Rayner Letter Concluded.

If the country are thoroughly national, tho
roughly American; that they are 50 thoroughly
e-tnnt-tbo result e the late elections plainly
shows that. But the difference between Nj.
WISE and the "kuow- Nothing is that, Mr.
Wise relies upon the mere existence oi these
feelings to guard Us against dnnger-thc know
Nathings" look at the facts of history, upon the
condition of the country, the corruption ct the
old parties: aud they sec that these national and
Protestant feelings, terrible az they are when "A
reused, quiet and passive; they see that these
feelings have not prevented foreigners and Romnn
Catholics from degrading the ballot box, traffic
ius for over with the old parties, md eontrol-
ing the elections by IA concerted exercise OF the
balance of power.
Mr. Wise thinks the zeal of the ministers of
the Protestant faith is simple security against
the nroads of Romanism So it is in matters OF
faith The Protestant ministers are in the min,
true To the teachings of the Saviour, that Ills
KINGDOM was not Of the world" Whilst they
have been engaged IN trying to save mems souls
the Romish priests have been trying to cheat
them out of their civil rights. And even now,
n far as the former aid of Know Nothing move
ncnt it is by way Of defence against aggres-
qion--it is not for the purpose of prosecuting
Roman Catholics, but for the purpose of prevent
| ing Roman Catholics from prosecuting them.
But, says MIR. W., lin the name OF their religion,
! | ask them why 40, rely on God! Now, Mr.
! Wise is certainly too much OF II philosopher not
/
! ings to man, their maintenance md enjoyment,
upon the condition of excron and sacrifice on his
! part 'tnc comforts and rewards of religion it
/ SCI. are secured by constant warfare with the
powers of evil and so of It's dutrs.
SUPPOSE the Apostles, instead Of going int
distant lands, had fingered about the streets ot
/ .leru.apm, and "trustcd IN God" for the CONVEX
/ sion cf the hcahcn--whnt would hay" In come al
! Christianity Suppose l.uthcr, aud Calvin, and
| Knox instead of sounding the tocsn ot the lie
! formation, had "trustcd in Cod for deliyerance,
! what would have been the fate Of Professionalism!
/ Suppose the Non iuring h~hops, and the lfeshy-
tcrian heroes of that time who made common
cause against the oppression ct James II, had
"trrstcd in God" instead of drawing the sword,
where would huyc been the Anglican church !
They did all "trust in Cod" no doubt; but IT
was the trust of confidence that he would sustain
thcm in the effort he required of them, as the con
dilion of success. The man who trusts that God
will secure to him his bIc~ sings ullmpaired, and
the enjoyment of all his temporal rights aud PRIV
iirgcs, without some effort on his part, is like the
n'nn who trusts that God will pardon his sins
without his complying with the terms stipulated
III the condition of that pardon. And the FRO
trslant ministers who favor this "know Moth
ing" movement while they do "trnst IN cod
vet trust in him. that he will never desert them
IN their Efforts to combat the powers of evil.
Mr.. W lsc goes on to shy, that when We were
weak, we relied on foreigners to defend u.s. and
asks how it is, that since we have grown strong,
we have become so fearful of their influence, &c.
I his argument, or rather assumption, dld not
originate with Mr.. Wise. 1t is among the Oldest
of the stereotype ed fnllaccs rcsortcd To against
the American party. Those who were IN the
war of the Revolution. if horn i'll England. Scot
land, Ireland, or any other dependency OF the
British crown, were not foreigners i'll the legal
sense Of the term At the time the Declaration
of Independence North Carolina and Virginia
t,irIA TIM ufl fla'
rs ARE Canada and Jamaica. Until that declara-
tion was made the war was n common effort on
the part of the common subjects OF the British
crown to vindicac the common rights OF n COM
, mon people. After that declaration the war was
revolutionary effort for national freedom by the
same parties.
f When we speak of foreigners we mean foreign
to the government, not foreign to the soll-tor II
, is well known to every tyro IN constitutional
law that the children If American citizens born
abroad are not Foreigners. Suppose Il natvo OF
North Carolina had removed TO Virginia md
borne arms during the evolution, would he have
t been IA foreigner in Virginia! Certainly not;
l and yet he would have been every whit as much
Sc as man born in England Scotland. Ireland,
Canada or tho West Indies SO that at the time
OF the formation of the federal constitution we
were common people, without respect to the
place Of birth; the government was the property,
the birthright of those who made it, and those
who formed and secured the adoption of the con
stituton could not be foreigners under 1t. Hence
the only exclusion from office of those not native
to The soil in the consttution-the Presidency of
the United States, does not apply TO those who
were citizens at the time of its adoption. So
much for the British subjects who took part in
the war of the Revolution and the formation of
the constitution.
To whom else does Mr. Wise allude To the
| French =! On this question there has always
been great deluson in country. The his
| torical associations growing out of the French
| alliance are, admit. such should ever be pro-
! ductiye of national comfy, courtesy, and kind
ness; but that we rest under any burden OF graf
itude towards the French nation, is mere clap
trap. 1t was nothing more than an alliance be-
tween two Independent nations to fight a common
enemy. France is as much indebted to us as
to her. She aided us in securing the treaty
of peace in 1883; VIII ch did not gire us our in
] dependence. but merely acknowledged it the
part of Great Britain; and aided her in hum
bling her old enemy. 1t was not love of liberty
that induced the French government to unite
with us in the war with England; and as proof
OF tins, IN less than twenty years afterwards, the
impoSitions and exacions of the same French
government brought to the very verge of a
war with that nation. So much for the French
who aided in the war of the Revolution.
To whom else, them does Mr.. Wise aliude,
Does he refer to the examples of Individual he
rosm and devotion to liberty, that induced Steu-
ben. Pulaski, Dckalb, Kosusco, La Fayetto
and others, to draw their swords in that great
struggle for freedom! To their memories he all
praise and gratitude forever. say! The nation
never can indulge in praises high enough, feel
gratitude warm enough, to do justice to their
memories and their names. AS long history
records deeds of glory they will ever live rs