Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-09-20
A Crooked thing made straight.

to German in Ssndusky. We give belo y |
The letter as it appeared in the Statesman.
after being translated into German, and then
back into English dgGin, with what change
The sequal will show:
XEMA, Aug. "a, 1855.
"That I do not belong 10 the Know Moth
ings, but always opposed their dark prnc'-
pies, the people Of Ohio ought 10 know and
be convinced; nevertheless, / will now re-
peat again that all my influence shall be ex.
erted to vigorously appose any oppression or
injustice exercised against foreigners as we'll
as natives in whatever msnner .r shape I
concede TO, and wish every ore, without dis.
tinctiun inregard to nationality, the enjoy
ment of all those rights, which l claim for
myself
"But it seems to be evident that the dis
sension and schemes Of the Know Nothing
Order at Philadelphia will bring about
liberal policy towards immigrants, Even Mr..
Ford, the 50 severely censured Know Moth
ing, expressed himself to that effect, that i'm.
migrants shalt have all the rights Of Ameri.
can citIzens. The naturalization term of five
years was never too long for me; and If il
were within my power, would gladly con-
cede q shorter term to any true friend Of lib.
erty among immigrants But al the same
time, declare unto them, that would have
American institutions respected aud Upheld,
and changed and amended only for the sake
of freedom, general, universal freedom.
"Men who disturb the peace, and prohibit
peacesble cilizens from the exercise Of their
franchise and freedom Of speech, are no A.
mericans. alh ugh born in this country.
But, Sir, the chief subject is and will oe
the slavery question. He whu directly or
indirectly raises his voice in favor of slavery,
is no freeman, and provokes sll other meas.
ures for oppression, which also pertain in the
category of slavery"
Now the facts in reference to this letter
hire simply as follows:
A letter was addressed, not to German,
as the Statesman has il, but 20 Mr.. Good
,oin, of Sindu- Ky City, an American BY birth.
The letter was not intended for publication,
as appears in the letter (Which portion thu
Statesman omited,) ard with this understsnd-
ing Mr., &. gave the letter to Mr. Russs, the
editor Of a German paper. M Ruess dsre-
9ardins The Injunction of Mr.. G. translated
the letter into German and published it.
B.n., our poorly versed in the English Ian.
guage, and jealous tor NJ Chase he did not
translate it accurately, and being altered
somewhat in each translation it is now in the
Statesman almost entirsIy different from th.
original. The following is the letter. the
original Of which is in the hands OF the edit
ors OF the o. s. Journal.
PRivATE. XENIA, Aug. "a, '55.
MY DEAR Sir: Your letter has remained
long unanswered, but have been oil the
time in motion. now take moments when
ought to be asleep.
lappreciate highly the generous and liber-
al course of Mr.. Ruess. and have directed nv
nephew to ad ress him note to that effect.
As To the Know Nothing organization, it is
well known and understood tha. | am not a
member Of the Ord r.; and all my influence
will be directed against injustice & oppression
in every form. accord fully 10 all whatever
| rights claim myself.
To me, however. il seems evident that
! since the split ut Philadelphia, the Order in
| the Free States IS daily becoming more liber-
al forwards our immgran! fe,low-citizens.
desire to promote this tendency, and indulge
strong h,pes that the Order itself will soon
so liberaize its pl ,tf1rm as to leave in it no.
thing OF which tho foreign born, really attach
ed 10 our institutions, cun complain. Such
am assured by prominent mombrrs OF the
Order, will actually be the case. Mr.. Ford,
for examole, positively avows that he is ready
to allow to oil foreigners, who are in heart
Americans, every privilege Of American cti.
zens. He does not consider thut it is neces-
sary for foreigner to reside here any par
ticular length Of time in orier to become iq
heart an American, and desires M extension,
as understand him, of the present naturaliz,.
tion term OF five years
| say this to do Justice to the gentlemen on
the ticket. So far as know, none Of them
are proscrptionists or bigots: while all Of
them would oppose any attempt to subvert o.
injure American institutions by ecclesiastical
power or alien combination. For myself,
have no fear of such attempts, and believe
that the vast majority OF the immigrant p,-
pulaton would resist such auemp,s,,s prompt
ly and energetically as the most American Of
the Americans.
Hence am happy in believing that there
is no longer any danger to foreign born ciri-
zens from the American Organization. Th.
only actual danger is from the pro-SIavery
wing of 1t. Men who oppose the oppression
of Slav ~ in good faith, c'nnot long enter.
tain illberal views Of any question.
This letter will be sufficient to show my
own faith, and my hopes in respect to Others.
] have no objections to your showing IL 10
M, Ruess, or to his making such use of it as
his discretion will approve, on.y reserving
that |. be not published Or printed; as would
pref, TO avoid any unnecessary appearance in
the newspapers do not hesitate, however.
to avow all the letter confirms in conv, rss-
ton with all who SEEK TO know my views.
Yours faithfully.
S p. CHASE.
AoMER GooDwIH, Esq. Sandusky CITY.
l.. a. =. a.