Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-23


present Democratic Administration, which came
into power by greater majority than any pre-
ceding one, where there was contest! Is it not
now powerful
What first broke it down and built up the Free
soil and Abolition majority against it, Was it
not the Nebraska billi Does any one acquainted
with the facts doubt it Was not that measure
concocted in secret caucus Of seven persons
II surely was; and endorsed by the President and
by his influence carried through Congress in vio-
lation OF the platform of both political parties,
proclaimed at Baltimore. Had not the President
given reiterated pledges that he would discourage
the agitation of the slavery question in and out
OF Congress, and elsewheres Were those pledges
redeemed by him. Was not this measure the
first thing to renew the agitation since 1882 No
candid man can suppose the contrary
1t was regarded by moderate men at the North,
good Democrats, who always stood by the South,
as breach of good faith; and they either OPP
posed the Administration, would not give il
their support. This measure CAUSED audible ex-
pressions of disapprobatiou by many who aided
IN elect'ng the President. But there were other
causes, and all united gave rise to the American
Order The selection of the Presidents Cabinet
although it was highly exceptionable to the Demo-
cratic party, they made an effort to swallow it,
General discomfort was growing up in the coun-
Try Ihs feeling was aggravated by report
that an agreement was made between Catholic
Bishop and General Pierce, conditioned that
General Pierce was to receive the Catholic vote,
and in the event Of his election, situation in
his cabinet should be given to a member Of the
Catholic denomination. As this was published,
and not denied, il was believed. Nor was this
all-foreigners were selected to fill important
missions TO foreign Governments, to the exclu-
sion OF American statesmen. About this time il
was ascertained that an>unusual number of con-
ricts and paipers were thrown upon shores
from European prisons and poor-houses. The
belief obtained that these classes of emgrants
were thrust upon us by the policy of foreign
Governments, who never can bear us good will
SO long as we remain free and independent
people. These facts in connection with general dis
content towards the Administration, with threats
made IN Catholic newspapers and periodicals,
seemed at once to arouse the people and admonish
them to prepare for the unprecedented contest
The cry was then raised by the anti Americans
that the objects of the American Order was the
prescription of Catholics and foreigners. This
deny The threats and denunciations came from
the Catholic journals, which gave the alarm to
Protestants and Americans. The design of the
American Order is not to put down Catholics,
but to prevent Catholics putting down Protes
tants. The members of the Order would not
nor do they intend to interfere with the Catholic
religion, or their mode of worship; but at the
same time we are not willing to place power in
the hands of those who acknowledge or owe tenn
poral allegiance to any foreign prince, king or
potentate. Again, it is said the principles of the
American Order prescribe foreigners, and are in
tended TO extend the period of naturalization
do not regard this principle as proscrptive.
understand foreigners to be protected in the full
enjoyment of all their civil rights and exercising
whatever religious opinions or mode of worship
they may prefer. No one wishes to abridge those
privileges.
The possession and exercise of political rights
are distinct matters. Females and minors pos
sess and enjoy civil rights, yet they not capa-
BILE OF exercising the political right of suffrage.
This is a constitutional right of all qualified ma
tives. The extension of that right to those who
are not natives il a matter Of grace and favor of
the Congress and of the Constitution. Congress
has the power to invest foreigners with the right
upon such conditions as may be thought proper
and expedient for the we-being Of the Republic.
The teachers of the modern school, who claim
to be the only Democrats patriots in the coun-
try, admit :" that some modification in the natu-
razation laws might be well enough. They take
care not to say how far they are willing to 90.
Are they willing to extend the period Of proba-
ton to twenty-one years. If they are not, am.
III such laws were passed they could not affect those
who are already naturalzed, and who enjoy the
full benefits of our institutions.
Nor would it prejudice the claims of those who
might have reached the American soil at the time
OF the passage, or going into operation of such
laws. Such measure, should think, ought TO
be hailed by naturalized foreigners and those
whose claims to naturalization have commenced
with as much Joy as if they were native Amer-
cans If not on their own account, they should
at least hail it on account of their children. The
foreigners who have been naturalized in our coun-
try are generally Of class, who would feel il a
poor compliment paid them to place convcts and
paupers on a footing of equality with them; or TO
say that such beings were entitled TO the consider
atoms which are due the naturalzed citizens.
am in favor of excluding from our shores per-
sons who cannot come to the country with a GER
hhcate from our consular agents in the country
which they leave, representing them persons of
good characters or if they have been guilty of Pc
tical offences in their country, to state the same,
that proper allowance might be made by our
government. ] am becoming suspicious of the
teachers in these days of utilitaran politics And
before enlist under the leaders Of modern Demo
crazy wish to know Of them whether they stand
on the Jackson, or Calhoun platform. Between
their platforms there was an essential difference
yackson's was the Constitution and the Union
his Is the platform upon which stand, and if
as has been asserted, the American party is down,
the battle over and victory won ] shall only feel
mortified to witness, at my period Of life, after
having looked upon so many vicisstudes Of my
country, TO see an Anti-American feeling triumph
One consolation, at least, will be left me. While
the trumphs of American principles were rover
berating throughout the Union, | was silent
When these principles are said to be in eclipse,
come forward with cheeTfulness and declare that
believe the salvation of my country is only to be
secured by adherence TO the principles Of the
American Order
A triumph il claimed by Anti-Americans, based
on the supposition that all Councils will be broken
up, from the fact that some Withdrawals have and
may continue TO take place. In all cases within
my knowledge, where Withdrawals have occurred,
greater number were added to the Order than
secedcrs. Occasionally men have Joined the Order
from motives which did little credit to its prnci-
pies, and remained members for months Their
motives can only be inferred from their actions.
They remained quietly until nominations were
made, in which they were not quite so fortunate
as they much desired to be. Those persons soon
after Withdrew from the Order, denouncing il as
an "UNHoLY, DARK LANTERN SOCIETY"
In many cases, sccedors have regarded them
selves as highly qualified teachers Of the new
tangled politics in Texas But not Of the good
old Jefferson and Jackson Democracy. The pre-
sent is momentous epoch in the annals of our
country.
A vast responsibility devolves upon u.s. We are
acting in the present but for all future genera
tons. We are accountable TO posterity. We
have received a heritage from our fathers. Shall
we regard il with care, and transmit it unrnpair-
cd to our childrenS Shall we remain America n
Shall we remain nationalf or shall we surron,lor