The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-11
Froh NE NcW UrIeans DaIIy Crescent.
EXTRACTS FROM ]. M. BERRIENS LETTER
ON AMERICANISM

This eminent and venerable statesman and
patriot, for third of century the compeer of
Clay, Webster, and Calhoun, having been So
hcited from numerous quarters to give his views
upon the American question, has written a let
ter, addressed to the people Of Georgia." in
which he takes up the subject, and handles it
with surprising ability. AS the letter is too
long for our limits, we are obliged to content
ourselves with giving the more important ex-
tracts. The letter is dated Rockingham, Sept.
1, 1855"
From this letter we make few extracts of
special interest to the people of the free States.
Ed. Era.
Bear in mind, then, the fact that foreign
immigration, which, up to the year eighteen
hundred, did not exceed five thousand persons,
has risen since eighteen hundred and fifty to
half million, and which, looking to the state
of Europe, will probably, and in a very short
time, mount up to a million a year. Now give
free scope to your benevolent feelings-eXer-
else the most extended charity, in estimating
the probable number of these who are worthy
men, capable by proper probationary term of
being rendered good citizens, and what fear
fui residuum will remain-what a mass of poi.
sonous ingredients to be infused into the body
| polite The census of 1850 shows that the
VI iOiNiSh poupCio ouu CTlmlndlS eX-
ceeded that OF the native paupers and crimi-
nails, although the natice population was screen
/ times greater than the foreign. What would
| be your feelings, if poverty and crime existed
| in this proportion and to this extent among
| yourselves If the quantum of pauperism and
vice existed among you, was the proportion OF
| a population seven times greater in number
| than your own, what security would you have
| for your free institutions? What guarantee fol
your individual rights?
Consider, also that these emgrants, slam
| ming the South, from their unpiUingaess to
compete ,cith Stare labor and focking to til.
North, from their abolition tendencies in search
Of kindred spirits, are thus rapidly increasing
the majority against you in Congress, at every
opportunity, and WiU, unless checked, in M
rery great length of time place the Constitu
tion and the institutions Of the South at til,
mercy Of. tdnaticism.
Thus, the zeal of the South for Know Moth
ingism springs from no fear of contamination
| by foreigners, as they shun that section, bu
from jealousy of the political power of the
North.-Ed. Era.
| The twelfth article of the Philadelphia plat
form has been the subject of much commenta
ry L state, without discussing them, my Owl
| opinions on tho subjects of which it treats.
recognise the impracticability, from what
ever cause, of reconciling the conflicting opin
ions which exist on the subject OF Slavery, ant
the danger of agitating that question in the
| National Legislature. i am content that the
American party shall in good faith hold them
| selves bound to abide by and maintain the ex
listing laws on the subject, and with their dec
laration that Congress has no power to inter
fere with Slavery in the States where it exists
or to refuse the admission of any State, becaus,