Butte record., 1855-10-06
Letter from the HoH. naniei s. Dickinson CT
Enayz ynthig.siSyu

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The following letter, first published in
the Tallahassee Foridjan and Journal
of August i, was written in June, 1875.
Eds. N Y DAILY Ne1os
MY DEAR SIR On my return to my
residence few days since, from pro
ftssional engagement abroad, | found
your favor of late date inquiring FIR
my views touching the principles Of the
American" or "Know Nothing" or
ganization. Before found time to an
swer 1 was hurried to this place to attend
the Court Of Appeals, now IN session.
where the business in which am en-
gagged affords little time or opportunity
for correspondence. [ will, however,
as | have no concealments upon public
questions, borrow moment from my
pressing duties to say quite hastily, thai
have no knowledge concerning the
Order to which YOU allude, except such
as Is acquired from publications. purport-
ing to give information upon the subject,
and must therefore conine myself to
such points as are embraced within this
range. It is generally understood and
| conceded to be a secret society or or
ganization, designed to act politically in
the contests of the day. OF this secret
feature l entirely disapprove. and am
unable to understand by what necessity,
real or supposed, it was dictated, or upon
what principle it can be justified. Free
! public discussion and open action on all
public affairs are essential to the health
nay, TO the very existencc-of public
liberty and the day which finds the
public mind reconciled to the secret
movements Of polical parties will find Us
far on our way to the slavery of despot-
ism. If good men may meet in secret
for good purposes, We can have o as
surance that bad mon, under the same
plausible exterior, will not secretly sap
the foundation Of public virtue
Whether | am in favor of their plat
form upon the question Of domestic s'a-
very must depend upon what it is: Or
rather, whether they are in favor of
mine. If their platform is to be reear-
ded as including, uphoIding or iustiffying
such political monstrosities as the "per-
sonal liberty bill,' recently passed into
a law by the Massachusetts Legislature
over the veto Of Governor Gardn Y, then
L pronounce it treason Of the deepest
dye-treason, rank, unblushng, aud
notwithstanding Of public reprchension
and condign punishment. If upon this
subject their platform conforms to reso-
lutons recently published, purporting to
be the voice OF majority of the con-
veniion assembled at Philadelphia, it is
in substance the same upon which | have
stood for years-upon which I di2 not
enter without counting the consequences,
and which [ intend to rel'nqush only
with lie have not now these rvsoiu-
tiOns before me, but as I recollect them.
| approve them in substance as sound
national doctrine. igrore 70 part Of
the federal constitution, either in theory
Or in practice, 10 court the po.ular ca
prices Of the moment, to gain rubiic
station, or to minister II the necessities
or infrmities Of those in power. Nor
can / distrust the soun1nsss Of princi-
pies approved upon full consideration
under a high sense Of datv, because
others may choose to adopt AMI embrace
them
[ cannot believe that any good eau he
accomplished by making the birthplace
test Of fidelity to merit. It does not
accord with, bat IS at war with the
genius Of cur institutions. That abuses
have been practiced By the appointment
of foreigners to places of tlust, before
sufficiently familiar with our constitution,
laws, and social system, or TO which,
from circumstances, they were uusuitod,
is probable. This, however. is in some
respects common to native rs well as ma
turaiized citizens, and arises not from
defective system, but fom It's errupeous
administration. 1t IS in both respects
the natural result of placing in the hands
of the incompetent the dstri button Of
public patronage.
Upon the subject Of naturalized eli
zens | have been Governed by consdela-
tions of justice and dnty, and have de-
signed to observe the spirit OF my eoun
try's constitution. When members Of
Congress engaged in sieeple chase, to
see who should propose earliest, give
most, and vote loudcst, to feed suffering
ireland from the federal treasury, few
years since, not finding any warrant for
such proceedings l voted against it, and
let public clamor exhaust itself upon BY
head in denunciat;ons. When learned
that the foreigner who had in good faith
declared his intentions of citizenship, by
setting his foot upon a foreign shore in
case Of shipwreck, without any intention
Of remaining abroad, lost the benefit of
his proceedings, introduced anu pro-
cured the passage of bill to redress the
grievance. These principles have gov
elned my pubic conduct, and now guide
my opinions. The constitution, admins
istered in its true spirit, is, in my iudg-
ment, sufficient for the protection Of all,
whether native or naturalized, aud for the
redress Of all political evils which can
be reached BY human government.
I have the honor 10 be,
Your friend and servant,
D. S. Dickinson.
Charles f. DYKE. Esq, editor FIori.