The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-27
MORE ARGUMENTS.

| an American meeting In montgomery, July
the llth.
The time had come when mere partv issues
had died out; deeper questions were moving
the people; it was no longer n discussion us
to the manner of conducting the government;
but our country and our altars demanded our
services, and all who loved republican liberty
and the Protestant cause should abandon old
party alliances and come up to the support of
this Young, patriotic and powerful .oruaniza.
| tion called the .Americdn PARTY. Let us catch
the spirit Of ancient republican Rome; quar-
rels between pitriclans and the people, how
ever fiercely they ragged, were hushed so soon
as foreign standard appeared at the gate OF
the city; and every bosom gIowed with n
burning desire to defend Rome.
Mr. II. proceeded to state four propositions
on the basis of his argument in support of
the platform of the American party:
]. Americans must rule America.
TO this doctrine he gave his unqualified
assent This government is based upon re-
publican principles, and it ought to be admin
istered by those thoroughly imbued with II
love OF constitutional liberty and compre-
hending their spirit.
Our opinions are formed in our youth; they
grow with our growth and strengthen with
our strength and surely men born and reared
under the mOnnrchlcal system of the old
world, cannot be so well qualified to hold the
great trusts of our government, as those
whose eyes first beheld the light under our
skies, and who have been trained under our
Tree institutions.
This was the sentiment of our rcvolutiona-
tnr nl -, h.,
Constitution of the United States. In looking
into that instrument, one is struck with the
wisdom and the force of the provisions against
foreign influence. No one can be elected II
representative in Congress unless he has been
citizen Of the United States for seven years,
which of course involves the necessity of his
having been in the country twelve years.
! He cannot be a Senator in the United States
huntil he has been nine years II citizen, and
fourteen years resident. And no matter
What may be his ability his integrity, his pa.
t'iotisn, his services, 50 Jealous were the wise
and just men who framed the constitution, OF
| fbreign influence, that they provided that no
person except native born citizen, or cit-
zen Of the United States mt the time of the
adoption of the constitution, shall be eligible
to the office of President or Vice President"
Why not! What is the reason of this inl-
portant provision OF the constitution
| Plainly, because our fathers saw that no
man ought to be entrusted with the first
offices of the republic who was o0rn under
the monarchcaI systems Of Europe, or who
was not reared under our own free institu-
tions. We claim, then, that the platform of
the American party rests upon the great prin-
ciple of the American constitution. Every
objection levelled against our principles pro-
claimed at Philadelphia, applies with equal
force to the principles embodied in the Con-
stitution of the United States.
1t is further provided in the constitution
that no person holding any office of profit or
trust under the United States, shall accept
any present otice,or title,ofany kind fron any
King, Prince, or foreign State. Shall we then
| entrust the government Itself or any of its
great departments to men who come to our
shores with all the training, prejudices, and
IDEAS OF foreign countries That good men,
capable men, patriotic men, like Mitchell from
Ireland, do come amongst us, we do not
doubt; but laws must be general in their ap-
plication, and in proposing to change our
naturalization laws, We must make them ap-
| ply To all alike.
We are greatly misunderstood, if it be sup
posed that we wish to deprive any naturalized
citizen of the United States of rights already
acquired. Not sol we propose to legislate for
the future. 1t is also provided in the consti-
tuition of this democratic State of Alabama
that no person buta native born citizen Of the
United States shall be elected Governor.
Mr. II. said that he had read with amaze
ment, and not with Indignation, letters and
speeches from distinguished sources, which
represented Alexander Hamilton and Robert
Morris MS foreigners. He would pluck up
those great names from the place where they
have been cast, and restore them to that
splendid galaxy of American heroes and
statesmen where they properly belonged
Alexander Hamilton, Il foreigner! Never!
Robert Morris foreigner! Never! Because
Hamilton and Morris were born in England,
does it follow that they were foreigners A;
that time the dominion of England embraced
this country. AT tliat time the American
government did not exist. How then could
these men be foreigners? A foreigner is one
who is born outside of the jurisdiction OF the
government; but our government had not
Ihen been created. Hamilton young, accom-
pished and able, before the revolutionary
struggle, made these colonies his home; he
entered with all his zeal into that struggle;
rode by the side OF Washington in battle, and
when the day was won, sat in the very con-
vention which formed the constitution, and
voted for that provision which excludes a
foreigner from the Presidency.
So too of the noble and generous Morris,
upon whose bosom the great Washington
leaned Tor support; he took part in the great
struggle, and sat in the convention which
formed the constitution and created the gov
ernment And yet an attempt was made TO
rank these men with Foreigners!
As to the immigration OF paupers and crimi-
nails il must be arrested. Europe was pre-
ciptatlng them upon our shores by thousands
Bremen sent them out, il was understood, at
seventy dollars per head, Sardinia empties
her ias and poor houses upon us.
As to the secresy OF the order, it no longer
existed. The organization was formed with.
out calling in its enemies to council, but at
Philadelphia, the very place where the De
claralion of independence had been made, the
principles of the American party were pro-
claimed in the streets and published from the
house tops, to the dlsmay OF the PhlIislnes.
Q. AIR. HIS second position was, this is a
Protestant country, and must ever continue
to be such
Civil liberty and the Protestant faith are
cl oscly allied. The greatest event which has
ever occurred in the history Of our race, next
to the coming of the Son of God into the
world to redeem it, was the REFORMATION
which emancipatrd the mind of Europe from
bondage to the Pope, and taught all mankind