The American patriot., 1855-07-21
Character Of the Foreign Population.

Character Of the Foreign Population.
It has been triumphantly stated ty the op-
position that the number of foreigners in our
country is so small inproportion to fhe Native
born citizens that no danger need be appre-
hended from their political venality. The pop
ulation of the United States reaches to about
twenty five millions; while the foreigners num-
ber about three millions. There is then, eight
natives to one foreigner at the bsllot-box.
But is this same ratio kept up in the represen-
tations of these two classes in our psnitentia-
ries and charity hospitals? No.
According to the last report Of the Baton
Rouge penitentiary this ratio between the ma
tives and foreigners at the ballot-box is more
than doubly reversed in that institution. Of
three hundred convicts, only two white men
were natives of this State. There were eighty
two Irishmen, making forty Irishmen to one
native Louisianian.
What forciblc and melancholy commentary
on the character Of that population in our
midst, whose moral depravity crouds them into
our penitentiary! What a revolving idea it is to
every intelligent, honest American, to think
that same class is striving to grasp the reins of
eur Government, and rule the destinies of our
country!
When we reflect that this penitentiary has
been built and kept up at an expense of mil
lions of dollars all of which has been paid by
the people to protect themselves against the
immoral and grovelling character Of such a
a population, it is a matter of surprise that the
serious attention of the people had not been
called to this evil long ago.
@ Alexander Stephens, member of the
U. S. Senate from Georgia, has written long
letter, setting forth his views in reference to
the "Know Nothings, their political doctrine:
and their mode of working" He expresses
himself as being opposed in the main to the
new party, and in arguing his positions he
sustains himself with singular logical ability
with just such ability as one would suppose 9
U. S. Senator possessed.
He says he can never abide the secret ele
ment in the organization, and his reasoning or
this point leaves nothing unsaid, and canno
fail to convince any calm rejecting reader o
the soundness of his views. He is opposed tt
the Catholic prescription, and occupies pretty
much the same ground in reference to thi
matter as that taken by the order in this STATE
He is opposed to the total repeal of the natu
ralization laws, as measure that is impracti
cable, unnecessary, and dangerous He admit
that our country has suffered much from tn,
influx of foreign paupers and criminals, ant
} that every effort should be used to keep thi
character of immigration away from our shores
The laws regulating the exercise of the righ
of suffrage, he says, have, in many instances
been most grossly abused, and reform in thi
particular, is absolutely necessary to the saliva
!, ton of our country.
The position of the Native American part
in our State upon the Catholic question is tn
proper one, and to it the Order nationally
bound sooner or later to accede. With Nj
Stephens views in reference to the cloak c
, secrecy which was thought necessary in tn
beginning to throw around our party and it
movements, we agree most heartily. Tha
portion Of our machinery now, when tn
party has risen from the infant to the fu
grown man, has not only become useless, bu
absolutely burthensome and oppressive, an
the sooner we can get rid of it the better fo
our cause. Already it is gradually being r,
moved, and We hope ere long-in fact this
the most ardent wish of thousands in on
ranks-to see the whole of this thing throw
away.
, ASSORTED SIzEs.-Wc find the following ticl
cts in the Iberville Gazette. We think tn,
the Old Fogies will not lack for candidates:
For Governor,
l.. j. SIGUR-Ncw Orleans
: Lieutenant Governor,
j. n. BROWN-Ibervillc.
Secretary of State,
f. W. ROBERTSON-Ibervc
Attorney General,
c. RATLIFF-West Fclciana
State Treasurer
S SAMUEL LOCKE-New Orleans.
Il Auditor of Public Accounts,
t DAVID MARTlN-AlcXandria
v Superintendent of Public Schools,
, J.N. CARRIGAN-Baton Rouge.
u Tunnel. UNDER THE NIAGARA RWER.-Ti
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser is again ur
c ing the construction of tunnel under Niaga
j. river. The place selected for the tunnel is Il
= shortest crossing between Fort Erie and IL