Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-24

World which commeLced WIN inc settenenl OF
this continent by Europeans, would still 60 on =
And what ould be the effect, even under the mes
modified form of the proposed measure-that Is Of
an extension of the period from five to twenty one
wears before citizenship should be granted At
the end of the first twenty years from the com.
meneement OF the operation Of the law, we should
have several millions of people in our mdst-men
of our own raee-occupyng tie unenviable posi-
ton Of being degraded caste" in society," a spe.
cies of serfs without the just franchise OF freeman
or the needful protection due to slaue This would
be at war with all my ideas of American publi-
canism as | have been taught them aud gored in
them from youth up. If there be danger now to
our institutions, (as some seem to imagine, but
which am far from feeling believing) from for.
eigners as class would not the danger be greatly
enhanced by the proposed remedy? Now, it is true
they are made to bear their share Of the burthens
Of Government but are also permitted, after res
idence of FIVE years, and takirg an oath to support
the Constitution to eroy their just participation IN
the privileges, honors and immunites which it Sc
cures. Would they be less likely to be attached
to the Government and its principles under the
operation OF the present system than they would
be under the proposed one which would treat them
as not much better than outcasts and outlaws? All
writers of note, from the earliest TO the latest who
have treated upon the elements and component
parts or members of communities and States, have
pointed this out source of real danger-that is
having a large number of the sane not only
aliens by birth, but aliens in heart and feeling in the
bosom Of society.
Such was, to great extent the condition of the
Helots in Greece-men of the same race placed in
inferior position and forming within themselves
degraded class. l wish to see no such state of
things in this country. With US at the South it is
true we have degraded CASTE but it is of
fitted by nature for their subordinate position The
negro, with US, fills that place in society and under
our system of civilization for which he was de-
signed by nature. No training can fit him for either
social or political equality with his superiors; at
least history furnishes with no instance Of the
kind nor does the negro with us feel any degrade
ton in his position, because it is his natural place.
But such would not be the case with men of the
same race and coming from the same State with
ourselves Andwhat appears not little strange
and singular to me in considering this late move
ment is, that fit did not originate with, yet it is
Inow so generally and zeaously favored by 30 many
t,sf-those men at the North who have expended so
imuch of their misguided philanthropy in behalf of
our slaves. They have been endeavoring for years
to elevate the African to an equality socially and
politically with the white man. And now they
are moving heaven and earth ID degrade the t0hitc
man to a condition lower than that held by the
negro in the South The Massachusetts "Know-
Nothing" Legislature passed bill lately to amend
their Constitution, so as to exclude from the polls in
that State, hereafter all naturazed citizens from
whatever nation they may come; and yet they will
allow a runaway negro sIave from the South the
same right to vote that they give to their own ma
tive born sonsl They thus exhibit the strange
y paradox OF lodr1rng against their own race-their
own blood-even their own sixth and kin, it may
be, while they are vainy and fanatcaly endeayor
ing to reverse the order Of nature by making the
black man equal to the white. Shall we second
| them IN any such movement? Shall we even cour-
| teQancn them far n fO hear the me r --tO
say nothing of the same pledges, passwords signs
and symbols? Shall affiliate and unite our
selves under the same banner, with men whose acts
| show them to be governed by such principles and
to be bent upon such purpose? This is ques-
ton for Southern men to consider. Others may do
it if they choose; but tell YOU never SHALL that
you may set down as "fxed fact"-one of the
fxedest of the fixed. am not at all astonished at
the rapid spread of this sentiment at the North
| or rather new way of giving embodiment and life
to an old sentiment long cherished by large class
| OF the Northern people, Notwithstanding the para
dox. It's true, "Know-Nothingsm' did not orig
mate as understand its origin, with the class al
lude to- 1t commenced with the laborers and men
| dependant upon capital for work and employment.
1t sprang from the antagonsm OF their interests to
foreigners seeking like employments, who were
| undertaking them in the amount of wages. But
many capitalists of that section, the men who hold
| the land and property in their own hands, wishing
to dispense with labores and employees whose votes
at the polls are equal to their own seized upon this
new way Of effecng their old, long -cherished de-
| sire. And the more eagerly as they saw that many
| of the very whom they have ever dreaded as
the insuperable obstacle between them and their
purpose, had become the willing, though uncon-
sclous instruments of carrying that purpose out,
which, from the beginning, was desire to have
Uotingless population to do their work. and perform
all the labor, bothn city, town and country, which
capital may require. And as certainly as such a
law shall be passed far from its checking inmigrs
ton, there will be whole caTgoes of people from
other countries brought over, and literally bought
| up IN foreign por s-to be brought over in Ameri-
GIN ships to supply the market for labor throughout
all the free States of the Union. The African Slave
| Trade, if re-opened, would not exhibit a worse
| spectacle in trafficng in human flesh, than those
most deluded men OF the North who started this
| thing and Who are now aiding to accomplish the
end, may find they have but kindled flame to
consume themselves. The whole sub stratum of
Northern society will soon be filing up with a class
who can work, and who, though eehite cannot rote
This is what the would be Lords of that section
have been wanting for long time. 1t is q scheme
with many of them to get aUhite sldres instead of
6tacE ones No American laborer, seeking
employment there, who has pote need to expect
to be retained long when his place can be more
cheapfy filled by foreigner, who has none This
will be the practical working Of the proposed refor-
nation This is the philosophy of the thing 1t is
blow at the ballot box. IL is an insdious attack
upon general suffrage. In line with this policy,
the Know Nothing" Governor of Connecticut has
already recommended the passage of law denying
the right of goting to all who cannot read and write.
And hence, the great efforts which are now being
made throughout the North, to influence the cleo
tons, not only there, but in spending their money
IN the publication of books and tracts written by
nobody knows who" and scattered broad cast
throughout the Southern States to influence cleo
tons here by appealing to the worst passions and
strongest prejudices Of our nature, not emitting
those even which bad and wicked men can evoke
under the sacred but prostituted of religion.
Unfortunately for the country, many evils which |
all good men regret and deplore exist at this time,
which lave direct tendency, wonderfully to aid |
and move forward this ill-0menea crusade These |
relate to the appointment of so many foreigners
wholly unit, not only to minor offices at home,
but to represent our country, as Ministers abroad
And to the great frauds and gross abuses which at
present attend the administration of our naturali-
zatlon laws-these are evils felt by the whoecoun-
try, and they ought to be corrected. Not by pro-
scrption of all Foreigners, without regard to ind
vidual merits. But in the first place, by so amend
ing the naturalization laws as efectualy to check
and prevent these frauds and aliases. And in the
second place by holding to strict accountability st
the polls 10 our elections all those public function
aries, who, either with partzan views or from what
.14snaa hath