The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-10-13
Letter of Hon. Jere. Clemens In

We give the following extracts from
the recent letter written by Hon. Jere.
Clemens, late Democratic U. s. Senator
from Alabama, in vindication of the prin-
ciples of the American Party.
'"When one of the seven wise men of
Greece visited the court Of Fernandez of
Corinth, he was asked "what was the
most perfect popular government :" He
answered, "that in which the law had no
superior" This answer, which contains
Il whole volume of truth and beauty in
single line, is the foundation of the Know
Nothing creed. They made it in the be-
ginning the basis of their platform; not
designedly, for very probably the answer
OF the sage was not remembered, but
reason, reflection, and earnest, patriotism,
led them to the same results. Accord
ngly we find that every member is i'm
peratlvely required to acknowledge the
law, as established by the Constitution,
to be suprcmc.-Obcdiencc to its MAN.
dates is inculcatcd as the highest duty,
and disobedience is certain to be follow
ed by expulsion. Thus far | am sure
the most violent will agree with me,
that there is nothing to condemn-that
there is something to applaud.
The remaining portions of the plat
form may be disposed of satisfactorily, l
think, if not as briefly as the first. Amer
leans shall rule America-in other words
for | mean to deal with no equivoca-
tion-no evasion-to cover up nothing,
dodge nothing, deny nothing,-in other
words, then, that native born Americans
shall fill all Offices of political Importance
under the government. l do not mean
mere money Offices, such as President of
bank, railroad or other corporation,
but every Office which gives its holder an
influence on the legislation of the coun-
try. These are the Offices from which
We are pledged to exclude foreigners,
and this is the position / am prepared to
maintain. 1t is not denied that we have
enough and more than enough competent
Americans to fill every Office We have to
bestow, but it is urged that such dis
tinction is odious and unjust to our for
eign population. How is it unjust? He
has been deprived of nothing by his inn
migration here. In his own land he did
not even have the right of suffrage. His
property was never for an hour secure.
His personal liberty was constantly in
danger. He could not write or speak
his sentiments with inpunity. He was
ground down with taxes. A press gang
might at any moment tear him from the
bosom Of his family, or an oppressive
landlord turn that family houseless upon
the world.
Gall this is changed. We have given
him the right to vote. We have given
him peace. We have given him security.
We have given him independence, and
now because we will not give him the
right to make the laws by which we are
to be governed, he forgots in his arro-
CANT ingratitude the hundred blessings
we have showered upon him, and repays
the safety of the Altar by malignant as
pensions of the Minister to whom he owes
his protection.-It is delusion to talk
about the rights of the foreigners. Priu-
ileges is the proper word. We were not
pouHu 10 eHtenu 10 them tne rlBnt or
suffrage. We are not bound to give
them protection, liberty, peace, indepen-
dence. All these were voluntary gifts.
1t was philanthrophy in its broadcast
sense, Nor is there one of the millions
who food the country who would not
have exchanged his own land for ours,
then if the Constitution had denied him
eve privilege of voting. The other adj
vantages he obtains would have been
sufficient and more than sufficient to have
made him anxious for shelter beneath
the wings of tho Eagle. Where then is
the injustice. He has all he asked, more,
much more than he would have been
willing to take
Bat il is argued that in excluding the
| foreigner from office, the American party