Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-08-25
"LAY ON, MACDUFF ~

Last Neeh we TecelVcu u ietteT from u Suo
scriber, stating that in consequence Of "tLe
injuries of the Know Nothing party, the prin'
ciples of which you are advocating with sc
much zeal" he wished from that moment thai
his paper be discontinued. This is not the
first subscriber-many have left for the same
reason.
We thank the gentleman for the compliment
he pays us. If, in advocating "Know Nothing
principles" he means that we are Jealous in
the cause that americans shall rule America
we have only for reply, that "come veal OF
come woe" we shall ever, while in an editorial
capacity, take pride in advocating such princi.
plies.
The gentleman alluded to mas been in this
country long enough to have grand children
married here, and we acknowledge, one among
The best and most honorable Of our citizens
yet he is so jealous of the political interests
OF his natiUe conntrymen, and seems to have
such q secondary love for the land and govern.
ment ere and under which he has lived so
long, mat he cannot patronize a newspaper,
because, f~orsooth, it advocates the princi pie
that the natives of the country shall Gil paliti-
cal offices. Let US ask the gentleman this
question: If you lived in France at the present
time, and it 70 happened that we were editing
a paper in some little village near which you
resided, and took it upon ourself to say that
Americans should have an equa! chance with
Frenchmen to fill the Offices of honor and trust
in France, would you side with US, and uphold
there the principle you are subscribing to here :
No-of cnurse not-he could not love the land
of his birth if he did.
Were native Americans, or those who are at
present favorable to that party, to act to-
wards those newspapers who are favorable to
the foreign party, as the aforesaid subscriber
acted towards US, We think there subscription
lists would be rapidly thinned. But it is not
so. Whether through magnanimity or indif-
we know not, but Americans continue
to take papers which not only abuse them
politically, but which. day after day and week
after week, stir up the passions and prejudices
of foreigners and lead them into excuses. by
calling their own countrymen TRAITORS" "mid.
assassins," and every other base epithet
parry madness can conceive. We do
lot wish the support Of those who think they
ire injured by the course we are pursuing;
,ut Americans should take notice of such ac-
ions, and act accordingly. We hold that it is
a bad rule that won't work beth ways"
A withdrawal Of patronage in consequence
f our course as an editor, can never in the
east affect Us. For more than seven years
re have labored zealously at our post, in the
of what we believed to be correct
%octrincs. We place too much reliance upon
ur individual energy and exertions, whatever
hey be, ever to allow pecuniary considerations
, influence our political convictions; perhaps,
e would have been better off if we had. We
onceive that we are in the care Of our politi-
Il friends and patrons. In pursuing the course
hich reflection tells US is right, we are conf
ent that we are but eehoing, in the main, the
'inciples which influence them. II they do
take sufficient interest in our prosperity as
see that we do not become embarrassed in
'nsequepce ofSour editorial course, then, in
led, a blow may be struck, by concert and
'mbination among our enemies, which we ,
mot parry, nor survive under its infiction.
We dislike to bring ourself or our affairs .
fore our friends and the public. In this arti- '
2, we feel that we are extending the topic to :
0 great a length but we are excusable now :
the score that we have just commenced our :"
yhth volume, and something relative to our
aud prospects is expected. :"
is due to US that our patrons be informed
what is progressing-and it is due to US :.
20, that we say 10 them that, under every ad- :
they will find US an untiring Sentinel :,
the American camp-and if at last we are "
ced to sink, it will be with the conscious -
is that we have performed our duty to the :"
est hour. Our friends are already fully cog.
ant, from past events, of the virulency of
ny minds in opposition to the success of .s
Journal. -
t is seldom that we do so, but we now ap. -
to our friends--to the friends of the Ame-.,
N csuse-to fill up the blanks in our sub. T 4,
lption list. caused by the Withdrawals Of !.
Sc subscribers who prefer to see foreigners b.
ng the political Offices of tho country in
to native born American citizens! ~
whom, by every right, divine and human, -,
'ngs every inch Of the public domain of
broad Republic!--its treasure, and every
lc office. also. in the gift of Congress and -
Chief Executive its ba~liot-boxes, like. "
is a glorious and heavenly heritage which ~
We born citizens received from their sires, ~
their purity was expected to be preserved :.
acred as honor and life. In view Of the
bination of foreigners and others to defeat ''
right which Americans have to fill e'.