Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-09
THE WHIG PARTY AND "OUR ADOPTED
NC

THE WING PARTY AND "0UR ADOPTED
CITIZENS"
The vituperation Of our ioreign:born population
by the Know Nothing Wing press, will provoke tho
indignation ofevery man from whose nature all sense OF
Justice and 81 generous susceptibility are not o1te;
rated by the corqpting influence Of partisan passion
aud prejudice
TO Justify its prosorptye principles, Know Moth
ingism represents foreign'born population az
wanting both the capacity and the desire to discharge
the obligations Of citizenship They are to be e&clu'
ded from the rights and privilege OF reemen on tho
ground both OF ncompetency and of indifference to
the interests Of the country.
Now we affirm that the indictment OF tile Know
Nothing press against foreign-born Americans, Is
rross .nd infauous libel and We challenge praoi OF
the degrading accusations which theyar arralgned
before the world Are they besottod, ignorant vul:
Gar crew, as painted by KnowNothing scribblers /
For answer we point Agassa LitbeF and ahei dis.
tineushed ssyants and Itersti Of fcreigpbrth, who
contribute their science and their genius to tho glory
of America. Are they lazy vaeahonds, without stake
in the community The intelligent, industrious and
thrifty merchants of foreign-birth in our own cities
may answer this interroga:ory. Have they exhibited
incapary iufdolity in discharging the duties OF
citizenship Have they been ukewarn or treache-
rous in the hour of tria7 In reply 10 this question,
and IL general GteLiaCn the character 81 our for
eigu- born fellow citi. ems we will uiduce tho auhor
ty of one whom the Know Nothing Whig press will
not undertake TO discredit Hear what Winfield Scott,
the late candidate Of the Know Nothing Wing party
for :.e Presidency; alrns ol the the patriotism and
character Of our toreign-boru population
''You have been pleased sir, to allude to our adopt
ed citizens. can say that the Irish, the Germans
the Swiss, the French the Rrcns end other adopted
citIsons Uush ~ the rank, under the same CO.
lors, side BY aide with natiYe Americana, exhibiting
like courage and efficiency and uniting ut every vic
tory IN the same enthusiastic shouts in honor Of
1sg and our country. From Vera Cruz t9 tho CAPT
ts! CT Mexico, there was generous rivalry in he
roc daring and brilliant achievements. Let those
who witnessed that career Of ralor and patriotism
say, if they can, what race according to numbers,
contributed most to the general success and glory ot
the campaign In the many hard fought there
10 room for invidious distinction. 4iU prored
themselves tie faithful Of our belored country, aud
spectator could fail to dismiss any imaginary pre-
ludce he might have enlertaiuea "a to the compare
tive inertia Of Americans by brth and Americans by
adoption"
And mark, this language was spoken, not in tho
progress Of the canvass, when it might have been the
uerance Of interested motive and biasscd Judgment
but before Genoral Scott wns candidate for the Pres
dency, and ia therefore the honest and deliberate
conviction of his mind. 1t was spoken at Elizabeth
town. Nj, Immediately AFTER his return from Mexi"
CO, in reply to deputaton f.oE. the Common Coun.
cl OF New York. And thcso very words wero para
a'd in the Whig press, during the late Presidential
canvas, Us juGt and noble sentiments, and worthy
"'0 applause Of the country. We will hazard tho as
''"" That they were printed in the Richmond 'iAfg,
'"' other eucgy OF foreign born citizens from
- sumo souroei and we srs allowed access to the
's Poper' We will promise TO make good our
pcN ;"y' moro we venture to affirm that 1t
WIN ePp0" 'ton' our r"ssrcLea among the flcs Of the
A'eHmoha 'fn's that The Richmond Wig endorsed
aaa appauoea oil lie siskeuins dattery of the now
ealumnated t9,etghters, in which Gan Scott ;ndul
ged in the progress OF the Canvass Still farther: we
will undertake to show that the Richmond It1ig &C.
cused Franklin Pierce Of hostility to reiiriou. Lc,fu
because of clause in the Constitution of New Hemn
shire, which, to some sIteat, disfranchsed Roman
Cotaol!c citizens AL these things We promise to a.
,ablish if the editor Of the Wig will lend US his files
for the year 1884, The favor shall be recprocascd By
an invitation to the editor Of the Nag to visit the
Enquirer office, and inspect s 6les at his pleasure.
Now we PROFOUND this inquiry to the people: will
hey suffer the Wing party to sufy and falsify itself
Z this aagrsnt mannsr' VIII they rsposs any con
'd'acs in party whiOh put, on such various dis