Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-13

IS supposed, TO answer some particular end in
viewf
The correct answers TO these questions may fur
nsh some Of the reasons which, II is sald have led
TO the formation Of what are called "Know-Noth-
Ing societies, or associations. They are designed
in part, to embody tbs Native American strength
on such occasions, in orderthat, being 80 combined,
Ii may be brought more eflectually TO bear In OPP
posing and defeating the too forward, and often
impertinent interference Of foreigners in the poti
cal concerns OF the country and especially in cleo
tons; as TO which Il is known some Of them often
act very turbulenty and riotousy and also TO hold
in check what Is deemed TO be the ambitious views
of the Roman Catholic Church. which, il is be-
heved, Is ever on the alert TO increase Its power
and influence, which, when acquired IL is appre-
hended apt TO be perverted to effect unhallow-
cd ends.
As to the latter part Of the said questions, which
relates to the secrecy feature of the KnowNothing
Organization. that shall be attended to hereafter.
From what has been 20 far said, Il must mani
feetly appear that the Know Nothing organization,
based mainly, as It IL, upon the principles of Ma
tive Americanism," however much complained OF
and attempted 10 be yilfed, may very justifably
assume the position of acting in self defence Yes,
the writer repeats, in sey defence only II seeks
not to deprive foreigners Of any right TO which
they can be regarded as properly entitled, upon
the score Of national courtesy hospitality, hui
manity; nor Roman Catholics Of any right to which
they are legitimately entitled Its sole aim Is, to
defend and protect themselves, as Native Ameri-
oans, In the possession and enjoyment of thoee
rights which, being prior and primary, they are
bound to regard as also paramount, in every res
pect, to any which foreigners have right to claim
and upon this principle they regard nativcborn
citizens as entitled generally to the benefits and
enjoyment of the public Offices Of the country.
They consider that native-born citizens, as a
general rule, are much safer depostaries Of such
I,ttiao fvt1I he
more likely to be faithfully discharged by them
than by foreigners; and as to Roman Catholics,
they consider it would be impotc to intrust them
TO any extent with important public offices for the
reasons before stated. The annual foreign immi-
grafton to this country It is well known, has, with
In few years past, greatly exceeded any previous
amount for the last nine months especially, 1t is
said to have reached the unprecedented number Of
about fourth Of million, and it will doubtless
continue at a very high figure during the existence
Of the present mammoth European war, and even
after 1t shall have ceased, owing to the unbounded
and rapidly developing resources of the country,
the cheapness of lands the greater facilities afford
cd for acquiring the means of subsistence in it,
than In older foreign countries, and other causes.
This immigration too, thus continually and rap
idly pouring In upon u.s. will be necessarily COM
posedsof every grade and description OF character
hut chiefly Of the most ignorant and destitute, and
10 no small extent of the most depraved and vicious
cass Of the nations from which ii comes; and being
thus ignorant and totally unnfonmed as to the char
acter of our government, laws, and institutions,
and also, with habits and customs, and, in many
instances language, SO entirely different from
own must necessarily result in still further creating
in the large cities and towns, as well as in the
tons of country in which it may be located, very
mongrel, heterogeneous and discordant population.
Such foreign immigrants, il Is clear, too, cannot,
on their first arrival in the country, nor for con-
siderable time thereafter, be qualified and prepared
10 unite and harmonize with the Native American
population, or ntclligibly aid in adopting and car
rying into effect such municipal laws and regula
tons as are best suited to the condition or wants
Of the communities in such cities, towns, or sec
tons of country of which they are entirely ig-
norant.
For this reason, the Know Nothing organization
proposes and intends to insist, as the writer is
given TO understand, that the present .naturalza-
zion laws shall be revised and amended or
changed by Congress as to extend the time Of pro-
baton of foreigners after their arrival in the
try, and before they are allowed to participate fully
with paive-born citizens in all the rights and prvi
leges OF citizenship, to a much longer period than
it is now fixed at.
II is also proposed that more suitable and effect.
ual legal provisions shall be adopted in order to
prevent foreign paupers, as well as criminals dis
charged from the overcrowded jais Of the densely-
populated and corrupt cities Of Europe, from being
transferred to our ports, as it is understood they
lately have been, to an immeasurable and intoera-
BILE extent.
It has been stated, upon reliable authority, that
the hospital statistics Of the United States show
that there are about $4,000 inmates within the
walls Of the said hospitals Of which about So 600
more than half-are foreigners--thus thrown upon
u to be cared for and supported in addition to our
nativeborn paupers--a most startling fact, as
saredly, If true.
This therefore, is all or to the full extent, the
amount as far as the writer is advised Of the obi
Gus prescription, ncapactos Disqualification, dis
Embellishments and restraints, political and reli-
pious so much deprecated by Mr.. Wise, and which
the "Know-N othings,n he imagines, wish to impose
or inilict on foreigners and Roman Catholics, and
about which he has written SO much, and 80 elabo-
rately--but which literally and absolutely amounts
to just aoth;ng.
The writer win now, In conclusion, say word
o. two as to the momcntous matter Of secrecy con-
n,cted with the Know Nothing organization, which
s,sms TO be such a raw head and bloody bones"
with Mr. Wise and many others, but more feigned
perhaps than real for want Of better, some
other ground Of opposition.
In the first place, It may be remarked, that to
raise such an cutlery against any society assoca-
ton, merely upon the ground Of secrecy in some
respects 20 any extent In its proceedings or Or
canizatlon, adopted it should be presumed through
some motive of expediency or policy, and perhaps
Intended to be temporary only, or 10 exist only
during It's incipent state, may be the case with
the know-Nothing organization--to the extent
which I. has boon raised as TO this organization
without being able to point to single ostensible
fault, or condemn one Gifts overt acts-although
euch acts have been before the public, and subject
70 the argus-eyed scrutiny Bipartisan leaders for
considerable time past--in the prominent part as
before stated, which 1t has taken in the elections
Of various public officers 10 important trusts and
10 which 1t has been, in many cases, triumphantiy
successful IL something to which the writer
scarcely know how to attach name and, more
over, that such man as Mr.. Wise should be found
In such category Of errors dealing heavy missiles,
at mere imaginary spectres In the dark or be
knows not what ia, indeed, surprisingly strange.
As to the motive or motives which may have
specially led to the secrecy feature untracedin the
Know Nothing organizations the writer is not Of
the body he can speak Of course conecturally only