Southern shield., 1855-08-25

attempted by Fresbyterians, Methodists, Bap- lists, Episcopalians, or any other sect.
 We have been charged with prescription. This charge is not true Like all other parties where men are sincere in their principles, we carry ont our principles. Is this prescription! If so, prescription should be defined as al honest adherence to conscientious principles; and with such prescription our Revolutionary ancestors, and every party since that day, are fairly chargatla It is alleged, further. that we are liable to this charge, because men q opposite principles in some cases have beer removed to make way for men of our Order l know of no such cases. It is true. that where the commission of individuals had eX- pired they were not reappointed, Americans having been selected to ilI those offices. But is this prescription? Did the immortal Wash ington surround himself with Tories? And yet the adherents of Great Britain, the friends of kingly power, were no more Tories in those days than are those of our own time, who are striving to dissolve the Union, to subvert our institutions, and to destroy our liberties. But, sir, even if we were guilty of prescription, the charge comes with a bad grace from this administration, where Q mere difference of opinion is regarded as sufficient ground for re- moyaI. and where the vacancies thus caused are filled. to great extent, with foreigners, the staunch adhercnts of Popery, or with spies and informers, the base tools ofbad men, who are thus rewarded for their infamy.
 Though you have thus virtually declared that not one of the American party, now in- cluding q large portion of the entire popula- tion of this country shall have no share in the government oftheir country. and that you will strike down every individual of the Or der within your power, rest assured that you cannot thus annihiate CT destroy that party, or crush the spirit of Americans. as you have threatened They are not of the stamp that can be bought or frightened. They are gov erned and directed by principle, and by that they will staud-and bear and forbear. if needs be-til the time shall come when they may redress tleir grievances at the ballot-b0x Earnestly do l bop1, however, that the ad- mnistratiOn will be brought to sec the error of its ways before that period arrives, and before the patience and forbearance of the American people are exhausted. And altho' ifs noon-day has been darEened by deeds such as those described. none woaId raioice more sincerely than myself, to see that darkness dis peUcd and its setting sun go down in q blaze of glory.
 Il is charged that bad linen have united with this association for the purposes Of personal, pecunary or political pre- erment. Admit ting such 10 be the fact and it may be true. 5sgs-,- s,;s tlse s-se-- -,--a--2.u Ma there not a Judas among the twelve Apostles. who sold lis Savior for thirty pieces og silver? Was there not 3 Benedict Arnold among the patriots and heroes Of the Revolution? And were there not swarms Of Tories. a'so among them, who carried devastation and blood into the peaceful homes of those patriots and he roes? Surely mankind have not become per- feet since those days, as you will readily see by countless examples among your own party.
 We are further charged with opposition to foreigners, and with ''obstructing the laws for the naturalization of foreigners"
 The former of these charges is false. As already stated, we oppose not individuals, for cign or native, but when we find foreigners combining to oppress the children of thesojI; bringing with them the absolute and despotic notions of their native homes; and arrogantIy thrusting aside nativc-bOrn citizens claiming as right place and power to rule over and trample in the dust, we resist and oppose such acts, as alike disgraceful to the foreigner and insulting to the native.
 They are welcome to the Inequalities of our land, to the protection of our laws-to the free exercise of their industry and talents and to the enjoyment of their religion, and the means they may acquire. But we do moi want them to rule over us-we believe we are competent to that duty, and prefer retaining that right.
 The latter of these charges is simply absurd and ridiculous, and never could have been har- bored, save in the brain of some romancer, CT in the heart of some pettilogging special pleader. The friend of civil and religious liberty who flies to our shores from peTsecu- tion, to enjoy those inestimable blessings, has been. and will ever be, welcome to our hearts and homes. But the willing tools of PapaI and Jesuitical tyranny, sent hither to over turn and destroy civil and religious liberty, can not be thus welcOmed while the pauper; and criminals, who have been sent here by the cargo, as to another Botany Bay, whose ideas of liberty are bound up in licentiOusness, anc whose patriotism and suf1rages are in the mar ket at a low rate, can not, and should not, bt encouraged in their transportation hlther.- Just such conduct on the part of Great Bri- ] tain was the cause of the strongest and mos forcible rernonstrances on the part of the carly colonists; and by such remonstranccS Virginia ceased to be penal colony. Those who de sire the restoration of such a state of things 1 will. of course sustain such emigration. Ger ] tain it is, that the immortal Jefferson never entertained such ideas, when he penned the glorious document from which this charge ha' been extracted; and it is equally certain, tha he would have scorned, with contempt, an. who would have dared so to construe it. But, enough the charge is too ridiculous an( absurd for consideration.
 l These, sir, as I understand them, are th PRINCIPLES" of the American party; ana now as to its "oBJECTs."
 These are briefly stated and naturally floV from it's principles. They are to restore ou, institutions to the purity of their early days and to require honesty, integrity, and capa bility in every department and office of the eX ecutive, legislative and judicial branches o our government. National men for nationa measures; Q strict construction of the constl tuition. the sovereign rights of sovereign i States fully respected; the legal rights Of tht people guaranteed to the utmost extent; clvl and religious liberty sustained and perpetual cd: all attempt at a union of Church ant 1 State crushed and annihiated; and the natural ization laws So amended that while the tor eicp-born citizens will be secured in all then inst rights, those of the Americans will bt fully sustained and protected. :,