The Feliciana Democrat., 1855-10-06
The Hon. Reverdy Johnson Of MARYLAND.

wr;tten n letter to the executive committee of
PHILADELPHIA for celebrating the anniversary OF
the adoption of the Constitution, in which he
takes occasion to give his views, touching the
doctrines set forth by the know nothings, ex'
Guiding the naturalized citizen from holding Of
fee. He most cmphatically declares it to be
in violation of the constitution, and the more
aggravated because it is attempted to be done
through the ballot box. Hear him
"In ycsting in Congress the power to establish an
uniform rule Of naturalization" 1t was intended that
aliens by birth, might become citizens by adoption,
and by conning the exclusion Of such citizens from
the right to MI the Office Of President Of the United
States and from no other right, II was designed to
place them In all other respects an equality with
the natives,
II may be that in this stage Of our history 1t would
be we'll to change the existing rule. The period Of
residence may be too brief and the guards
against abuse insufficient: but to combine together
In any form TO exclude from Office, those who have
BEEN or may become naturalizcd under the present
rule Is as clear violation Of the Consttion as would
be forcbe denial Of any other right either Of per-
son or property. Ha. ro
That the wrong 10 to be done gives II no excuse.
The thing IL in itself at war with the Constitution
wholly irrespective of the means by which is com
mtted Indeed II is rather nm aggravation Of IT, as
abuses the sacred purpose of the franchise; by con-
verting II into an instrument Of Injustice from be-
ing as II should be, the means Of supporting all the
rights that the Constitution confers on the citizen.
But the aspect in which such combination, sue
cessfully carried out would present us to the world
should be matter Of deep regret, II would prove
Native Americans false to most solemn national
promise holds forth the expectation. in words
too clear for debate Of equality and rights This
after the expectation has been acted upon in good
faith by the emigrant denies It, It. therefore, car
ries with II national dshcnor. II makes also, the
Constitution what IL Is not. II changes the law
which all arc equally bound to obey in spirit, as
! we'll as letter. and makes for itself law"
Now what have our know nothing friends to
say to this. Here is one of our ablest consti.
tutional lawyers in the Union-onc who has
been Representative and Senator in Congress
and has held the Office of Attorney General o
the United States, under two Administrations
pronouncng as his deliberate opinion, that the
\ effort to exclude naturalized citizens from hol
: ding Office is as clear a violation Of the consti
!, tuition as would be forcible denial Of any othc
: right either Of person or property +.
Let it be remembered, that Mr. johnson
y Whig and always has been, and let it be re
membered also, that he is borne mt in his opn
ion by other very distinguished wings all owe
n the co untry to say nothing of the almost cntir
" democratic party, who are of the same way o
thinking, and his opinion deserves, at least re
+ spect from the know nothings hcreabouts, an
" should soften a little, their asperity of feeling
! towards the democrats of East Fcciana, VIII
# embodied the same sentiment in their rcsolr
ct tions some time ago.
III 1t was too manifest to escape the sagacity
n that able man, that the know nothings are seel
ing to do indirectly what they cannot do direc
ID ly. Hence, in his convincing argument a ltt
" further on, he asks, "If combination to IL
or injury of the naturalized citizen, merely b
It cause Of his being naturalized, is simpropcr, ho
ne much more improper if that be possible, is sue
ID n combination to affect the rights Of ctizel
whether native or naturalized because mere
m of his religious opinions" ~
Nc Again he says
to or the calamties which haV afflicted the wor
since the birth of Christ, 1t is not less true th
." strange that the most appalling have had their O
gin in differences of religious doctrine That fai
by which nculcates peace on earth and good will
ad man has in mans obquity and sin, frequently be
the actual cause of the most shocking crneties,
Abandoning altogether the example of its grt
founder, man has often attempted to teach its m
and heavenly doctrines by means Of the fagot n
nd the sword If the blood shed in these efforts, col
zen be collected, 1t would deluge much of the earth
If the agonies so caused could be now heard
8. one united voice, it would startle the world: A
yet all has been done in the name of q mild patc
re- self sacrificing and merciful God ...-z
With such results, how any Christian man
cs- doubt the duty of leaving matters of religion to
he settled between his brother and his Maker passes
,>,,, comprehension. And then too what practical
deity is there in any one or more sects assum
rh that they, of all others, the elect of Heaver
I'm, A self usllcency SO gross would be amusing, |
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