Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-27
The Richmond Enquirer.

paragraph from the leading editorial Of the
Richmond Enquirer Of yesterday, to wit:
"THE PARTY WITHOUT Principles Like every
other stupendous imposture Of which there is any
record in the history Of human depravits Know
nottingham appeals to the popular sympathies with
the loiest pretensons Of regard for the virtue and
well-being of mankind. And, as in every other
instance the essential selfshness and wickeduess
of the imposture have either been discovered by
the popular intelligence, or been betrayed by its
own base and evil practices In the moment of its
triumph, 30 vii ypocritical pretences Of Know
Nothingism b. ted by the public, or be ex-
posed in its owl corrupt and mischievous develop
ment. No more can the moral than the physical
pestilence, however deadly and destructive in its
wrath long interrupt the healthful operation Of ma
lures laws. Reason will assert its sway error
truth will triumph in the end over falsehood and
delusion"
1t is really quite refreshing to witness the
desperation of the leaders of the Forney and
Pierce party in Virginia. It gives us encour-
agement 1t satisfies us that the enemies Of
Amerisanism have no longer any hope of sue
cess. The battle is already won over an ad-
versary when argument fails him, and he resorts
to Billingsgate.
| And so Americanism is "stupendous inn
posturel |" The love Of ones country is crime.
Efforts to check the growth Of demagoguism
are "selish" and wicked" To place guards
against the introduction of European pauper-
ism and crime, is "base and evil" To purify
the ballot-box, by the exclusion of foreign ig-
norance, folly, and RIGHTEOUSNESS therefrom, is
corrupt and mischievous." In fine, accord
| ing to the views Of the Richmond Enquirer,
| Americanism is "pestilenceln
What say you, americans" to this vitu-
peration, this abuse, this calumny2 What say
you Virginians? Is "Americanism" the de-
testable thing thus described by the once lead
| ing press in the Old Dominion9
1t was your oWn Washington who declared,
that he wished there was not single foreigner
in the command of troops, during the Revolu-
ton, save Laayettel
1t was your own Washington who said, at
does not accord with the policy of this govern
ment to appoint foreigners to Office, civil or
| military, to the exclusion OF Americans"
1t was Washington who said, that it was not
good policy to encourage the immigration Of
foreigners.
1t was Washington who said,
Against the insidious wiles of foreign inHu-
ence-I conjure you to believe me, fellow -citi-
zens--the jealousy of free people ought to be
| constantly awake; since history and experience
| prove, that foreign influence is one of the most
baneful foes Of a republican government"
But these warnings, the Richmond Enqui-
rer would have you not only disregard, but
treat with scorn.
II was your own Jefferson, too, who, in the
language of patriotic prophecy, as to the future,
spake thus:
81 hope we may find some means. in future, Of
shielding ourselves from foreign influence, politi.
cal, commercial or in whatever form 1t may be at
tempted. / can scarcely withhold myself from
joining in the wish Of Silas Dean, that there were
an ocean of fire between this and the old world
And yet such Amerieanism as that of Wash
ington and Jefferson is stupendous impos-
ture" 1t is selfshness and wickedness;" it
is corrupt and mischievous;n it lisa "moral
pestilence"--or the opinions of the Richmond
Enquirer are to pass for noughtl Americans,
what say your Are the opinions Of the edi-
tors Of the above-namcd press Of more 'oeight
and cdlue than those of the illustrious and inn
mortal Washington and Jefferson2 Which,
think you, were the more disiaterestedf
Your Washington and Jefferson spake their
sentiments for the benefit Of their country,
but we opine that the editors Of the Enquirer
speak theirs for the benefit of their party and
themselvesf
That the Forney and Pierce party viii be
overthrown in Virginia, we consider hardly an
open question it is fixed fact" to be pub
licly and officially proclaimed at the polls next
May, nor will the raUings Of their party presses
change this destiny.
Temnoral Power 0f the Poue