The American patriot., 1855-09-01
Latter from D. 8. Dickinson on Nativism

o.
Ny DsARSrR: On my return to nv residence
a few days since from professional engage.
msnt abroad, found your favor Of late date
inouiring for my views touching the principles
Of the +" American" or Know Nothing" organ.
izstion. Before l found time to answer hur-
risd to this place to attend the Court Of Ap.
peals, now insession, where the business in
which am engaged affords hitle time or op.
portunity for correspondence.
will, however, as have no concealments
upon public questions, borrow moment from
my present duties to say quite hastily, that l
have no knowledge concerning the Oder 10
which you allude, except such as is acquired
from publications purporting to give informa-
ton upon the subjects, and must, therefore,
confne myself to such points a. are embraced
within this range 1t is generally understood
and conceded to be secret society or organi.
sation designed to set politically in the contests
Of the day. OF this secret feature entirely
disapprove, and am unable to understand bv
what necessity, real or supposed it twasrlictated,
or upon what principle it can be justified.
. Free public discussion and open action on all
public affairs are essential to the health-nay,
to the very existence-of popular liberty and
the day which finds the public mind reconciled
ind us far on our way to the slavery ofdespot-
ism. If good men may meet in secret for good
purposes, we can have no assurance that bad
men, under the same plausible exterior. will
not secretly sap the foundations of public vir-
tue
Whether l am in favor of their platform
upon the question Of domestic slavery, must
depend upon what It is; or rather whether
they are in favor Of mine. If their platform
is to be regarded as including, uphoiding, or
justifying such political monstrosities as the
Personal Liberty bill,', recently passed into
law by the Massachusetts, Legislature over
the veto Of Governor Gardner, then pro-
nounce it treason of the deepest dye-treason,
rank, unblushing and misunderstanding Of
public apprehension and condign punishment.
If upon this subject their platform conforms to
resolutions recently published purporting to be
the voice Of a majority of the convention as
sembled at Philadelphia, it is in substance the
same upon which have stood for years-upon
which did not enter without counting the
consequences, and which intend to relinquisb
only with life. I'have not now these reso,u-
tions before me-; but, as recollect them, I ap-
prove them in substance as sound national doc
trine. ignore no part Of the Federal Consti-
tuition, either in theory or in p-actic to court
the popular ca.2ric IS Of the MON mt, to g,n
public station or to minister to the nec.s :iti IS
or infrmities Of those in power. Nor can l
distrust the soundness of principles approved
upon full consideration under high sense of
duty, because others may choose to adopt and
embrace them.
cannot believe that any good can be accom-
plishcd by making the birthplace a test of f.
deity or merit It does not accord with, but
is at war with, the genius of our institutions.
That abuses have been practised by the ap-
pointment Of foreigners to places Of trust be-
fore sufficiently familiar with our Constitution,
laws, and social system, or to which, Fl ON cir
cumstances they were unsuited, is probable
This, however, is in some respects common to
native IS well as naturalized citizens, and arises
not from defective system, but from its erro-
neous administration. 1t is in both respects
the natural result Of placing in the hands of
the incompetent the distribution of public pat
ronage.
have been governed by considerations of JUS
the spirit of my country constitution. When
members of Congress engaged in steeple-
chase to see who should propose earliest, give
most and vote loudest, to feed suffering Ireland
from the federal treasury few years since,
not finding any warrant for such proceedings,
! voted against it, and let public clamor ex-
haust itself upon my head in denunciations.
When l learned that the foreigner, who had
In good faith declared his intentions of citizen
ship, by setting his foot upon foreign shore
in case of shipwr.ck, without any intention of
remaining abroad, let the benefit of his pro-
ceedings, introduced and procured the pas
sage Of bill to redress the grievance These
principles have governed my public conduct,
and now guide my opinions. The constitution
administered in its true spirit is, in my judg-
ment ,saficient for the protection Of all, whether
native or naturalized, and for the redress Of all
political evils which can be reached by human
government.
I have the honor to be your friend and SER
want,
D. S. DICKINSON.
CHARLES E. DYKE, ESQ.,,
Editor Floridian and journal.