The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-27
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. a7.
The American Party.

One Hhg Oo wei ASCOnlsneu at the pIctenO-
ed misconception in the public mind, and par
tioularly in that of the Democratic party, as
to the scope and meaning of the principles adj
vocated by the American party, and of the
aim sought for in its organization. In addi-
ton to this misconception, there are several
objections, which are urged with much We
hemence and some bitterness, against its name.
If the one could be removed and the other
met and overthrow, as in reason both ought
10 be In every healthy mind, much would be
accomplished, not only towards the continu-
ance of the prosperity and grandeur of the
Union, but to its internal peace and harmony.
So long as blind zeal and prejudice govern the
individuals of the Democratic party in refer
ence to their opinions of the American party,
Just SO long viii they use denunciation and
abuse instead of reason and philosophy in their
contest with the American movement, and 80
long viii mere partizan zeal harrass and divide
the people-even to the extent of disturbing
social relations, and put in perpetual danger
the quiet and harmony of the country.
Two great principles form the main features
of the party-amendment of the naturaliza-
ton laws and opposition to the appointment
or election to Offices of trust or honor of per
sons holding any allegiance whatever to any
foreign power or potentate. Let US see If they
are not justified in assuming these two propo-
sitions BY reasons of the most imperative ma
ture. And first, as to the naturalization laws.
The dense population and the general scarcity
of the necessaries Of life in Europe have drlv-
en-, and do annually drive, an immense number
Of persons from her shores to seek refuge from
public burdens and oppressive taxation, and to
gain livelihood in our own country. The
Americans do not propose either to prohibit
this immigration, or TO deprive the foreigner
of any of The protection secured by our laws
to the native population. Our opponents ar
que and denounce the American party as if
this was their object; and appealing to the
prejudices of the people, for their own party
success, they refer TO Lafayette, DeKalb, Pu-
laski and others who fought in the revolution,
as proof of the patriotism, orderly conduct
and general capacity of our foreign population.
Such argument and reference for proof beg,
but do not substantiate, their conclusion. La
fsyette Das q republican in principle, and the
country has amply compensated him for his
services and sacrifices of money and time,
materially as well as by the rich tribute of
their eternal gratitude But who of the others
came from the principles of individual liberty,
from hatred of Kingy rule, to fight against
the King of England in favor of American
constitutional liberty9 To say that certain
Europeans-Poles, Germans and Frenchmen--
were in certain battles Of the revolution; that
some of them died nobly fighting; that they
endured the hardships incident to every cam
paign; and thence to deduce that the naturali-
cation laws should not be amended so as TO
give our foreign population further time to
acquaint themselves with our institutions, is
not argument but pure ignorance or bare-faced
impertinenoe. We do not disparage the SER
vices of those foreign warriors. The country
paid them for their services, and 1t holds them
also in grateful remembrance. But because
some men from Europe-from love of adven-
ture--froIn ambition--to ill up the tedium of
sxie from their own country-or from the
hope to gain Office and emolument among, TO
them, primitive people, fought some cam
pSigns in the revolution, does it become us, or.
are we morally bound to give our fair domain
of constitutional liberty to be pillaged and
burned by her cast off populationf What is
the evil in relation TO our foreign population,
and the mild and equitable equitable both to
alien and nativc) remedy proposed by the
American party9
The evil is, not that they are here, but that
they are incompetent to exercise the franchise
privilege in proper manner without q more
perfect knowledge Of the workings of our in
situations, and more intimate acquaintance
with the customs and habits of our people,
than they can acquire in FIVE years. This truth
is self-evident as applied 10 the mass of the
immigration into OR country. With just
enough to pay their passage across the Atlant-
ic, and that TOO, TO Thousands Of them, scautiy
supplied by emigration companies, they reach
us destitute of the means Of procuring the daily
pecessaries of life. Among the honest portion
of these emigrants, even, the first object is
work, their first enquiry for employment, their
first aim to acquire means for sending for some
member OF their families whom destitutinn
leaves 10 Europe With these immediate aud
pressing necessities before them what Is their
fateR Ignorant of the language, ignorant Of
the habits of the people, strsngersin, TO them,
the strangest of lands their life is one Of toll if
they are honest, and of mistake and failure If
thew are Industrious. Disappointment follows,
and must follow lis it not our daily experienceD
high hopes, and the helpless foreigner sinks
into the animal, merely seeking the solace of
his passions and appetites. Under such cir
oumstances, living by compulsion such life, It
Is vain aud childish to expect them hardly 10
Be sensible eftle existence Of gorerHnasnt, much