Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-09-29
The Slanderers of Americans.

remarks Of that paper to our columns, confden
they will find warm response in the bosom
every American freeman, not excepting very
many of our adopted citizens, who have them
selves become SO thoroughly american in hear
and in life from long residence in this country
that our free institutions of civil and religious
liberty have excited their highest admiration
Rut the Cumberland Telegraph shall speak fol-
ITSELF
The American party having risen upon the
ruins of both the old political parties, they, SO
far as their impotent fury will permit, have
assailed its members with more malignant and
vulgar assaults, both upon their public and
priyate character and motives, than ever be.
fore distinguished any party. For this partic-
MAR feature anti-Americanism occupies pre-
miygnce above all other parties. There is nc
eAthet, however mendacious; no cry, however
specious; and no language, however unbecom-
inc. that is not resorted to, in order to effect
it's purpose Such epithets as /" bigots," enid
night assassins," "dark lantern conspirators, ~
"enemies to the constitution" "murderers,"
"a Christless, Goddess crew." etc. etc., are
applied Unfortunately to their countrymen,
whilst those that have been born in a foreign
land, aliens by birth and in feeling, are the
living synonyms VI oAA Guos 40 6oou uAu StCoe
and patriotic.
Yes foreigner, according to the argu-
ments # the anti-Americans, is every way and
in every essential better citizen, more de-
voted to the institutions of the country, and has
q greater concern for the perpetuity of the
Union than you, reader, who dave been born
upon the soil, and reared up from the cradle
with that glorious remembrance, growing and
expanding in your bosom with each succeeding
day, that this was the land of your fathers, pur-
chased by their blood and treasure, and handed
down as priceless heritage unto you, which
you were to love next to your God, and sacri-
fee your devotion to it, if needs must be, with
your life. alt was here that the light of
Heaven first blessed your infant view, and
nature breathed into your infant heart that
death can chill" And yet, some of your de-
generate countrymen claim that the descen-
dants Of many of those who fought against
your fathers in that struggle between human
liberty on one side, and human tyranny upon
the other, which terminated in making us
free and independent people, are more worthy
of enjoying this glorious legacy than you
more able, aye, more willing to perpetuate the
blessings Of free government than you or
your neighbor who are "native and to the
manor born" This is because they are Ameri-
can citizens by "choice," and you by "chance."
This invidious distinction is sought to be
crammed down our threats by INSCRIPTIONS
demagogues pandering to the foreign vote and
if we refuse to swallow it without making
wry face, we are denounced in language, the
distinguished feature of which is its brutal
vulgarity, unbecoming to those who have any
respect for themselves or for their fellow-men.
1t is with shame and modification that we are
compelled to acknowledge these individuals as
our countrymen; but Notifying as it is, it is
no less true. They are our countrymen, but
oh !! how fallen, how degenerated!
Will native born Americans submit to these
things p Will they, can they view this conduct
on the part Of the opposition without feeling
of indignant scorn, with the high, the noble
resolution to put an end to it by crushing out
and exterminating party that stoops to means
SO degrading to our national pride in order to
accomplish its nefarious designs? We think
that you will not. aye, we know that you will
not. You cannot without feeling that you have
degraded yourself and banished from your
heart all those noble impulses of patriotism
which you have always cherished for your
country.
An ELOQUENT spEEoH.-Not long since Gov
ernor Foote, formerly Of Mississippi, but now Of
California, delivered a lengthy and powerful
speech in the latter State in defence of the
great principles of the American organization.
The following are the concluding portions of
the address, to which we invite particular at
tention. They are truly eloquent, and draw
plain line of demarcation between the love of
country and the love of party-the latter of
which has been altogether too strong for the
well-being of the former, the past few years:
Fellow citizens Do you blame us for desir-
ing to attain the objects which | have now
averred to be those for the securement of which
the American party has been organized? Do
you censure us for loving our country more
than party ?--for preferring principles to names ?
for being anxious to revive in our midst the
old spirit of american nationality which has
been 50 rapidly, of late, growing enfeebled
among US, and which seemed likely, in a few
years more, to become utterly extinct? Do
you condemn us for warning against corrup- |
ton for defending the supremacy of the laws,
and struggling with all our energies for the
perpetuation Of the Union? cannot believe
it. see, by unmistakable tokens, that you
too are on the side of your country; that you
too are tired of the accursed bondage of party /;
that you are willing to commingle your efforts
with ours to relieve our native land from the |
contamiuating dominion of spoils-mongers, and |
secure 1t against all influences, either foreign Or
domestic, which may menace it with injury or
threaten it with dishonor. You are portion
Of the great army of American patriots who I
hare embodied themselves for the war now
openly to be prosecuted against the enemies Of |
freedom, the opponents of enlightened progress,
and the affiliated legions Of corruption and |
knavery. The great battle Of principle is now
commencing. America and americans are in |
the held--for " their lives, their fortunes, and