The true Democrat., 1855-11-06

tion to our shores, although probably greater then than now? Nothing: our whig opponents found nothing to condemn or disapprove But when the election was over, and the whigs saw that neither adulation, tricks nor stratagems could seduce republican foreigners from their duty and bring them to the support of their cause; the danger of foreign votes to them be- gan to be apparent, and native Americanism rose for the first time in their bosoms! When stripped of all disguise, the wrong was that fo reigners had committed the unpardonable of fence of voting against whigs and for democrats, and were more likely to attach themselves to the democratic than the whig party. This was enough to develope in the whig camp those intense American feelings" which are now reflected in the Know Nothing mirror.
 One not familiar with our history might sup pose that foreigners had been enemies to our country and institutions and there can be no question, that Know Nottingham is ripe to adopt another alien law worse than the frst.- The power only is wanting, and may Providence avert the evil hour when they shall obtain 1t. Have our opponents forgotten, how many fo- reigners aided us in our revolutionary struggle! Do they feel no gratitude for that? Have they forgotten the name of Lafayette, the compa- nion of Washington? Have they forgotten him, who in the flower of his youth, and when man. hood had scarcely dawned on his brow-when darkness and gloom hung over the colonies in 1777, came to our minister at Paris and said "Now is precisely the moment to serve your cause. The more people are discouraged, the greater utility will result from my departure, and if you cannot furnish me with vessel, I will freight one at my own expense, to convey your despatches and my person to the shores of America" And he did it. He left a bride, young, beautiful and attractive-the gayest court in Europe-frends the warmest-a coun- try he adored to take part in the revolutionary war, and become one of the military family of Washington. And when he reached the shores of America he came to the Continental Congress and said, "I am come to request two favors of this assemblage of patriots; one is that 1 may serve in your army: the other is that 1 receive no pay"
 And how did they receive him? By show ing dStrust of foreigners or turning cold eal to his offer? No! They received him like a brother and put upon their records unanimous ly this resolution:
 Whereas, the Marquis de Lafayette, out o his great zeal to the cause of liberty in which the United States are engaged has left his fa- mlly and connexions at his own expense and come over to offer his services to the United States without pension or particular allowance, and is anxious to risk lis life in our cause:
 Resol0ed, That his service be accepted, and that ln consideration of his zeal, ilustrious fa- mlly and connexions he have the rank of ma jor general in the army of the United States"
 Was he in search of rank? He had that at home, for he stood first among the French mo- bility. Was he in quest of emolument? He had prlncely fortune which was devoted to our cause He raised, clothed, armed, equip ped and disciplined at his own expense two thousand men, and commanded them in the revolutionary war-supplied Washington with 6O,OOO francs for the public service-dsplayed consummate generalship in the campaigns of 170O, and 179l, bore conspicuous part in the bloody battle of Brandywine, and was there wounded-bore an equally distinguished part on the plains of Monmouth, and at the seige of Yorktown; and possessed the unlimited con- fdence of Washington. The revolution clos ed-Amerlca was free, and Lafayette returned to his native France; and after forty years had elapsed, paid visit to America. States, com muntles, cities, all classes and conditions rose up to do him honor, and welcomed the illus trous patriot to our shores. Thank God there was no Know Nottingham, then in the land tc insult that noble Frenchman, and make him feel that his blood had been split and his for tune experded to little purpose, if the inheri- tance of liberty could only be shared by those to the manor born"
 Let me fellow citizens refer to another the Baron Steuben, German, who was general under Frederick the Great, of Prussia, and whc came to America in TIT, and whose ashes now sleep on American soil When he landed he addressed this noble letter to the Continental Congress-:
 The honor of serving a respectable nation engaged in the noble enterprise of defendina its rights and liberty, is the only motive thai brought me over to this continent I ask nei. ther riches nor titles. 1 am come here from the remotest end of Germany, at my own ex pense and have given up an honorable and lu cratlve rank. l have made no conditions with your deputies in France nor shall 1 make any with you. My only ambition is to serve yol as volunteer, to desire the confidence of you general-ln-ch chief, and to follow him in all hi. operations, as have done during seven cam paigns with the king of Prussia. Two anc twenty years passed in such school, seem tC give me right to think myself in the numbe of experienced officers, and if 1 am possesse ot some talents in the art of war, they should be much dearer to me if 1 could employ then Ai' 'A4S SSi iNO Oi t ICpuuIlC, SuCu as uOD soon to see America. 1 should willingly pur chase at my whole blood's expense the homo ot seeing one day my name after the defen ders of your liberty. Your gracious accep tance will be sufficient for me- and I ask n other favor than to be received among you officers"
 The continental Congress having no mea jealousy of foreigners, accepted his service and made hlm a major general
 These were the sentiments by which foreign CTS were actuated-these their feelings and mo tlves Ill engaging in the war of the revolution And were these all? No. Pulaski; DeKalb Count de Grasse; Count de Rochambeau; Maio General Lord Sterling; General Lee, and host of others all foreigners-have a higl place Tn our history on account of uniting witt our countrymen in the noble struggle for inde pendence. It is high place which the van dallsm of Know Nottingham cannot reach- bright page which Know Nottingham may ig nore but can never blemish or destroy.
 Has emigration been of no advantage to ou country? Who has made our canals and ou railroads-worked our mines and subdued tn forests of the west? Have not foreigners had large share in it. and have they not in the mai proved themselves peaceable orderly and in dustrlous citizens? In the great valley of tn Mississippi, with Its vast resources as yet un developed do you not find them every wher readily accommodating themselves to our insti utions and ready to defend them from foreig or domestic foes :?
 How absurd to suppose, that when they hay escaped from the expressions and exactions c the old and decaylng monarchies of Europe they could feel anything but attachment to free government where neither could exist an, where civil rights, and religious freedom ar protected by constitutional guarantees |? Th criminals and paupers of Europe! Why fellow citizens it is those kind of persons who are no generally able to come, and such as do bear al insignificant proportion to those emigrants o means and of industrious habits, who migrat to this favorite spot of the globe, bring witt them their household gods, and soon surroun themselves with all the comforts and con veniences of civilized life.
 IT. al hat H.. r