Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-10-06
An Englishman's Opinion Of the Anne.
can Party.

An Englishman's Opinion Of the AIMEE
can Party.
We give below, says the Crescent, the opin-
sion fan Englishman, q resident of Maryland
respecting the principles Of the American par
ty. We think them full Of sound, practical
sense, worthy Of earnest consideration. We
hope they will be extensively read and serious.
Iy pondered over. The writer takes the right
view Of the great question: at issue, and con.
clusively demonstrates that, while the natives
Of all other countries exclusively rule those
countries, the same right attaches to, and of
right ought to attach to, the natives of the
United States. The communicate originally
appeared in Washington paper. The author,
after vowing that be had originally opposed
the American party proceeds to state the rsa.
sons which induced . radical change in his sen >
timents as follows:
AT first supposed that some Of the main
objects Of the Know-Nothing party were al.
variance with the constitution of the country:
but after reading attentively both the constitu-
ton and the principles in the American Organ,
especially the 10th, was conviced they were
not; and thus the greatest objection had to
Know Nothingism was at once removed, for
90 man in his senses will deny that the legis.
Iature Of any country has right to pass any
law that's constitutional. Now, the consitu-
ton does not cay what privileges and rights
q foreigner shall have; it merely says what they
shall moi have, and has left it entirely at the
discretion Of the legislator to fix the time of
probation, etc. But this fact is 80 plain. and so
selfsevident, its opponents have given up the
plea that it is unconstitutional to repeal or
modify the naturalization laws, and now ask
would it be good policy to do 50! In answer
to this question. would refer them to the
100000 foreigners that annually come to this
country. speaking different languages, brought
up under Institutions distinct from each other,
and, distinct from the Institutions of America.
protesting different religions, educated with
different notions, manners, customs, and usages
Of society, and would ask If il is not a moral
impossibility that. there should exist among
them such harmony Of feeling and such unity
Of sentiment as is needfnl to make them good
Lawmakers, or even - good private citizens
as native Americans, whose love Of their coun~
try snd knowledge Of their institutions have
grown with their growth, and 10, indeed, .
part Of their very natures AZ foreigner, ]
boldly assert that it 10. There is in every man,
care not how much Of oppression be may
have endured in his native land-how much
he may have been downtroddsn much
misery and want be may have suffered-there
is that love Of country, there il that instructive
fondness and attachment for the place where
ho& &sa shn tsS-hA Ak-A An
any circumstances get rid Of it. immigration, or
perhaps other circumstances, may prevent its
further growth, but il cannot and does not de-
stroy il; they may love the land Of their sdop~
ton, but they cannot look with an eye single
to its interests, at least not - can b native;
and therefore, l say that liberty forwhich their
lives-those institutions which Auarieans snd
well-disposed foreigners 20 high kline, arc
safest in the hands 81 Americans, Sud III their
hands would rather they should REM I'm
sgine the reins Of government in the hSAds Of
such men % Soule, Kossuth, John Mitchell,
Francis Mesgher, and where should we, Ameri-
cans and foreigners, altogether, GOT don't
know, but /, for one, should, be for shutting
my eyes, that ! might not see "my own do.
stsuction." q
Nov, IL I undersand the subject aright the
Americans are willing to live under the same
laws they make for foreigners. They only
claim the right to make them. That right 10
indisputably theirs, and let them enjoy it.
Well disposed foreigners will not fail TO zee
the danger Of letting foreigners occupy Offices,
ETC., and am cure will chesrfully bow their
heads in Submission. Some Of them may claim
that they have no love remaining for the place
Of their birth: that memory never carries back