Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-04-19
Mr.. Fillmore's Americanism

We lay before the readers of this mor,;.
Minerva, the following admirable docu,,o',
giving Mr.. Fimore's views on Amer;c,n;.
early in 1855. Though written to personal
friend-and never intended for the public evo
it is n manly and noble vindication of ,mo.
Gun principles-und as such, it must make tbo..
Journals and demagogues look little awlw..,
who have been endeavoring to disseminate H.,
impression that the American Party, Ind -.
an American candidate for President Tho l..
ter is replete with that pure and noble nitric.
ism which has ever been characteristic Of NJ,
lard Fillmore, and will be read with great iu,o,
est:
BrsFALo, New York, Jan, 8 ,s,,
RESPECTED FRlENp-IsAAc Nrwrox. :,
would give me great pleasure to accent WOW
kind invitation to visit Philadelphia if i ,ro
possible to make my visit private, and limit IL
to few personal friends whom should be han.
Ply to see; but know that this would be ou.p,
my power, and am therefore reluctantly com.
PEELED to decline your invitation, rs have done
others to New York and Boston. for tho ssm as
reason.
return you my thanks for YOUR inform,to,
to hear what is going forward; but iniependapn,,
of the fact that 1 feel myself Withdrawn FROM
the political arena, have been too much d.
pressed in spirit to take an active part in tbs
late elections. | contented myself with eivnr
silent vote for Mr. Ullman for Governor
While, however, | am an inactive observer ~
public events, | am by no means an indiHerpnt
one. may say to you in the frankness Of nr;'
vate friendship, that have for a long time look.
ed with dread and apprehension at the corrpn.
ting influence which the contest for the fore;s,
vote is exerting upon our elections. This seems
to result from its being banded together and
subject to the control of few interested and
selfish leaders. Hence, it has been subieeto If
bargain and sale, and each of the great politi.
cal parties of the country have been bidding tn
obtain it, and as usual in all such contests Tho
party which is most corrupt is most successful
The consequence is, that it is fast demoralizino
the whole country; corrupting the very foun.
tain of political power, and converting the bal.
lot box-that great palladium of our liberty
into an unmeaning mockery, where the rights Of
native born citizens are voted away by those
who blindly follow their mercenary and selfish
leaders.
The evidence of this is found not merely in
the shameless chaffering for the foreign vote at
every election, but in the large dsproportion Of
offices which are now held by foreigners at home
and abroad, as compared with our native cii-
zens. Where is the true hearted American
whose cheek does not Jingle with shame and
modification to see our highest and most CO.
veted foreign missions filled by men of foreign
birth, to the exclusion of native born? Such
appointments are humiliating confession to the
crowned heads of Europe, that Republican soil
does not produce sufficient talent to represent
Republican nation at monarchial Court
confess that it seems to me-with all due res
pect to others, that, rs general rule our coun-
try should be governed by native born citizens
Let US give to the oppressed of every country
an asylum and home i'll our happy land, give
to all the benefits of equal laws, and equal pro-
lection; but let us at the same time cherish as
the apple of our eye the great principles Of
constitutional liberty, which few who have not
had the good fortune to be reared in a free
country, know how to appreciate and still less
how to preserve.
Washington, in that inestimable legacy which
he left to his country-his farewell address
has wisely warned us to beware of foreign iDdu-
ence as the most baneful foe of republican
government. He saw it to be sure in differ
ent light from that in which it now presents it.
self; but he knew it would approach us in all
forms, and hence he cautioned us against the
tnsidlous rules of its influence. Therefore as we'll
for our own sakes to whom this invaluable in.
heritance of self-government has been left by
our forefathers, as for the sake of the unborn
millions who are to inherit this land-foreign
and native, let us take warning of the Father
of his Country, and do what we can justly to
preserve our institutions from corruption and
our country from dishonor, but let this he done
by the people themselves in their sovereign ca
pacity, by making a proper discrimination in
the selection of officers, and not by deprivDg
any individual, native or foreign born, of any
constitutional or legal right to which he is now
entitled.
These are my sentiments in brief; and al
though have sometimes almost despared Of
my country when | have witnessed the rapid
strides of corruption, yet think perceive
CLEAN of hope in the future; and now feel coz
fdent that when the great mass of intelligence
oused, and the danger manifested, it will fear
lessly apply the remedy, and bring back the
Government to the pure days of Washington's
administration. Finally, let US adopt the old
Roman motto, "Never despair of the Republic"
Let us do our duty and trust in that PROVE
dence which has signaly watched over and pre-
served us, for the result. But l have said more
than intended and much more than / should
have said to any one but a trusted friend, as
have no desire to mingle in political strife.
Remember me kindly to your family, and be-
lieve me truly your friend.
MILLARD FILLMORE.