Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-04-17
From the New York Express.
Millard Fillmore on Amcricanism

The New York Herald having called for
the letter written by Mr.. Fillmore to Isaac
Newton, of this city. we have procured the
same, and now present it TO our readeas.
The letter, though private, contains SEN
timents which every American should de-
sire to see published far and wide: .
BurrALo, New York, Jan. 3, 1855.
Respected friend:
ISAAC NEWTON: 1t would give me grGa
pleasure to accept your kind invitation to
visit Philadelphia, if it were possible to
make my visit private, and limit it to few
personal friends whom | should be most
happy to see; but know that this would be
out OF my power, and l am therefore reluct
antly compelled TO decline your invitation,
as have done others to New ork and Bos-
ton, for the same reason.
lreturn yo" many thanks for your infor-
nation on the subject of politics. am al
ways happy to hear what is going forward,
but independent Of the fact, that | feel
myself withdrawn from the political arena,
have been too much depressed in spirit to
take an active part in the late elections.
contented myself with giving silent vote
for Mr.. Ullman for Governor.
While, however, | am an inactive observ-
er of public events, am by no means an in
different one, and | may say to you in the
ffankness of private friendship, that have
for long time, looked with dread and APP
prehension at the corrupting influence which
the contest for the foreign vote is exerting
upon our elections. This seems TO result
from its being banded together, and subject
to the control of a few interested and selfish
, leaders. Hence, it has been subject of
: bargain and sale, and each Of the great po-
litical parties of the country have been bid
ding to obtain it, and as usual in all such
contests, the party which is most corrupt is
| most successful The consequences is, thai
/ it is fast denoralizing the whole country: ccr-
: rupting the very fountains of political pow
er, and converting the ballot box--that great
palladium of our liberty-into an unmeaning
= mockery, where the right of natlve-born
$ citizens are voted away by those who blind
o ly follow their mcrccnary and Sc fish lead
ers. The evidence Of this is found not mere
" ly in the shameless chaileriDg for the fer
o eign vote at every election, but in the large
= diSproportion of Offices which are now hel
) by foreigners at home and abroad, as com
: pared with our native citizens. Where i
- the true hearted American, whose chce
,e does not tinge with shame and mortifca
Of tion to see our highest and most coveted for
eign missions filled by men Of foreign brit
10 10 the exclusion Of native-born? Such ap
- pointnents are humiiating confession /
the crowned heads OF Europe that Repub
n, lican soil does not produce sufficient taler
ne to represent Republican nation at a INC
Il narchial Court. confess that it seems t
ot me-with all due respect to others, that as
no general rule, our country should be govern
rs. ed by American born citizens. Let us Civ
ch to the oppressed Of every country an asylur
OF and home in onr happy land, give to a
~. the benefit of equal laws, and equal prolec
nd ton; but let us at the same time cherish &
the apple Of our eye the great principles {
all constitutional liberty, which few who hav
az not had the coed fortune to be reared in
= free country know how to appreciate an
OIL still less how TO preserve.
raj Washington, in that inestimable legac
,S 60, which he lett to his cOuntry-his iarewe
NJ, adiress-has wisely warned us to bewar
cir of foreign influence as the most baneiul of
he republican government. He saw it to
30 sure in different light from that in whic
IN m it now presents itself; but he knew that
al. al would approach US in all forms, and henI
nd he cautioned us against the inSidiouS aUiles
on lis influence. Therefor us well for our ow
in sakes, 10 whom this Invaluable inheritanC
ie- Of self-governmenth has been left by our for
nc fathers, as for the sake Of the unborn nj
,n- lions who are TO inherit this land-forelg
and natye-let US take warning Of the Fat
md er ofhis Country, and do what We can jus
re- ly TO preserve our institutions from CORFU
nro lion, and our country from diShonor; b
let this be done by the people themselves
or their sovereign capacity, by making pro
to er discrimination in the selection of officer
% ase and not by depriving any individual
z" native or foreign born of any constitution
cal or legal right to which he is now entitled.
2 These are my sentiments in brief, and..'
: though | have sometimes almost despair
Sa' Sa of my country when l have witnessed I
on rapid strides of corruption, yet think
ut perceive gleam of hope in the future, a
I'M now feel confident, that when the gr'
be- mass Of intelligence in this enlighten