Washington telegraph., 1856-07-16
THE NINTH SECTION.
CONTINUED FROM 1sr PAGE


rights of foreigners" is the language OF
the concluding paragraph of the ninth
section of the : February Platform. All
the specious arts of the sophist- of the
ingenuity of the political special pleader,
have been placed in requisition to give
color to the assertion, that the American
Party aim at a violent wrestling away of
the rights and privileges now appertaining
to the citizens of the United States of
foreign extraction. There are two sides
to every question-two views to be taken
of every case. We will present the Dem
ocratic view of the position assumed by
the American Party, in the expression of
their determination to confne the gift of
the Offices of the Federal and State Gov
ernments to native Americans, and to
those who neither owe nor recognize allie
glance to any foreign potentate, prince or
power. We quote from the address of
Gov. E. N. CoNwAY:
''The constitution declares that "Con-
gress shall make no las0 respecting on es-
tablishnaeat of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof" and that ''no rcli-
gious test shall euer be required as a quail
ificotiom to any office or public trust under
the United States The constitution is
binding ON every citizen. 1t is not lawful
for any citizen to place himself under OBJ
legations; whether publicly or secretly, to
oppose, disregard or nullify any provision
of the constitution"
We must confess, there is a very con-
siderable amount of plausibility in the
short extract given above; but we contend
that it is only plausible. 1t is the old ad-
age again
voz, ct proeferea nihl;;'
mere sound, and nothing beyond it The
subject admits of amplifcation. We can
pursue the line of thought which Cover
nor Conway, "et I'D onane genus," follows,
so far only as it suits their convenience,
until we arrive at the legitimate conclu-
sion. Let US take fair view of the ques-
ton. 1t is settled principle that a re-
troactive law is of no validity Legisla-
tors seldom frame such an one; for it is
folly to create nullity. 1t is out of the
question to suppose the American Party
have any idea of pursuing such course.
But this is charged upon them; and men
who know the utter falsity of their asser-
tions, labor assiduously to prove that such
is their design. 1t is not true, and can
not, by any fair process of reasoning, be
made to appear true. But Americans do
aim at exercising their inalienable rights :;
and for this are arraigned upon frivolous
pretexts and forced to bear the odium of
false and unfounded allegation What is
this right, and how do they seek to exer-
else it? and upon whom is its exercise
intended to operate? We will show YOU.
Among Democrats "after the most strait
est sect, }" it is favorite theory, that all
power resides in, and emanates from, the
people. Very well, admit this. The
people have right to select their rulers
in this Republic. They are; in their SOW
ereign capacities, the naturally lly-divinely,
If you wish it-constituted judges of the
fitness of the candidates presenting them
selves to them for their sufrages. They
have an inherent and indefeasible right
to go behind mems records, their pre-
tensions and their professions; examine
for themselves into their qualifications for
Office and whatever concerns them In the
matter of their choice. This is the Dem
Ocratic doctrine is the doctrine of
the American party. A reverence for,
and obedience to, the requirements of the
Federal and State Constitutions, are pre-
requisite to fitness for holding Office
A paramount devotion to these instruments
should be demanded as the test of trust
worthlness- When these obligations to
the palladium and safeguard of our liber-
ties fail to be recognized by an individual,
that individual, ipso .tocto, becomes incom-
petent and unworthy of trust. The peo-
pie have right to reject his claims to, and
deny his qualifications for, preferment.-
Upon such men, and in this manner, are
the principles of the American party pro-
posed to operate. Who shall dare say
that the scope of the plan is not, in its
length and breadth, legitimate ? Is the
traitor to receive preferment and advance
ment as the reward of his treachery. or is
he to stand rebuked when convicted of
deception Choose yel If the elective
franchise is not a farce, then the people
have right to select their rulers; if the
right to- think and the freedom to act. be
not imaginary attributes of American free
men, they have right to examine into
the qualifications of aspirants to Office, and
decide as they see fit concerning their
merits. If there be none who are unfit
to be trusted as the repositories of our re-
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