American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-02-16

each additional insertion. Yearly advertise
ments inserted alta disconnton the above terms,
pcr contract Candidates announcements S2.T Y
Printing Office OH Fson, street, corner of
sou.. -..o.. --- - - : . $500.
Commodore Stockton on American
ism. ,.S
Z The following very just and sensible
letter was written by Commodore II. i.
Stockton, in response an'invitationi
to attend an American meeting in
Trenton, New Jersey. ..gs ,e "a awmq 4
Commodore Stockton has heretofore
been a pleading Democrat, and wasat
one time much spoken Of as a Demo
cratic candidate for President of the
United States. y4,5srI es.ps lsH sGl6 4
The sentiments expressed in this
letter are truly patriotic. The views
of the motives Of the founders of our
republic are correctly estimated by the
writer. The character of the dangers
to this country from foreign influence
arc vastly greater than and very diff
ferent from what was anticipated at
the time of the adoption of the Fedc-
raj Constitution. Then t:E entangling
alliances" with the governments Of, the
old world were mostly feared, and tho
patriots of ourreyolution never dream
ed that the annual increase Of foreign.
born voters in this country would ex-
ceed the natural increase Of native
born voters, This is a new and a fear-
ful peril to our Institutions and, from
q close observance of the principles c.
nunciated by the fathers Of our inde-
pendence, none can doubt that if they
could have anticipated such events, the
present dangers from excessive foreign
immigration would have been carefully
guarded against. .esI9 oveawafT5s 81
be The time has come, the issue must
be made now, and without delay, whc-
ther foreigners or natives shall control
the government Of this country, But
70 the lettef 81 Hai aiigh 2iam d1i~-
~" PR1NcEroN, N. j., Nov. 1853 =
., Gentlemen: I am informed by your
letter of yesterday, that, a meeting is
to be held at Trenton, on Friday the
10th inst, commemorative of the prin-
ciples of the American party. 1iYou
also say, "that it is we'll known that
you have for several years approved
those principles;& therefore you are
earnestly invited to be present, and to
address your fellow citizens on that oc7
ca$ion." I thank you for the invita-
ton, although previous engagements
will prevent my being present! ssni4
am unwilling, howevcr,ito permit
the'occasion to pass without expressing
my entire concurrence in the patriotic
principles of the American party,which
have had for so many years the appro-
val of my head and heart. They are:
. F'irstt The Constitution, with its
Compromises. $500 t..s l ~
Second. The preservation of the
Union at all hazards si ;sdt borfa7 8
Third.oThe naturalization laws sho'ld
be abolished or essentially modified. I
Fourth. Americans only should rule
America. They only, should be APP
pointed to the high and responsible Ex-
ocutiye offices under our Governments.
The men of the Revolution, notwith-
standing they gratefully acknowledged
the aid derived from France, were fully
sensible Of the dangers of foreign in
Auence. They Incorporated into both
tho Federal and State constitutions
provisions carefully designed as barri-
ors against the influence Of any foreign
ingredient in the population. The pro-
traeted war which succeeded the French
Revolution powerfully affected the pub
lie mind in the United States, and pol
iticians were moro or less biased in fa-
yor of one on the other belligerent.1 1t
required the whole weight of the great
Washington's character to prevent tho
young Republic from being entanglcd
in the meshes Of European politics.
His wisdom enabled him Justly to ap-
pfeciatc the desire which has always
characterized republican governments,
to become more or less subject, in one
way or another, to foreign influence.
The events of hisage, however, direct
cd his attention to the counteraction Of
that Influence, cxorted in a different
manner from that in which, it now
threatens our safety. Tie foreign in-
ipcnce which Justly alarmed him arose
from the sympathy Of cur people with
one or the other Of the mighty powers
lfhbwere contending, MS both claimed
TO be, for liberty end for political pre-.
dominance IN Europe.