Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-20
Black examinations ON the American
Party

The spirit of intolerance and infiamed secta-
rian bgotry, which are the main features of
this organization, never fails, when an oppOr-
tunity is given for its indulgence, to break
forth in scenes Of violence and bloodshed.
Wherever know notkinRism gains firm foot
hold, order and quiet take to fight, and leave
lawlessness and mob-force TO resist with terror
in their stead UnioH and american
There is nothing in the organization or
principles of the American party, that ne
ceSsarily leads to "SceneS of violence and
bloodshed," any more than there is in the
organization and principles of the wing or
democratic parties The American party
simply propose an amendment of the natu-
radiation laws for the purpose of extend
ing the term of probation of foreigners
before they are taken into full communion
as citizens. They do not propose to
abridge the rights of any one already nat
uralized. Should their measure of reform
succeed, it will affect only those foreigners
who are not naturalized and who have ac-
quired no rights here. The measure is a
legitimate one, and in seeking to render it
effective, Americans are but exercising a
right guaranteed to them by the constitu-
ton. The very best men in the country
admit that there are evils, great evils,
growing out Of our present system Of nat
uralization, and that something is necessary
TO correct them. In seeking to apply what
they believe the proper remedy, in parSu-
ance of their constitutional rights, in the
manner above stated, is it just to charge
the American party with being governed
by spirit of intolerance and sectaran
bigotry?" Is there anything in the propo-
sition to amend the naturalization laws so
as to substitute period of ten, or twelve,
or twenty years for the present term of five
years probation, that is intolerant? Is
there any thing in it that indicates hostility
TO the rights Of any man, or set of men, or
a disposition to work any one an injury?
There is not. Why, then, cries of "intol-
erance and sectarian bigotry" Is it be-
cause Americans declare they will not vote
for a foreigner for political Office. That
cannot be, for democrats refuse to vote for
wings, no matter how competent, because
they entertain wing sentiments, and this is
not regarded by them as intolerance" Is
it because Americans declare they will not
vote for any one who acknowledges civil
allegiance to a foreign prince or potentateg
Surely not; for we apprehend the editors of
the Union and American would not vote
for a person of this description. What,
therefore, is it in the organization or prin-
cipies Of the American party, which has
so aroused the indignant and patriotic
rage" of our contemporary? We appre-
bend that he has been looking at the or
ganization and principles of the American
Party through distorted media, and has
COMPOUNDED with them that which is the
offspring of foreign insolence, notable
specimen of which, in a modified form, was
recently furnished him by his foreign broth
er, McGee, the Editor Of the Ceii, in his
demand of the democratic party of the ex-
pulsion of Herbert from Congress and
from the Cincinnati Convention. Inflated
with self-importance, or impressed with
false notions Of the intentions of the Amer
lean party, and their passions aroused by
the artful lessons Of designing native dem
agogues, foreigners seek by force TO prevent
American principles from being made eff
fective through the ballot-box They are
generally aggresSors, and 10 most instances
probably, because they have been induced
10 believe that resort 60 the club, the
pistol. and the knife, was necessary. Ii is
not surprising that they should mbibe such
notions. when democratic leaders aud dem
ocratic presses day after day, utter doc
trines and put forth maledictions, having
a tendency to produce and frequently in
tended to produce, bitter feelings and to
engender strife. The swiftness with which