Washington telegraph., 1856-04-23

national pride. To see such creatures
succeeding DIR. Franklin, John Jay, Mon
roe, Adams, Livingston, &C., was enough
to arouse an American feeling from Maine
to Georgia, and cause us to exclaim, truly
''the sceptre has departed from Judah"
and we have fallen upon evil times.
Major Donelson's nomination is partic-
ularly acceptable to me- He is "a gentle
man of worth and intelligence, of extern
sive political experience, having been, for
more than twenty years, more or less ae-
lively engaged in political life. During
his confidential, personal intercourse with
Gen. jackson, as his private secretary, he
must necessarily have become familiar
with national politics, and well acquainted
with the administrative qualities of that
great man. As editor of the leading
] Democratic journal-during the exciting
dissensions on the Wilmot proviso, and
the compromise measures of 1850, he oc-
cupied national grounds, and faithfully ex-
posed the danger and folly of disunion or
secession. He was conservative and ma
tional then he is more so now, as a
member of the American party, which,
after Democracy and Whiggery had out
lived both their usefulness and respecta-
bility, and degenerated to the mere pur-
suit of ofiee-hunting, has risen up, as an
organization necessary to protect our in
stitutions from Vandalism and Priestcraft;
more withering in their influence upon
political and religious liberty, than all the
other means of despots put together
In regard to the platform, | have not
time to express myself in detail. Suffice
it to say, it is American in the aggregate,
and in the context, altogether Ameri-
can.
1t aims at extending the terms of res
idence in our naturalization laws, the ex-
clusion of all foreigners from office, sim
ply because, from worst of experience,
and ignorance of our political institutions,
they are unsafe repositories of power, that
Americans are the best qualified, and
should rule America; and the application
of these principles to those alone, who
may arrive hereafter upon our shores
A cordial invitation to all respectable per-
sons, to come and enjoy with us our free
institutions, in the pursuit of wealth and
happiness, but not to govern us; and last
ly, to arrest by all legitimate means, any
further importation of criminals and pau
pers.
We interfere with mans vested
rights, we assail no mans RELIGION
Against Rome, enthusiastically, we wage
no war but against Rome, politically,
(and when was she not POLITICAL we de
clare our unceasing opposition. In vim
dicatlon of our course, we point to her
history for more than thirteen centuries,
written in blood, stained by oppression,
civil, religious and political; as living IL
lustrations of her whitening influence up
on the prospects and destiny of nations,
We point to Spain, Italy, Portugal and
Ireland in the old Mexico, Cuba, and
Lower Canada, in the new world.
Gentlemen, it was the reformation that
gave religious and political liberty 10
portion of Europe and the United States;
and we will not shrink from an honorable
defence of those life-giving principles,
we will not forget that States or Nations,
like the souls of men, have an immortali-
ty, and that pure religion and morality
alone, make nations as it does individu-
ais, useful, happy and prosperous; that
as well as individuals, are
for the proper use of the means
God has placed in their hands for the i'm
provement and amelioration Of our race
we will, therefore, defend and perpetuate
our political heritage, constitutional gov
ernment, and asa consequence, civil, politi-
ca, ,and religious liberty. We will respect
and defend all men in the free exercise
of their religious opinions. But we will
not tolerate spiritual despotism, or reli-
gious interference with politics, on the
part of any sect, class or denomination
so that, in the decrepitude of old age, as
we travel down the path of life, we can,
with an honorable pride, reflect upon our
past lives, and may our children's chill
dren, for thousand generations, exult-
ingly exclaim, 81, I also am an Ameri-
can '' w. III. SUTTON.
To Messrs. A. j. HUT, Pope, DAN
LEY, ct al.