The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-04-11

publication Of letter, which Mr. Fillmore
wrote, giving his views upon Americanism,
early in 1885, we are happy to respond to the
invitation, In producing the document, below.
Though written to personal friend--and
never intended for the public eye---it is a
manly and noble vindication of American
principles:
tfrom the New York Express.1
BUFFALO, New York, Jan. 3, 1855.
respected Friend-Isaac Nepton It would
give me great pleasure to accept your kind
invitation to visit Philadelphia, If it were
possible to make my visit private, and limit
1t to few personal friends, whom | should
he most happy to see; but know this would
be out OF my power, and am therefore re-
luctantly compelled to decline your invita-.
ton, as have done Others to New York and
Boston, for the same reason.
return you many thanks for your informa-
ton on the subject Of politics. / am always
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Withdrawn from the political arena, have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. content.
ed myself with giving silent vote for Ull.
man for Governor.
While, however, / am an inactive observer
OF public events, am by no means an indif-
ierent one. may say to you in the frank.
ness of private friendship, that have for q
long time looked with dread and apprehen
sion 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
Iol of few interested. Rnd selfish lead
Hence, it has been 4 subject of bargain
| n oola Il. afal l.. 4 A.
ties of the country have been bidding to OBJ
tain it, and as usual in all such contests, the
party which is most corrupt is most success
full. The consequence is, that it is fast de-
moralizing the whole country; corrupting
the very fountains of political power, and
converting the t-box-that great palla-
| dunn Of our liberty-into an unmeanng
mockery, where the rights of native.born clti.
Gems are voted away by tho,e who blindly
follow their mercenary and selfish leaders,
The evidence Of this is found not merely in
the shameless chailering for the foreign vote
at every election, but in the large dis.
proportion Of offices which are now held by
foreigners at home and abroad, as compared
with our native citizens. Where is the true
hearted American whose cheek does not tin.
gle with shame and modification to see our
highest and most coveted foreign missions
filled by men Of foreign birth, to the eHcu-
sion of natiye-born ctizensl Such appoint
ments are Illuminating confession to the
crowned heads of Europe, that Republican
soil does not produce sufficient talent to rep
resent Republican nation at monnrchical
Court. l confess that it seems to me-with
all due respect to others. that, as q general
| rule, our country should be governed by
American born citizens. Let us give TO the
oppressed of every country an asylum and u
home in oui happy land, give to all the bene.
fits of equal laws, and equal projections but
let us at the same time cherish as the apple
of our eye the great principles of consttu.
tional liberty, which few who have not had
the good fortune to be reared in free coun-
try, know how to appreciate and still less
how to preserve.
Washington, in that inestimnble legacy
which he left to his country-his farewell adj
dress--has wisely warned us TO beware oil
foreign influence as the most hnneful foe of q
republican government. He saw it to be sure
in different light from that in which it now
presents itself; but he knew that it would
approach us in all forms, and hence he eau
toned us against the invisible rifles of its in.
faence. Therefore, as well for our own sakes
to whom this invaluable inheritance of self
government has been left by our forefather
MS for the sake of the unborn millions who are
to inherit this 'ana---ioreign and native--let
us take warning of the Father of his Country
and do what We can justly to preserve our
institutions from corruption and our country
from dishonor, but let this be done bv the
people themselves in their sovereign capacity,
by making u proper discrimination in the Sc.
lection of officers and not by depriying any
individul-native or foreign born-of any
constitutional or legal right to which he is
| now entitled.