American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-12
nnInLARD rIhInxcuE.
HIS AMERICANIsM ALL O. X

III Vic iettcT Written Dy Nlf. Fillmore
to Isaac Newton, of this city, we have
procured the same, and now present it
to our readers. E&a's. ,'E.ttEN.".'
The letter, though private, contains
sentiments which every American will
desire to see published far and wide.
. -. Philadelphia NeWs.
BUFFALO, New York, Jan. 3, 1856. |
ISAAC NEWTON: -sa. .t. -rr .s..r-
Respected Friend: 1t would give
me great pleasure to accept your Kind
hvitatioh to visit Philadclphia, if it
were possible to make my visit private,
and limit it to few personal friends
whom should be most happy to see;
but | know that this would be out of my
power, and l am therefore reluctantly
compelled to decline your invitation, as
| have done others to New York and
Boston, for the same reason.
return you many thanks for your
information on the subject of politics.
/ am always happy to hear what is go
ing forward; but, independent of the
fact that | feel myself withdrawn from
the political arena, have been too
much depressed in spirit to take an ac-
tive part in the late election. / con-
tented myself with giving silent vote
for Mr.. Ullmann for Governor. -.
While, however, I am an inactive
observer of public events, I am by no
means AN indifferent one, and may
say to you, in the frankness of private
friendship, that [ have for long time
looked with dread and apprehension at
the corrupting influence which the con-
test Tor the foreign vote is eXerting
upon our elections. This seems to re-
suit from it's being banded tagether,
and subject to the control of few in
terested and selfish leaders. Hence,
1t has been a subject Of bargain and
sale, and each of the great political
parties of the country have been bid
ding to obtain it, and as usual in all
contests, the party which is NEST cor
rupt Is most successful. The conse-
quence is, that it is fast demoralzing
the whole country; corrupting the very
fountains of political power, and con
verting the ballot-box--that great pal
ladlum Of our liberty an unmean-
ing mockery, where the rights of native
born citizens are voted away by those
who blindly follow theirmorc:nary and
selfish leaders. -
The evidence Of this is found not
merely in the shameless chafering for
the foreign vote at every election, but
in the large disproportion 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 check does
not Jingle with shame and modification
to sec our highest and most coveted
foreign missions filled by men of for
eign birth to the exclusion of native
born? Such appointments are a hui
initiating confession to the crowned
heads of Europe, that a republican soil
does not produce sufficient talent to
represent republican nation at mo-
narchical court. I confess that it
seems to mc--wth all duo respect to
other6---that, as general rule, our
country should be governed by Ameri-
can born citizens. Let us give to the
oppressed Of every country an asylum
and homo in our happy land, give to
all the benefit Of equal laws, and equal
protection; but let US at the same timo
cherish, as the apple Of our ego, the
great principles Of constitutional fbcr-
ty, which few who hayo not had the
good fortune to be reared in free
country know how to appreciate and
still less how to preserve. .....
WAsHGNGToN, in That inestimablc
legacy which he left to his country
his Farewell Addrcss-has wisely
warned us to beware Of foreign influ-
enSc as the most bancful foe Of a re-
publican government. lie saw it to be
sure in y different light from that in
which it ROW presents itself; but he
knew that it would approach us in all
forms, and hence he cautioned us a.
gainst the tnSjdious wtlc8 Of ITS inter-
eRcc. Therefore, as we'll for our own
sakos, to whom this invaluable inherit.
ancc Of sclf.govcrnmcnt has been left
by our forefathcrs, as for the sake Of
tho unborn millions who are to inherit
this land---forcign and natiyc---let us
take warning of the Father of his Coun.
try, and do what VIC can justly to pre-
serve our institutions from corruption,
and our country from dishonor, but let
this be done by the people themselves
IN their sovereign capacity by making
n proper discrimination in tho selection
OF officers, and not by dcpriving any
indiyidual--nativc or foreign born-of
any constitutional or legal rights to
which nc i5now entitled.
These arc my sentiments in brief, |
and although have sometimes almost