Washington telegraph., 1856-04-23
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
Read! Read! Read MIR. Fillmore's
Americanism,

/
Read! Read! Read MIR. Fillmore's
M Americanism.
Certain journals having called for the re-
publication of letter, which Mr. Fillmore
wrote, giving his views upon Americanism,
early In 1S55-we are happy to respond to
the invitation, in producing the document,
below. Though written to a personal friend
and never intended for the public eye
it is manly and noble vindication of Amer
lean principles-and as such, it must make
those journals and demagogues look little
awkward who have been eDdeayoring to dis
semnate the impression that the American
party has not an American candidate for the
Presidency-Neao York Express
BUFFALo, N Y, Jan. 8, 1855.
Respected dF'riend-Isaac Ne,Ctou 1t
would give me great pleasure to accept your
kind invitation to visit Philadelphia, 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
am therefore reluctantly compelled to de-
cline your invitation. as have done others
TO New York and Boston, for the same rea-
son.
return you many thanks for your infor-
nation on the subject of politics. l am al
ways 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withdrawn from the political arena, have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 l con-
tented myself with giving silent vote for
Ullman for Governor.
While, however, l am an inactive observer
of public events. am by no means an in
different one. l may say to you in the
frankness of private friendship, that have
for long time looked with dread and ap-
prehension 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 control of a few interested and selfish
leaders. Hence, it has been subject to
bargain and sale, and each of the great
political parties of the country have been
bidding to obtain it, and as usual in all such
contests, the party which is most corrupt is
most successful. The consequence is, that
it is fast demoralizing the whole country !;
corrupting the very fountains of political
power, and converting the allot-box-that
great palladium of our liberty-into an un-
meaning mockery, where the rights of native
born citizens are voted away by those who
blindly follow their mercenary and selfish
leaders. The evidence Of this is found not
merely in the shameless chaffering 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 cheek
does not tingle with shame and modification
to see our highest and most coveted foreign
missions filled by men of foreign birth, to
the exclusion of native-born citizens! Such
appointments are humiliating confession
to the crowned heads of Europe. that a re-
publican soil does not produce sufficient
talent to represent republican nation at a
monarchical court confess that it seems
to me-with all due respect to others, that,
as general rule, our country should be
governed by American-born citizens. Let
us give to the oppressed of every country an
asylum and home in our happy land, give
to all the benefits of equal laws and equal
protection but let us at the same time
cherish as the apple of our eye the great
principles of constitutional liberty, which
few, who have not had the good fortune to
be reared in free country. know how to
appreciate, and still less how to preserve.
Washington, in that inestimable legacy
which he left to his country-bis farewell
address-has wisely warned us to beware of
foreign influence as the most baneful foe of a
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 cautioned us against the inulsi6le aciles
Of its influence Therefore, as well for our
own sakes, to whom this Invaluable inheri
tance of selfgovernment has been left by
our forefathers, as for the sake of the unborn
millions who are to inherit this land-foreign
and native-let US take warning OF the
Father of his Country. and do what we can
Justly to preserve our institutions from cor
ruption, and our country from dishonor, but
let this be done by the people themselves In
their sovereign capacity, by making proper
discrimination in the selection of officers,
and not by depriving any individual-native
IOrc1gu-UOTu-Oi dbJ Va
legal right to which he is now entitled.
These are my sentiments in brief; and
although have sometimes almost despaired
of my country when have witnessed the
rapid strides of corruption, yet | think l
perceive CLEAN of hope in the future; and
now feel confident that when the great
mass of intelligence in this enlightened
country is once fully aroused, and the danger
manifested, it will fearlessly apply the rem
edy, and bring back the government to the
pure days of Washington's administration.
Finally, let us adopt the old Roman motto
Never despair of the Republic" Let us
do our duty, and trust in that Providence
which has so signally watched over us and
preserved US, for the result. But l have
said more than l intended, and much more
than should have said to one but trusted
friend, as 1 have no desire to mlngle IN