Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-27

FRIDAY. MARCH q. 1857.


ed in the most solemn and unequivocal Lam
guage, the end which they had in view; it
was, "to form a more perfect union, estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare, and secure the bless
ings Of liberty to ourselves and OUR POS
TERrY." 1t was this high and patriotic
purpose which pervaded all their succeed
ing deliberations, which was the burden of
their prayers and the essence Of their
hopes, which gave life and energy to their
labors, harmony and concord to their
counsels, and which resulted in the ad-
option and PRONUNCIATION of our Federal
constitution. That generation has passed
away, and we of the present are left to
protect and defend this rich and sacred
inheritance. Upon the native born sons of
the soil, the "posterity" Of the sires of'76. de-
wolves this duty. 1t could never have
been the design of these sages, that their
sons, the natives of the land they had bap-
tized and regenerated, should ask aid from
abroad in the discharge of this duty. If
so, their work would have been in vain, and
the expenditure of blood and treasure in
the struggle for independence, unpardona-
BILE folly.
But it is found in the course of events
that vast tide of immigration from
abroad, is inundating our land; in the
beginning it is quiet and Manageable; it
does not seek to interfere with the integri.
ty, the economy, or the legislation of the
Commonwealth. But as it increases in
volume, it grows in power; one by one, it
drops its restraints, and becomes insolent
and exacting, tyranical and dangerous.
Three or four millions of this alien horde
and their descendants, are now scattered
from one end of land to the other; most of
them, through the corruption of the ballot
box, and the deeper corruption of native
allies, are enjoying all the privileges and ex-
ercising all the functions of the most favor
ed citizenship. In them already reposes
one sixth of the sovereign power of the
government; they are controlling our cleo.
tons; they are filling our Offices; they are ele-
waiting men to power who cultivate their
friendship, who are dependent for place,
upon their favor, and who hatter and fawn
and pander to their false prejudices and
their anarehical ideas of liberty; they are
permeating every section of the country;
they are entering into and eorrupting the
very sources of the sovereign will; they are
thwarting the honest and patriotic aim of
the founders of our union; they are excit-
ing the sectional feelings of the country to
still deeper and more irreconcilable hos
tlity; and they are contributing in every
way, toturn the government and its admin
istration, from the pathway in which it was
originally intended to move, and in which
it must move, if our union, happiness and
prosperity are to be perpetuated. 1t was
the existence of these evils and the neces-
sity for their correction, which gave rise to
the organization of the American party
So far, that party has been unsuccessful.
The evils complained of have been engraf-
ted upon party system which already held
a political performance, and still holds it.
However pure the objects and purposes of
that party may have been at one time, it
is already now debauched, and is rapidly
passing into state of thorough corruption
and -demoralization 1t has taken this
foreign power under its protection; it sus-
tains and supports it; it asserts and main
tains for it an equality with the native will
and power; it eleVateS it over a very large
proportion of the American people, and
declares that opposition to it is unholy, out
rageous prescription, is violative of the
constitution, is treason to liberty.
1t may be, that in the outset, the princi-
pie upon which the American party was
based, was to a certain degree, theoretical
jim the South it may have been so, to
limited extent-but it is now practical, and
pervades the whole. country The necessi-
ty Of its assertion and success has become
immediate and imperative. The issue pres.
SEES itself upon the native masses of the Re-
public, whether they will assert their sac
red right of selfgovernment, or suffer the
sceptre to pass into the hands of strangers,
aliens in habit, in education and in blood;
whether we shall attempt to preserve the
legacy which the valor, and the selfforget-
ting devotion of our ancestors secured
to ourselves and our posterity, or per-
NIT it to be squandered upon an igno-
BILE ungratefal multitude Of foreign serfs.
This is the question now propounded to
the people Of Tennessee: viii you allow
this worse than mischievous doctrine, alien
suffrage and alien rule, to fasten itself
upon the very vitals Of your native landf
We believe we can answer for the great
majority Of the people of this noble, true
hearted and gallant State, that such shall
not be the case, with their consent. If
the Americans of Tennessee, during the
ensuing Summer. win lay aside all personal
aims, which may, by possibility, come in
conflict with the general harmony, and put
forth one resolnte, determined, selfsacri-
iclng effort for their country, there can be
nothing to fear. Tennessee. at least. viii
achieve her redemption. II the hour seems