Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-07-15

gan.o a tub thrown TO the whale, and L.
hem pin the Know-Ncthings down fast ana
fzei to all the v~arioUz, variegsted, and ever
changing platforms and principles, oaths, grips,
signs, passwords, acts and deeds Of their ky-
brid party from its origin 10 the present tine,
and they will dodge and hide their heads with
more attempted d~exterity than a KidaPPg.
CATO.
Origin Of Amsrieanism."
For the Meuphis APP5all
MKssKs. EDIroRs:- AS the sslf-styled
American party has now nearly ceased 20 exist,
being confined mostly to some Of our principal
cities, We deem it a matter Of duty as well as
Of right to inquire into its origin, and endssvor
to ascertain from thence what might have been
expected from it, il its policy had obtained
asoendaney in our country.
The first development Of what now consti-
tutes the leading features OF /" .EmerieaH pol
icy is to be found in the law Of Congress
signed BY John Adams, President, on the 18th
Of June, 1873, entitled . An act to establish an
uniform rule Of naturalization" and to repeal
the law passed on that subject during the Ad-
ministrstiOn Of Gen. Washington. This act
extended the term of residence IN our country
from FIVE to fourteen years, and also required
I'VE years residence in the State in which a
foreigner proposed TO be naturslizsd before be
could obtain hat privilege. Immediately after
the passage Of this act, Congress passed two
other laws directed to the accomplishment Of
the same object. They are known as the
4" Alien and Sedition Laws" of June 25th and
July 18th, 17qS. The former Of these two
laws was directed against aliens who might
be residing temporarily in our country, and the
latter was an attempt, under the pgetense and
forms OF legislation, TO abridge the freedom Of
speech and Of the press. While one proposed
to ciothe the President with extraordinary
powers unknown 10 the Constitution. and sub
stitute his discretion in place of law, the other
was a practical application Of Gag Law
and designed 70 prevent the exercise Of the
right Of private judgment in reviewing the
principles and conduct Of our public function
aries, and to suppress the publication through
the press Of such facts and opinions as might
be calculated TO bring the President and Con-
gress into disrepute with the people Of the
country.
The three laws which we have mentioned
above, were passed atlthe seeon. session of the
fifth Congress, and afford us the first evidence
Of hostility 10 foreigners, foreign born citizens,
and freedom Of the press that can be found il
the legislation Of Congress under the COnstitu-.
ton. The condemnation which the country Wis
tied upon these laws, and the manner in which
their authors were hurled BY the people from
the stations which they had dishonored, should
have been sufficient to deter all others in fu-
ture from making any attempt TO introduce such
IDEAS into the politics and legislation Of the
country. But history informs Us that this is
not the case.
The second exhibition OF lie policy of
" Americans ruling America " originated in the
den Of the Hartford C0nDrntion,' which assem-
bled in Hartford, Connecticut, on the 18th Of
December, 1874. This assembly was composed
Of twenty-six members appointed BY the legis-
latures and local conventions Of Eve OF the New
England States. Il held its sessions with
closed doors in the council chamber Of the
State House in Hartford, which were %contiuu-
ell for three weeks. Theodore Dwight, form
erly, member Of Congress, and al that time edi-
tor Of the Hartford URiOH, was appointed BY
the Convention Secretary, and was the only
disiuterested witness of its proceedings.
In 1898 be published a history Of the Conyen-
ton which not only furnishes us with the de-
tails Of its proceedings, but also contains an
elaborate review Of the measures Of the Ad-
ILLUSTRATIONS OF Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madi-
son, which were assigned as rsasonsf FOR holding
the Convention.
After the Convention had been organized, i
committee Of i've was appointed to prepare a
report Of the views and objects Of the States
represented, and among the causes enumerated
in the report which in the opinion of the Con-
y%ention bad brought ruin upon the country,
was "the easy admission Of naturalized for
eig1ers to places Of trust. honor or profit, ope-
rating as an inducemeHt 10 the mslc0ntsnt sub
Jects Of the old world to com 70 these States
10 guest Of executive patronage and repay it
By an abject devotion 70 executive measures"
The report also contains a number of propo-
siti0aE which the Convention wished submitted
70 the several States for adoption as 90 many
amendments to the Constitution. The sixth in
the series is ia the folioElng words;
"No person who shall hereafter be natural
lied shsl be eligible as a member Of the SEN 1
ate or House Of Representatives Of the United
States, nor capable OF holding any civil Office
under the authority Of the United States.''
In illustration Of the justice and propriety
Of this amendment 20 die Constitution, the re-
port Of the Convention says
"That the stock Of population ALREADY In
these States is amply sufficient to render this
nation in due time sufficiently great ald pow
erful, is not a controvertibie question. Nor
will Il be seriously pretended that the national
deficiency in wisdom, arts, science, arms or
virtue needs 10 be replsnishgd from foreign
countries. Sill, il is agreed that a liberal
policy should offer the rights ofhespitality and
the choice Of settlement to those who SIRE dis
posed to visit the country. But why admit to
a participation in the government, aliens who
are no parties 70 the cO~mpact-Fho are igno-
rant Of the nature q or Institutions, and have
no stake in the welfare Of the ea4ntry but what
is recent and transitory2 It is, surely, a pfiyi-
lege sufficient TO admit them after due pToba-
TO become citizens for all Bat political
purposes. To extend it beyond these limits is
70 encourage foreigners to come to these States
az candidates Tor Preferment- The Conven-
forbear to express thsir opinion upon the
inauspicious effects which have already re-
suited to the peacs and honor Of this nation
from this misplaced and indiSeTiminstF iiber-
The above extract contains substantially
he same reasons that We hear urged BY the
" American party in Tennessee in IA
GoF Of their policy Of excluding foreign born
,~itizeus from Office, and denying the right of
laturalizsbon for tgrnty-one years TO such as
nay seek a home among IA in the future. His
org shows Us the fste Of the trainers Of alien
Ind seditioR laws, as web 90 those who sst to-
in the F8eAeR0BigB OF Hartford. And
We have only to study tee past in order to learn
what will be the fate Of thsss WHO are BOW
lrenehing the streets Of our cities ~ith blood
lnder the ssnsely cry Of /" down with foreign
and that " Americans must rule Ameri-
a." FULLY. 4.
T-rv - TeE- ii