Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-30

JOHN RROTHERLISE,
john COyODE,
D. MMURTRIE,
J.N. POWER,
GEO. W. PATTON.
You will please give categorical answers to the fol
lowing which embrace the principles OF
the American party to which your attention desired
I. Do YOU hold that in the election appointment OF
all officers native born Americans should be preferred
q Are you in favor of the protection OF American Ia
Dor, American rights, and American interests
g. Are you in favor of the publication OF the ballot box
reform in the naturalization laws, the enactment OF
registry law and the prohibition of foreign paupers and
convcts landing upon our shores
l. Are you opposed any interference of church her
g. Are you in of Free Schools for the education of
all classes with the Bible text book used therein
With great respect, we remain,
Your humble servants.
JOHN BRoTHERLINE, Chairman.
REPLY.
TowAHDA, July 10, 1851.
Gentlemen :-Yo letter of the 5th of May
came to hand during the sitting of my Courts,
Immediately on the close of which left home,
and returned only few days since. This must
be my apology for not earlier having respond
cd to your communication.
am requested to answer certain interroga-
tories propounded to me in pursuance of a reSo-
luton Of the late Convention held at Altoona
The history of our State establishes q wise
and safe policy in respect to the point embra-
ced in your first interrogatOry. 1t will be
found rare indeed, that any except native born
citizens, have held high official station either
iu the Executive or Judicial departments of
our State Government and the same class,
with comparatively few exceptions, have filled
the seats of the Legislative Halls The natur-
allied citizen cannot reasonably complain of this.
There is nothing in it intolerant or proscrip-
tive nor will the enlightened and patriotic
citizen of foreign birth so regard it, 1t i'm
poses no legal disqualification. 1t takes from
him no right. Official station of right belongs
to no man. While | would adhere to this pol
icy as one of wisdom and patriotism, no Amer
ican who properly appreciates his responsible
ties, would neglect an inquiry into the charac-
ter and fitness of candidates presented for his
suffrage nor could he, without betrayal of
the best interests of his country, disr gard the
claims of principle involved in his choice
Thus occasions may arise, when an enlightened
and faithful discharge of duty, would demand
our suffrageS for the naturalized citizen, in
preference to one born on our SOIL Under
standing the spirit of your first proposition as
not inconsistent with the views here expressed
yield it my cordial assent.
Are you in favor of the protection of Amer
ican labor, American rights and American i'll
terests
To this, your second interrogatory, l shall
content myself with simple affirmative an
sWer.
The matters embraced in your third inter
rogatory are Of the first Importance, and de
mand the most serious consideration of the
patriot and statesman The boldness and sue
cess with which frauds are perpetrated upon
the Ballot Box have become alarming, and
unless promptly and effectualy checked, must
end in the subversion of our system of free
government. The form of Liberty may remain
but only as a cheat and mockery, CLOSING
over as cruel a despotism as ever cursed a peo-
pie. would sustain with my whole strength
any and every measure wisely devised, to pre-
serve the purity of our popular elections
Willful fraud upon the Ballot Box, is moral
treason against Republican Government and
oil duly convicted of being concerned therein
in addition to other penalties, should be for
ever disqualified from holding Office or exer-
cisng the elective franchise
Doubtless our naturalization laws could be
so amended as to aid in securing purity and
fairness in our election but we should not
weaken our State sovereignty by looking to
the general Government as the great source of
reform in this matter. 1t belongs exclusively
to the States to regulate this whole question
of suffrage-tO prescribe the qualifications of
electors-to provide safeguards against frauds
and infict punishment for assaults upon the in
tegrity of the balot-box Our own State
cannot too early or vigorously exert its con-
stitutional power in respect to these matters,
vital as they are to liberty and the existence
of free government.
1t has ever been source of just pride to the
true American that his country opened an asy-
lum for the oppressed of every land God
forbid that we should be so ungrateful for His
blessings, as to refuse to share them with the
honest and industrious of whatever cline or
country but it is an outrage upon our hospi-
tality, and a violation of international law, for
the governments of the Old World to ship car
goes of criminals and paupers to our shores
Our Government cannot be too vigilant in
guarding our rights in this respect.
To your fourth interrogatory answer that
/ am opposed to the interference of Hierar-
chies in politics. The Office of Christian
Minister is second to no other in dignity and
responsibility. | would not detract from his
functions or impair the respect due to his char
acter. acknowledge his right, and as
teacher of the people, I believe it to be his du-
ty to speak openly and fearlessly against So
cial and political evils, destructive of public
morals and at war with the interests and hap
piness of mankind In thus publicly speaking,
if he transcends the propreties of his place
and Office safe corrective is found in the CEN
sure of an enlightened public But that
Priestly Order, invested by the Laity with
mysterious sacerdotal character-wth preten.
tions to extraordinary spiritual power-bound
together by strong ties, and acknowledging
as their head foreign POtentate-that such
an Order should enter the field of politics,
control our elections and influence the policy
of our government is surely a.cause for alarm
and should awaken the jealous vigilance of
the A narican nnnnla IL L