American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-21
From the Lruisville Journal
PRESCRIPTION,

To gain favor with the foreign born
voters, and to consolidate them under
the leadership of Democratic dema-
gogucs, the Democrats raised the cry
Of prescription against the American
party. From every stump this sense
less charge Of "Know Moth ing pros
oription' was hurled withintcnsost fury
against the Americans by the Sag Met
stump speakers.
This charge was made purely for
political effect. The very men who
were the first TO use it and to howl it
forth most madIy have been the first
to propose proscriptive legislation in
regard to foreigners. What the A
merlcans have nggestcd is so eminent
ly right and proper that the Democrat
&c dcmagogues have been driven by the
force of popular opinion to adopt and
attempt the establishment of American
principles. The argument adduced by
Americans in favor OF their princi pies
and purposes are unanswerablc, and
these petty politicians, who are ever
striving to sail with the current pop
ular favor, have seen that soon as cX-
trancous issues shall be removed, SO
soon as the principles of the American
party shall be made the paramount is
sue they vii! surely be successful. For
this reason we find those who were
late y the loudest rcviers Of American
ism now seeking TO court popularity
by advocating here a bit and there a
bit Of the American policy. The Dem
ocratic Legislature Of South Carolina
have required residence Of two years
after naturalization to qualify foreign
born citizens to exercise the right of
suffrage, and the Democratic Legisla-
tnrc Of Pennsylvania is following the
example. 4 bill has been introduced
there, by a Democratic member Of the
House, to exclude all unnaturalized
foreigners from the Offices Of president,
director, and all other positions Of like
duties and responsibilities in any com
pany or association within the limits of
that Commonwealth.
The zeal Of theA new converts to
American doctrines outruns their iudc-
mcnts. They propose to carry the
prescription to foreigners into private
affairs, while the American party de-
sircs to exclude foreigners from parti-
cipating in and controlling only our
pubic and political affairs. The posi-
ton Of the American party is directly
dcduccd from its great, leading pginci-
pc--tho maintenance Of tue UniOn.--
With view Of protecting our Union 4
our institutions from danger and decay
from suOversion or corruption, from
foreign hostility or domestic treason,
the Americans prefer to place in public
political Offices their own countrymcn
rather than strangers. They propose
to effect this purpose by the free suf-
tragc Of the citizens and to adopt such
laws as may protect our institutions
from all future dangers Of this kind
In this there is no prescription. No
anan's right is infringed or abridged
Every citizen, whether native or for
cign born, is lcftto the full exercise of
Hll his franchises and the full enjoy
nent OF every vested right. But the
proposition Of the Democratic member
Of the Pennsylvonia Legislature savors
strongly OF prescription. 1t ovcrlcaps
all public and political considerations
and carries the exclusion Of foreigners
into tho ordinary and every day bust
moss of private llfo. 1t proposes to OK.
c'udo them from any control or man
agoment of private associations.
Thus is it ever with the Democracy.
1t outruns all discretion. 1t il regard.
less Of all right, Of law, and Of justice.
1t siczes upon some popular idea and
cndcavors 70 win the applause of its
advocates by rushing into the absurd
est ultraisns. At the same moment
when it dccried Americans for prefer.
ing native born citizens to foreigners
for political Offices, 81 rallied vehement
~ against this prescription of foreign
crs by the American party, it practic-
cd the most infamous and damnablo
prescription Of all who dared to enter
tain or advocate American principles.
it carried this vcnom0us hate and hid
~OuS prescription even into tho walks
of private life, and sought to destroy
al nmicablc social relations and TO
crush out and PROSTATE the private
prosperity Of the individual members Of
the American party, At the very mo