Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1857-11-06
A LIE WELL U To.

The continued efforts Of locofoco sheets
to fasten upon the American party the
odium Of the election riots which have oc-
CURED in many of our cities, would excite
contempt, were it not that those efforts
wear a hue more like crime than mere
political trickery. 1t is an attempt to ar
ray the poor against the rich, the ignorant
against the enlightened, the dishonest
against the honest, and the foreigner
against the native; and every man who
makes such an effort, is an enemy to his
country, and deserves the execration Of all
good men. But criminal as such conduct
is, under any aspect, it is trebly SO when
based upon no stronger foundation than
malignant and wilful falsehood. And did
not the testimony elected by careful in
vestigation, give the lie to the charge, that
the Americans are the guilty parties, their
characteter and objects are a sufficient re-
futation Of the SANDER.
What do the Americans propose to dol
Among other things, to amend the natura-
~lization laws, and to throw such safeguards
around the ballot-box as will exclude H.
legal foreign and alien votes. To whom
does this give offence? To foreigners;
and they, instigated by locofoco demago-
CUES, are the authors of all the riots that
have occurred around the ballot-box. If
this be not'so, why is it that there have
been no riots where there refew, or no for"
eigners? Party feeling is as strong here,
and party contests as animated as in the
large cities; but we have no riots. Why
not? Because there is not enough of the
foreign element to be wrought up, by loco
foco domagogues, to the point of unprovok-
ed violence.
IF it were q part of the policy Of the
Americans, where they have the power, to
keep l~ocofoco voters from the polls, they
would not stop to enquire whether such
voters were native, or foreign born; on the
contrary, they would esteem it more mag
unanimous to thrust back the native traitors
than their foreign allies. But, wherever
the contest is between native Americans,
and native locofocos quiet and fairness
prevail. And this fact proves, c~onclusively,
three important points: First that there
must be a large proportion of foreigners
in order to have a riot; secondly, that the
native locofocos encourage foreigners to
do that which they are ashamed, or afraid
to do, themselves, and, thirdly, that the
Americans only resort to violence in self.
defense. And if further proof were want.
ing Of the truth Of the foregoing, it can
be found in the ~incendiary editorials and
stump speeches of l~ocofoco demagogues
wherever foreigners abound; and in the
additional fact, that no American editor
or speaker ever encourages that spirit Of
lawlessness in which riots have Their
origin.
But, in spite of facts-in the face o.
truth and justice, the attempt is shame
lessly made to fasten upon the American
party the guilt that belongs exclusively tC
locofocos; and, we are sorry to add, editors
from whom better things might have beer
hoped, are active parties to this base ant
baseIess SANDER. The spirit of mobocracy
finds no Judgement in the hearts of en-
lightened and conservative men; it il
characteristic of the idle, the ignorant .anG
the vicious, who make up so large a pro
portion of the locOfoco party. Wher,
these elements abound, riots occur, an,
rarely anywhere else, and it is false as i
is base to impute their guilt to American
who are forced to defend themselves, o
surrender their rights.