Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1859-06-10
Virginia Election.


The result of the election in the city of
Petersburg is an event worthy ofspecialno-
tice. The Democratic candidate, and the
American Wing, or Know Nothing, elect
ed. 1t is not the first time, for a Wing to
represent Petersburg in the Legislature,
but the great peculiarly lies in the. fact,
that the successful Opposition candidate
is a foreign born citizen. We acknowl-
edge that Mr.. Donnan is man of char
acter and ability, and will make an excel
lent representative, but we wish to know
what has become of the renowned princi-
pie that "Americans must rule America2' e.
What has become of the oath, aaeUe7 TO cote
for a a.foreagnerJor any office aohatever.-
-Four years ago Democrats were denounc-
ed, as traitors to the best interests of the
country, for their firm adherence to the
principle, that naturalzed citizens were
equal to native born, and ought to be
treated as such. IfDemocrats were wrong
then, are the Kow Nothings ofPetersburg
right now? If the Democrats were right
then, what are we to think of the party who
denounced the Democratic doctrine, and
bound their misguided followers, by oath,
not to recognize the constitutional prlncl-
pie Of equal rights to their foreign born
fellow-citzensl We Democrats are often
lduIISQ Will our WulCils GU
ables MS to offer such a successful resistance
to the enemies Of the Constitution. We
are insultingly called ssslaves to our lead
ers," but the reckless slander never could
trutllfully say that Democrats were ever
so degraded, as to take an oath a certain
principle, and then deliberately 0aotdte
that oath, at the bidding of their leaders,!
Can the s.Opposition" say as muchs
Is. Yet this party. who called God 90 Wit
ness TIE sfncgfsfy of flielf pofffTcaf pro-
fessions, now abandon them without the
slightest hesitation, when it suits their in
terests to do so. Can any confidence be
placed in party, consisting Of such un-
scrupulous leaders, and such blindly obe-
dient followers We feel assured, that
the most bigotted amongst our opponents,
will acknowledge, that there is good rea-
son for the people doubling the permanen-
| cy of the "Opposition's' professions of pa
triotism. What certainty is there that
| they will not abandon their opposition TO
Black Republicanism, as eaisly as they
have their opposition to foreigners 1t
must not be forgot that they were pledged
by oath to the latter, while we have only
their simple assertion for the former IT,
The election in Petersburg tells what little
dependence can be placed On either oaths
late them; and the records OF the Thirty
Fourth Congress show that Black Repub-
licanism and Know Nothingisn are not
very antagonistic, when union will give
them the command of the public treasury.
The deliberate aban donmont of one of
the cardinal principles of the so-called
American party, is ominous of revolu-
ton in ssOpposition" tactics. How any
man, who sincerely believes, that the
'grand American principle of the exclusion
of foreigners from Office is just and con-
stitutional, can continue to act with the
"Opposition' party, is beyond our COM
prehension. lie must possess an eIastact-
| ty of principle which however convenient
to the individual, wonld be of little SER
vice to his country, in times of difficulty
and danger.
We recommend our readers of both
parties to recall to their recollection, the
ssOpposition' editorials and speeches of
the ''Know Nothing" campaign in 1854
'5-'6, and compare them with those of
1859. Ifthis exercise does not convince
them of the utter worthlessness of "Oppo-
sition" principles, then ''neither would
they believe one, though he was risen from
the ead.'- Wa7Yenton Neaos.