New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-21

"forevor secure IL in the fundamental
claw of the United States" Vol Z, p.
70. Charming liberality! Alas! tho time
came when the man of noble words, beautiful
sentiments, and charming hberality, saw lit to
ioip Know-Nothing Lodge. A United States
Senator was to be elected, and this consum-
mato General wanted the place. Somebody.
however. who remembered his line speeches
in the Constitutional Convention, dug them
ont of the enormous printed report, and circu-
lated them among the Legislative Senator
makers. The real Native Americans, who be-
lieyed in the doctrine, began to be doubtful
of the sincerity of the Generals brand-new
Americanism, and the Hon. Robert d. Hall, one
of his friends, was commissioned to get tho
right kind of letter out of him. Here 1t is:
NATIcK. Jan. 20, 1885,
Hon. RoBRRr b. HALL-Sir. Your note OF the 18th
inst before me- and very cheerfuly answer your in
qures respecting my views upon the questions involved
in the American movement While am ready frankly
10 avOw my sentiments and opinions to all men, am
constrained to declare that pen this letter TO you with
no little reluctance an conscious that letters written
by a candidate pending election always subject aim
TO and to the suspicion Of insince
in the opinion he avows.
As you suggest tho reference my speech in the Con-
sttutonal Convention to the organization OF NH
itary companies composed of men OF foreign ortn'
was made simply as an illustration oiu h''
then approve 1 do not now approve, and never
can approve Of tho organization OF military COM
panles composed Of men OF foreign birth' AS 10
the illusions in my speeches to the distncuon7 On
account OF color race have to say that iccsy
comprehend the ideas and principles OF the hmo'can
movement it does not ignore or deny the suoio cieeu
that ALI man are created equal-the great centralized
tpaff nfO
MORE IL clearly comprehend Its genius ana spri, It's
aim and pnrposes IL does not propose to withdraw from
men horn In other lands protection OF just and equal
| laws -,
summoned into action by the OWLS ana ABUSES
| which have grown out Of tie annual mmSra-
| ton into America OF hundreds oil thousands Oh
| men reared under tho influences OF social re-
| loious and political institutions, differing from
or antaponisc 20 our own the American movement pro-
10 correct these OWLS and abuses by wise ana hu
name legislation TO protect ourselves from the organized
syste in the old world which subjects us to the support
| of FOREIGN PAUPERs and the depreciation OF ALIEN
| CRIMINALS; to thoroughly revise the Naturalization
Laws; to destroy that political element OF foreign In
Huence heretofore potent in public affairs to counterct
tbe insdious and magn tendencies OF that Sectarian
Power that nstnctiveiy eympathzes with oppression
I'm the old world and the and to place tho Govern
fnent of America in the hands OF Americans VINO arc
mbued with the spirit of her democratic institutions
none embracing in its affections the whole country
maintaining the nationality and unity OF the Republic,
and the democrato doctrine Of State Rights the Amer
can Movement cannot fail receive the sanction OF tbe
| American People to lis ideas and principles.
Conourrng entirely with you in the opinion that the
highest interests Of freedom identified with tho SUI
premacy Of the ideas which undere this popular move
mept shall cheerfuy labor in public and In private
life for their advancement In so doing, shall only be
acting in accordance with the sentiments have long en-
Observation-Disclosures which have been deepened and
strengthened by recent events in own and other
statesespecay by the tone OF those politcosectaran
organs which avow sentiments and doctrines hostile to
the genius and spirit of American Institutions
Yours truly, HENRY WILSON
"A letter like this requires but little com
ment We give it Ito use Gen. Wilson's
cautious Words "simply as an illustration"
1t appears, therefore, in spite of bis recent
protestatons at the West and elsewhere, that
he was a Know Nothing of the advanced type,
and if he did not believe in the doctrines OF
the American party, at least he pretended to
believe in them. The whole course OF the
man In this matter is Characteristic When he
wanted the Irish vote for his New COnstitu-
ton, he was the most liberal of men; when
he wanted the Know-Nothing votes for U. S.
Senator he was 80 amazingly impressed with
the beauty of the Native American movement
that he wrote this letter and Joined Know
Nothing Lodge! The question is now answered
over his own signature. There is plenty OF
proof but there is and can be no proof which
Gen. Wilson will not with smooth cOunte-
nance declare to be SANDER Matched by his
enemies.