Newspaper Page Text
tlnntjjpru ‘Mrlitnnn.
UW, ORDER. AND THE CONSTITUTION.
ATHENS, 3A.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAT 24. IS55.
TO ADVERTISERS.
The Watchman is the paper in which
to advertise, if you wish your advertise
ments “ read of all men.*’ It has a larger
circulation than any paper ever before
enjoyed in this place, and large as it is,
it is being swelled by daily accessions.
CIRCULATE THE DOCUMENTS !
GIVE THE PEOPLE LIGHT!
The speech of Mr. Smith (Democra
tic Representative in Congress from Ala
bama) delivered in the House of Repre
sentatives in January last, will soob be
reedy for distribution. Send in your or
ders, as we wish to ascertain the num
ber needed to supply the demand.
Price 83 per hundred, cash.
“ Watchman’’ Office, Athens, (
May 10, 1855. )
Will our Georgia cotcmpornries
notice the above ? The favor will be
cheerfully reciprocated.
We would call the attention of
our professional and business readers, to
the advertisement concerning a Busi
ness Directory. The idea is a good
one—and the publication worthy the
patronage of all business men.
MR. STEPHENS’ LETTER.
This, the only crumb of eomfort that
has been thrown to the Foreign party—
notwithstanding its ill-natured slaps at
the national Administration asid the late
Democratic party, which he intimates
is dying of the “ dry rot,” is snapped up
and most voraciously gulped down by
them—bitter as it is! Well, vve don't
wonder at it; for unfair and disingenu
ous as it is, it is the only document we
have seen containing even a plausible
‘squinting towards an argument against
the Know-Nothing*. Every thing else
we have met with, is but low abuse and
blackguardism,backed by senseless and
pointless nicknames, and bolstered up by
•jnhlush'mg an : unmit gated falsehoods.
We had intended to comment on the
ietter of Mr. S. this week, but as every
body else has got ahead of us —some of
•them covering the very ground we in
tended to occupy—we shall drop the
isubject, and content ourself with copy
ing.at some convenient time,what others
have said of it.
Inasmuch as Mr. Stephens states in
the cutset of his letter that he “ knows
tu tiling” of the principles, the ends,
aims and objects of the new organiza
tion, of course noboJy who believes
him, will attacii any weight to the ob
jection* which the balance o( his letter
enumerates against them. Not being
informed on the subject—which lie
positively asserts is the case— how can
he himself, or any body else, regard lus
objections as of any weight?
THE FEDERAL UNION.
We copy the following paragraph
from the Federal Union of last week,
rather for the purpose of showing the
miserable shifts to which the foreign
organs are driven, than to set ourselves
right before the public—for every body
knows, who read the article refeired to,
that it was not susceptible of the strain
ed construction which, by sneaking in
sinuations, is attempted to be placed
upon it.
“Too much fob one Dose.—The
Southern Watchman of the 3d inst.,
after a vain and desperate effort to prove
the Nationality and Conservatism of the
Know Nothings, at last calls in the as
sistance of the National Era to sustain
him in his unfortunate position. This
is a little loo much for Southern men to
swallow. The productions of the Know-
Nothing press in Georgia are nauseous
enough in all conscience; but when to
these is added nearly a column and a
half from the National Era, one of the
worst Abolition Journals in tbe United
States, the dose is entirely too large for
a Southern stomach. The Watchman
says the National Era “is one. of the
ablest papers in the country,” this may
and the Era and the rest of the anti-
slavery prints opposing it on the ground
that it_w.ll “ crush out the anti-slavery
sentiments of the free States!” What
stronger proof of nationality could be
demanded t
CUMULATIVE EVIDENCE.
Time and again have we called atten
tion to the fact that the bitterest enemies
of the Know-Nothings (not even except
ing the organs of the foreign party in
Georgia) are the Northern abolitionists.
To do this we have copied extracts from
their leading papers and their leading
men. The following, from the New
York Tribune, we commend to the
*• prayerful consideration” of the Federal
Union:
“ This Government and people are
now in a transition state. We are pass
ing through one of the most and perhaps
the roost important epoch since the Re
volution. We are, after a sort, settling
this all-important question. Slavery is
hereafter to have full swing in all our
Territories under the guise of squatter
sovereignty, or it is to be crippled by
exclusion therefrom. Thus there is a
•pe the Zeal sentiment of the Watchman, naturw * contest between tbe North and
Generous Farmers.—'The Marietta
advocate says there aje many farmers
in that section who have refused to sell
their corn to speculators at SI,40, and
have preferred to divide it among their
poor neighbors at one dollar a bushel,
•ind in many cases on-credit at that.
Such benevolence and sympathy deserve
to he put on record. It speaks more
for Cherokee than all her vast -and ex-
haustless mineral and agricultural wealth.
We are informed by one of our sub
scribers in Oglethorpe county that he
has been doing the same thing. How
much better a man who thus acts -can
sleep t::an cnc of those close-fisted ex
tortioners whu would take advantage of
a poor man’s necessities to drain his
rocked ofhis last dime !
Tim Knu* Nothings in New York
met in State Council at Syracuse last
we« k. According to the Herald, great
harmony prevailed. The question of a
platform was referred to the National
Council which, ii U said, meets in Phila
delphia in Jure. The “third degree.’
accord.ng to the Herald’s correspon
dent, was n aifinn-d by the Council.
Ii see nod to t»c the impression, that
Senator WiUui; of Massachusetts would
li ne to h ue toe order, on account of
Jits fanatical course, and that the Know
Nothings of Massachusetts were dispos
ed to retrace their steps and return to
common sense.
The Ladies of the Presbyterian
Church design holding a Festival in the
Town-Hall, on Friday evening at six
o’clock.
The p
erection o
now in pn
tend;
of the..._
.
recta
be applied to the
their Church
ing. The at-
ofiheCharcbwil!
some men highly esteem the talents of
all those who advocate their principles,
but we not believe this is the general
opinion at the South, far from it; on tbe
contrary we consider the testimony of
the National Era among the very worst
that, could be produced to prop up a des
perate cause. Any party in the United
States that looks to the National Era
for authority, or the London Times, or
the Dianode la Marino for aid and com
fort. may be a very consistent Abolition
party, or a good English or Spanish
party, but they cannot with any proprie
ty call themselves an American party.”
Now, as our readers probably remem
ber, the object of the article refered to,
was to show the utter groundlessness of
the charge of Abolitionism so industri
ously circulated against the American
party by the Federal Union and other
papers “ of that ilk.” To do this, we
copied several paragraphs (not a column
and a half, however,) from the National
Era, the central organ of the Anti-
Slavery party in the United States.—
The object of the article of the Era
from which we quoted, was to show
Anti-Slavery men that their worst ene
my as a party was the Know Nothings,
because they were both “ National” and
“ Conservative” in the Southern Socep-
tation of those terms.
Now, just here we would ask the
Federal Union and all others who pro
fess to fear the new party on acrouot of
«*eged abolition proclivities, if their
charge agaipst it be true—if it really is
an Abolition party—why is it that tbe
national organ of that party, and all its
lesser lights, together with all the leading
men of that treasonable organization—
Giddings, Sumner,Chase, & Co.— have
not found it out? Are they not smart
enough to know their friends ? Instead,
however, of claiming them as friends,
they warn the anti-slavery men of the
North against the Know-N..things, be
cause. as they say, they are bent upon
“ crushing out” the anti-Slarery agita
tion of the North !! Now, if the "Fe
deral Union. or any other co-laborer of
the National Era iu Georgia, will, in
a satisfactory manner, reconcile these
facts with their allegations, we will ac
knowledge ourself vanquished.
The “ Union” tries to work itself into
a “ pucker” becaust we spoke of the
Era” as ‘an ably conducted paper !—
It may strike the editors of that unscru
pulous sheet with “astonishment pro
found” to find any body candid enough
to acknowledge ability or any thing else
in a political opponent. We reiterate
what we said before, however “Mis
true, and pity Mis ML true,” that the
Era is an able paper. Now the editors
of the Union may make the most of it.
We cannot drop the matter, however,
without leaving it to their own sense of
honor to say whether they exhibited
any degree of magnanimity in the sneak-
*-•«> insinuation that because we quoted
from it and pronounced it au able pa
per, that, therefore, we approved its
course and admired its principles. Such
base insinuations are beneath the digni
ty of fair-dealing gentlemen, who desire
to take no undue advantage of a politi
cal opponent. We might say that we
believed “ Lucifer, son of the morning,’
to be an able governor in his dark do
minions—as, indeed, we are constrain-
eJ to think he is, in view of the indus
try he exhibits here in Georgia, through
his vicegerents, (we mean that c'ass of
the conductors of the foreign organs
who have set their heads together to
serve him by ueing against the Ameri
can party)—but it does not follow that
we approve of the course of tbe great
father of lies" or that of his children
either.
1 he federal Union and others of the
same kidney are, in truth and verity,
the co-Iabbrers of the Era in Georgia-
all laboring fur a common object—the
overthrow of the American party—
claiming, however, to .be actuated by
different motives—the Union and its
crowd professing to be opposed to it
on the alleged ground of its .abolitionism,
South, between Slavery and Freedom.
And the attempt to prevent it from
coming to a head is to attempt to put
hoops on a whirlwind. The North and
the cause of liberty have abundant
power with which to trumph,and triumph
peaceably. The Anti-Nebraska senti
ment of the North is strong, amply
strong enough to elect a President, keep
a large majority in the house of Repre
sentatives, and ultimately redeem the
Senate from its vassalage to the Oligar
chy. A year ago there were hopeful
signs that a party would be organized in
the North on this basis. But since then
the baleful influences of Know-Nothing-
ism have risen and spread like a pesti
lential mist over a smiling landscape,
and now threaten to prolong the time
when that hope shall be realized. Con
sequently we are now groping in the
darkness of uncertainty. The forces of
freedom are allowing themselves to he
thrown into confusion, and whether they
will rally in time to prevent discomfiture
yet remains to be seen. The farce of
Know-Nothingism is diverting thousand:,
of true Anti-Nebraska men from their
real duty and thus jeopardizing the
great and lasting interests of the country
at a roost critical period. The North
is almost u ianim^us at *,nis moment if
thu real s*;ntifCent of the people could
bo fairly reached.”
In view of the above extract, the
Savannah Journal & Courier, whose
editor is violently opposed to the Know
Nothings, hut who is one of the “ im
mortal few ” in Georgia “ of that ilk
who possesses sufficient manliness of
character and true magnanimity to do a
political apponent justice, inquires, with
great force, “ Do not such statements
as the foregoing, every word of which we
believe to be well founded, authorise the
hope that “ good will come out of evil
or in other words, that the Know Noth
ing organization, though wrong, both in
its principles and its purposes, may, bv
its prevalence throughout the North,
create such dissensions in that quarter
as will paralyse, the efforts of the ene
mies of the Union and the South ?”
Bold Ground.—Orestes A. Brown-
son, a somewhat noted Roman Catholic
writer, recently lectured in New Orleans
The Creo le reports him as follows on
the destiny of the Romish Church: “ It
must become the arbiter between the
State and tbe subject. It must guard
the man by interposing its flaming sword
as a defence. It must construe consti
tutions and expound laws, deciding
where is the limit of centralized power,
and what is its absolute duty to perform.”
HOW NOW?
The foreign organs in this State, as
our readers are well aware, have hereto
fore attempted to frighten Democrat
cut of the American party, on the
ground, as they alle'ged, that it was the
“ Whig party revived,” ‘ Whiggery in
disguise,” &c.; that-it was very plausi
ble in appearance, but that there was “ a
c*t iu the tiMMi.’What will they say now,
when the two great Whig tom-eats,
Messrs. Toombs and Stephens, are
found on the other side, aiding and
abetting the foreign Catholic party?
If the new movement really is “ Whig
gery in disguise,” is it not passing
strange that these gentlemen—together
with numbers of tbe old Whig leaders—
have not been smart enough to make
the discovery ?
The truth is, as we have proclaimed
it all the time, the American party is
not made up from the ranks of any one
of the old organizations, but gathers its
strength from all of them.
Let, therefore, those patriotic Demo
crats who hare heretofore hesitated to
declare in favor of their countrymen,
lest the whole movement should prove a
“Whig irick,” hong back no longer—
they need fear nothing of the sort now.
I*et them act in accordance with the
patriotic impulses of their hearts, and
at once declare in favor of the great
principle that •* Americans shall govern
America.”
53P The weather here is both warm
and dry. Rain much needed.
REMARKABLE PREDICTION.
The Nashville Gazette, in referring
to a‘new book which has created a con
siderable sensation, called “ Armaged
don or the United States in Prophecy,'
written by S. D. Baldwin, President of
Soule Fe nale College in Tennessee,
copies the following remarkable passage
from its page*—which, as the editor of
the Gazette says was written eight years
ago, the auther cannot be charged with
an attempt to aid the Know-Nothings:
“ Triual and absolute sovereignty
over the earth is the faith of Rome, aod
whatever disaster may befall her, she
will still anticipate real supremacy in
the end. Her confidence that she will
be in the ascendant in the United States
is not likely to be shaken, and this
faith will affect her conduct and lead to
the subversion of religious liberty here,
if in her power. We may, therefore,
well suppose that she is now laboring to
establish her throne among us, by becom
ing a politico-religious element in our
elections, and at her fall in Europe we
may. anticipate that she will redouble
her efFors to destroy Bible democracy.
She Will fail of her ends, for Providence
wity,bring means to thwart her; Jesuits
will be met by organizations possessed of
as much intelligence as themselves ; and
American shrewdness willfo l the jugglr-
ry of priestcraft; and European fana
ticism will quail before the common
sense of our countrymen. We must be
up and doing; ice must fight with their
armor ; we must meet fire with fire, and
secrecy with secrecy, and dexterity with
dexterity; and i ver remember that “eter
nal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
We long for some scheme to be organiz
ed that shall “ take the beast and give
its body to the burning flame ;” and we
know that we shall not wait in vain.”
C3P* The Fore.an Party is driven to
every sort of expedient to keep its cou
rage up. The latest is the reported de
feat of the Know-Nothings in Philadel
phia—which turns out to be, just as we
expected, a Know-Nothing vict"ry—
they having elected a majority of th*-
officers of the city ! !
REMOVAL OF MR. POLK.
We adverted to the fact last week,
that Mr. Polk, (a relative of the late
President) bad been removed from
clerkship in one of the Departments at
Washington, by the President, on tbe
ground that lie was a Know Nothing.
We since learn that his place has been
filled by “ a bigoted Catholic!” The
following is extracted from Mr. Polk’s
letter in reference to his removal.
“ As hinted above, the reason is this:
This Administration is making an at
tempt, never made before, in conjunc
tion with the three political organs of
the party in this city, the Union, the
News, and the little Star, and a few
papers and old political tricksters and
papistical demagogues elsewhere, to
unite and identify the Democratic party
with that organization of a foreign priest
hood, sent litre by the Pope of Rome,
and sustained by other European despots,
for the purpose of undermining the
liberty of this country, and subjecting
Americans to the domination of that
tyrant of tyrants. They have been met
in the field by the American party, and
are waging a desperate warfare.—
They know that I have never hesitated
to denounce their course as treacherous
and suicidal, and I hesitate not to rei
terate that no party can he sustained in
this country which openly identifies itself
with a religious sect,-which has always
sought the destruction of all others, and
which denounces in its public and offici
al circulars, all who are opposed to the
union of Church and State, and are advo
cates of tlie liberty of thu press and li
berty of conscience.
“ This foreign organization of conspi
rators is under tlie direction of the
Jesuits, who have gained sufficient influ
ence with the administration to use cer
tain of the departments as tools to gratify
a low revenge. Under the circumstan
ces, decapitation was not to be avoided.
It came to this : they must remove me, or
lose their allies."
The
* ,r S«itia election takes
ph-Ce this bay. We learn from our ex-
1 viiangcs,as well as through private chan
nels, that it is one of the most exciting
political contests ever witnessed in the
“Old Dominion.’' We trust and believe
that the renegade Wise, who denounced
his Protestant fellow-citizens as “a God
less, Christless, lousy set of fools,” may
receive such a rebuke as will prove a
wanting to all low demagogues and po
litick tricksters hereafter.
Another Bird Caged.—We learn
tftilVJesse M. Garner,one of the jail birds
who recently made his escape front the
jail of this county, was lately captur
ed at or near Washington, Wilkes coun
ty, and is now lodged in his old quar
ter.
BEAUTIFUL CONSISTENCY!
Certain organs of the Foreign party
in Georgia, have been sorely ex
ercised because the London Times has
spoken in favor of the American move
ment—albeit they published with great
satisfaction that paper’s endorsement of
Mr. Pierce, when a candidate for the
Presidency ! Then it was good authori
ty, but note,the fact that it speaks favora
bly of the Know-Nothings, ought to.
according to the teachings of these gen
tlemen, forever damn that party ! ! !
These same gentlemen pounced up
on Putnam’s Magazine some twelve
months ago, and very properly as we
think, denounced it as a vile abolition
publication. Now, however, they copy,
with commendatory notices, an article
denunciatory of the Know-Nothings,
from its polluted abolition pages ! We
are not at all surprised that it should
contain the article—as all the Aboli
tionists denounce the Know-Nothings—
but it is a little strange that they should
approvingly copy it into their papers,
after warning their readers against the
circulation .at the South of such an in
cendiary publication !!
13^* A correspondent of the Feder
al Union says that the object of the
Know-Nothings is not only to defeat the
Democratic party, but “ finally to tear
down the American eagle and substitute
the crown of a monarch in lieu of the
stars and stripes!!!!! 'O tempora ! O
Moses ! O fudge ! !
' —A Know Nothing National Conven
tion is to be held in Philadelphia in
June next. The Grand Councils in the
different States are appointing delegates,
and from the instructions given, there
will evidently be a fight in the Conven
tion over the subject of slavery, which
tha opposers and supporters of that insti
tution will want upou the platform.
A Bee-Hiving Extraordinary
came off in the vicinity of Houston,
Texas, a few days since. The swarm
»as passing oyer a train of cotton wa
gons, when they became confused by the
noise and desceuded, choosing as a set
tling place the head of a wagoner, on
which they piled up somewhat after the
-tyle of an old fashioned grenadier’s
bearskin. The hat was then removed
to a wagon and conveyed six or oisbt
mi, “ and the bees securely hived.
Fur the Southern Watchman.
Mr. Cuunyry : Having a leisure hour,
^ ^0 not know how I can improve it
better than by dropping you a few lines
upon things in general, and nothing in
particular. As I am no writer, nnd
incapable of spinning out tny thoughts
upon any one subject, 1 am obliged to
•leal in paragraphs exclusively.
We seem to be better informed up
this way 7 of what is going on in your
great town, than you do who live on
the spot.
The Southern Banner is a great
print, and no mistake. It certainly has
more Editors than any other paper in
the Union. The great Mr. Howell
Cobb, however, is the presiding genius
—the controlling spirit. The dull,
heavy, stupid, insipid wishy-washy edi
torials, are written by Mr. Cobb’s shad
ow, alias, “ man Friday.” He writes
precisely, as he commands him to write.
A smile from his patron—a nod of ap
probation—fills to overflowing, his mea
sure of ambition. The young gentle
men, whosenames (loutish so conspicu
ously, as editors, are mere machines,
and therefore irresponsible. One is a
sledge-hammer of a fellow—real work
ing man—hard to beat in setting up
type, and working press—his only fault
is, his blind confidence in signing his
name to documents, with harmless in
tent, prepared by others, without the
courage and manliness to avow them
selves. The other is a jonquil-daffodil
sort of a chap, who perpetrates poetry,
without rhyme, meter or sense—who
rings loud notes, nnd utters Bombasto-
Furiu80 strains, about love, war and
chivalry. He knows as little of, and
cares as little for politics, as a dead
horse does for psalmody. ’Tis under
stood, the “junta” would gladly dispose
of him—his effusions are beyond the
comprehension of “ the unterrified.”—
Tis to be hoped you will show forbear
ance to these innocent creatures, and
not utterly demolish them, as many
fear you will do. Direct your fire, if
fire you ir.u-t, at thechiefs, who are be
hind the masked batteries.
A correspondent of yours, stated not
long since, that the Southern Banner
was the property of Howell Cobb, and
the bill of sale was recorded in Wat-
kinsville. This statement, not having
been contradicted, i suppose is true.*
What a humiliating spectacle, is here
piesented! A man who has filled such
high positions as Mr. Cobb has, driven
to the necessity of buying a press, and
through other men, puffing and glorify
ing himself! Oh shame, where is thy
blush? Will the enlightened people of
this District, tolerate such gross indeli
cacy iu him, and such an insult to their
understanding ?
—— * It is due to the Banner to eav,
though uo public den al of the truth of the
allegation of “Samuel” was made—and
therefore our esteemed correspondent, “ I«o-
ger,”liasof course, seen nothing of it—yet
it was privately denied in this commuuitv a
One of the oeteuaible editors of the Banner
went so fur as to demand the author’s, name.
After writing to him ou tue subject, we were
authorized to surrender it just so soou as the
individual iu question, should, over his pro
per signature, state that he sought the de4i.-
ed information with a view to either legal ot
personal redress. We stated the conditions
to him, since which we have heard nothing
further on the subject 1—Ed. Watchman.
I have been roving a great deal of
late, and miking with all manner and
sorts of people, and if I did not fear it
would make you vain, I would tell you
something; 1 must let out a little, any
how. Up where I have been, you are
all the go—and tbe Watchman is the
paper above all others. If you have a
title I don’t know it, but every body
above calls you Col. Christy. Those
who don’t agree with you. out and out,
say that you are firm, independent, aud
honest, and are bent upon what you con
scientiously believe is right, and for the
good of the country. The idea is gen
eral, that some of the big folks, want
to put you down, because you dare to
utter your own sentiments, and disdain
to wear their collar, and lick the dust
from their feet. Don’t despond, the
people are hastening to the rescue.
And now, Col. Christy, my wrist is
so tired, I cannot write another sen-
tence-*-besides, I don’t know that this
will be acceptable. I am on the gad
just now, hut when I am done rambling,
if yotL-detsire it, you shall hear from me
again. Yours, &c, ROGER.
We shall be pleased to hear from
friend “ Roger” frequently, but beg of
h m to omit the title. We consider
ourself thrice happy in this, that we have
thus far pursued our pilgrimage without
a title, and free from the contaminating
influence of the spoils of office. Our
friend need have no fear in regard to
making us vain. The popularity of the
Watchman grows not out of the fact
that its humble editor possesses any
rare gift, further than honesty of pur
pose, and a native, inborn love of inde
pendence—but rather because the peo
ple know the Watchman is right. They
know that no man can be wrong in a
contest between his countrymen and
the foreign hordes which now threaten
to trample under foot their dearest
rights, when he openly and zealously
espouses the cause of the former. As
we told a young man the other day, who
jounced upon us for alleged proscrip
tion of foreigners, had we lived at the
time when “ foreigners” were chasing
Marion and his men through the swamps
of South Carolina, we should have em
braced their cause instinctively—we
could not have done otherwise. And
just so in the fierce contest now raging,
we cqnnot help taking sides with our
countrymen ! It may be an evidence
of “ vulgar” taste to prefer a simple
American for office to a. foreigner (as
we understand some of our *• vewy
foine” young exquisites think is the
case) but we cannot help believing
that “ Americans ought to rule Ameri
ca.” Those who think foreigners are
better qualified, will, of course, act
with the Foreign party—which is the
patty that opposes the Americans, what
ever name it may assume.
For the Southern Watchman.
EXPOSITION OF KNOW-NOTII-
INGISM.
The first man, born on this green
earth trespassed upon his brother's rights.
Nor did corruption stop with Cain : for
man still invades the rights of his fel
low man,and, with slaughter and blood
shed, makes countless millions mourn
Aggression has made the Emerald isle
groan beneath oppression and almost
extinguished its primeval inhabitants.
But it does not stop with violence and
force ; it creeps into our national coun
cils under the insidious guise of friend
ship and becomes more dangerous to
our liberties than a tyrant’s bristlir.g-
steel. When other nations come against
us in hostile array, we know how to
meet them; but when the poor and op
pressed, though often vile and corrupt,
come seeking our protection, should we
deny them a home where wealth is as
the waters of the great deep ? Now if it
wttpe friie that foreigners came solely
through a desire of obtaining a home
and of escaping persecution, there
would be 6ome plausibility in the argu
ment that we should not deny them
Legislative Privileges. But is it so ?
Do they have no ulterior object in view ?
Unless we are mistaken there are sever
al reasons why we should not allow them
to govern our country.
In the first place we hold good morals
are essential to good government
Wherever civil and moral obligations
are observed and enforced, society
is happy and prosperous: but where
they are disregarded, vice and corrup
tion creep in and cast a blight upon the
pro-peels of religion and virtue. And
should not the people see to it that such
laws and regulations are adopted as to
secure the moral integrity of society ?
Should they premit a damning evil to
be forced upon themselves and posteri-
ty, or should they encourage the intro
duction of a vicious class of persons who
are well calculated to corrupt society ?
To make this position perfectly obvious,
suppose a town containing five thou-
-and intelligent and virtuous Inhabitants,
should receive an increase of fifteen
thousand from tMe most depraved por
tion of mankind, would its social rela
tions be bettered ? Would it be a bet
ter place to give children those refined
virtues which dignify human character?
And would a people in such a situation
as this, have no right to complain of
political demagogues who want such a
population to raise themselves to place
and power ?
Although foreigners do not come in
this proportion : yet so far as it extends,
just so far do the social relations of so
ciety suffer. This is abundantly proved
by the amount of crime which occurs
among them; for we learn from statistics
that they committed over half of the
capital offences in the United States du
ring the year 1850. And when we re
flect that they do not constitute one-
leRth part of our population, this argu
ment swells into dimensions which are
sufficient to astonish the most incredu
lous. Nor is this all, for the expense of
prosecuting these offenses and keeping
up jails,brings a heavy tax upon the peo
ple, which they would not have to bear
if it were not for our receiving the off-
scouring of European population among
us.
Again, when people have so little re
gard for their honor, as the most of
those who come to this country, there is
danger of their corrupting influence ex
tending itself to our own native-born
citizens. For politicians will pander
to their vices and then swear that they
did not obtain their election by treating
or any oth*r unlawful means. And in
this country, there are no artificial bar
riers between the different classes of so
ciety, which will necessarily expose
every one to all the corrupting influen
ces which such a state of things will
bring about. And it should be remem
bered that it isnot corrupting influences,
but that it is industry, virtue and intelli
gence which make nations great and
cause them to leave foot-prints on the
shores of time.
Finally, they are generally Roman
Catholics, and the policy of this sect is
diametrically opposed to all republican
government. For they invest all power,
both civil and ecclesiastical,in the Pope,
who shuts out the light of the Bible
from inauicind, and who would bind up
on us superstitions more degrading in
their character than those which afflict
unhappy Mexico. We have but to cast
our eyes over the nations of the earth
to see these degrading influences.
While we see its effect in the South
American republics and other Catholic
countries, we cannot help contrasting
their situation with those countries
where religious freedom prevails. In
one situation the people are ignorant
and superstitious; in the other they are
intelligent, virtuous, refined, and rapid
ly advancing toward that station which
the God of nature intended man to oc
cupy. This of itself is sufficient reason
for opposing foreign immigration.
But it is not the only one,for it is the
avowed intention of the Romanists to
govern this country. They are making
every exertion to obtain this end, nor
do they scruple at the means to be used.
Only a few years ago, they turned the
election, in a sovereign state, from the
popular candidate and placed another
man in the gubernatorial chair. Yet
some of our best citizens, blinded to
their interest, fear not the effect of in
troducing, into our midst, the vile and
corrupt, together with the abominable
heresies of Roman Catholicism, but
we are opposed to it.because we believe
it to be a fruitful source of evil and
weR calculated to overthrow this republi
can government.
Our motto is, let America be charac
terised by the intelligence, virtue and
Protestant views of her citizens; and
she will always be a nation,
“ Where the wearied eye may repoas
w lieu gaziug ou the great:
" h«.Te neither guilty glory glows
Nor despicable state.”
BILLY “ TUCKER.”
For tho Southern Watchman.
Mr. Christy : Dear Sir: From the
able and fearless manner in which you
have acted in advocating the cause of
the great American party, in opposition
to foreign pauperism and Romau Catho
licism, it affords me pleasure in com
mending your able and patriotic paper
to every Native American—as it advo
cates the only principles which can sus
tain our Government. Our banner is
thrown to the breeze, with our princi
ples inscribed thereon, that all men can
read them. They are the principles
laid down by Washington, the Father of
our country, and have been fostered by
Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Harrison''
and others, whose names stand indelibly
stamped upon the tablets of every true
American’s heart—whose lives were
speut in the service of our country.—*
Though dead, their voices yet speak*
The principles of the American party
are not locked up in secrecy, to be hid
from the world. The clouds are gath
ering. and ere political demagogues are