CHAPTER XVIII.

THE AMERICAN OR KNOW-NOTHING PARTY-CONVENTIONS AND PLATFORMS OF 1856—LAST

IT

OF THE WHIGS.

T had been planned by Mr. Fillmore to make a trip to the South immediately after the close of his term of the Presidency, partly for the benefit of his wife's health. But Mrs. Fillmore was not destined to share in this journey, nor again to taste the sweets of the retirement of home for which she yearned and for which she was so well fitted. She died in Washington on the 30th of March, 1853. In the spring and summer of 1854 Mr. Fillmore made the deferred trip to the South, also visiting some of the Western States, and was received with much kindness and respect wherever he went. This year his little family was again reduced by the death of his only daughter. Amidst these bereavements Mr. Fillmore did not lose his interest in political affairs, nor wholly renounce his hope of again becoming the favorite in the race for the White House. The following letter will, in a degree, show the tendencies of his thoughts at this time:

"BUFFALO, NEW YORK, January 3, 1855. "RESPECTED FRIEND ISAAC NEWTON,-It would give me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation to visit

Philadelphia, if it were possible to make my visit private, and limit it to a few personal friends whom I should be most happy to see. But I know that this would be out of my power; and I am, therefore, reluctantly compelled to decline your invitation, as I have done others to New York and Boston for the same reason.

"I return you many thanks for your information on the subject of politics. I am always happy to hear what is going forward; but, independently of the fact that I feel myself withdrawn from the political arena, I have been too much depressed in spirit to take an active part in the late elections. I contented myself with giving silent vote for Mr. Ullman for governor.

"While, however, I am an inactive observer of public events, I am by no means an indifferent one; and I may say to you, in the frankness of private friendship, I have for a long time looked with dread and apprehension at the corrupting influence which the contest for the foreign vote is exciting upon our elections. This seems to result from its being banded together, and subject to the control of a few interested and selfish leaders. Hence, it has been a subject of bargain and sale, and each of the great political parties of the country has been bidding to obtain it; and, as usual in all such contests, the party which is most corrupt is most successful. The consequence is, that it is fast demoralizing the whole country; corrupting the very fountains of political power; and converting the ballot-box, that great palladium of our liberty, into an unmeaning mockery, where the rights of native-born citizens are voted away by those who blindly follow their mercenary and selfish leaders. The evidence of this is found not merely in the shameless chaffering for the foreign vote at every election, but in the large disproportion of offices which are now held by foreigners, at home and abroad, as compared with our native citizens. Where is the true-hearted American whose cheek does not tingle with shame and

mortification to see our highest and most coveted foreign missions filled by men of foreign birth, to the exclusion of native-born? Such appointments are a humiliating confession to the crowned heads of Europe that a republican soil does not produce sufficient talent to represent a republican nation at a monarchical court. I confess that it seems to me, with all due respect to others, that, as a general rule, our country should be governed by American-born citizens. Let us give to the oppressed of every country an asylum and a home in our happy land; give to all the benefits of equal laws and equal protection; but let us at the same time cherish as the apple of our eye the great principles of Constitutional liberty, which few who have not had the good fortune to be reared in a free country know how to appreciate, and still less how to

preserve.

"Washington, in that inestimable legacy which he left to his country-his Farewell Address-has wisely warned us to beware of foreign influence as the most baneful foe of a Republican government. He saw it, to be sure, in a dif ferent light from that in which it now presents itself; but he knew that it would approach in all forms, and hence he cautioned us against the insidious wiles of its influence. Therefore, as well for our own sakes, to whom this invaluable inheritance of self-government has been left by our forefathers, as for the sake of the unborn millions. who are to inherit this land-foreign and native-let us take warning of the Father of his Country, and do what we can to preserve our institutions from corruption, and our country from dishonor; but let this be done by the people themselves in their sovereign capacity, by making a proper discrimination in the selection of officers, and not by depriving any individual, native or foreign-born, of any Constitutional or legal right to which he is now entitled.

"These are my sentiments in brief; and although I

have sometimes almost despaired of my country, when I have witnessed the rapid strides of corruption, yet I think I perceive a gleam of hope in the future, and I now feel confident that, when the great mass of intelligence in this enlightened country is once fully aroused, and the danger manifested, it will fearlessly apply the remedy, and bring back the Government to the pure days of Washington's Administration. Finally, let us adopt the old Roman motto: "Never despair of the Republic." Let us do our duty, and trust in that Providence which has so signally watched over and preserved us, for the result. But I have said more than I intended, and much more than I should have said to any one but a trusted friend, as I have no desire to mingle in political strife. Remember me kindly to your family, and, believe me,

"I am truly yours, MILLARD FILLMORE."

In the Spring of 1855, Mr. Fillmore sailed for Europe, designing to extend his tour throughout the generally frequented parts of the Old World. In the company of several Americans, he traveled through England, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy, and from some temporary illness, was prevented visiting Egypt or any part of Asia. His reception was flattering, and especially did Queen Victoria, Louis Napoleon, and the Pope show him marked attention and respect. But things of more moment were transpiring at home, and in a way especially to demand Mr. Fillmore's consideration.

Nativism, or political Americanism, had its origin, it is claimed, in a desire to purify the ballot-box, and establish and maintain the highest possible standard of purity in Republican Government, and especially where the need of party integrity was least known, in

the elections and affairs of large cities. In 1834 this desire took shape in the municipal election of New York City, and a candidate for the mayoralty was brought out on the distinct ground of "ruling America by Americans." Although this was the first appearance of the question directly in party affairs, the feeling against municipal mismanagement was so great, and the evil largely being traced to the influence of the foreign element, that the Native candidate, Professor Morse, received a very respectable vote. Little more was heard of this new movement until 1840, when an attempt was made to draw a part of the public school-fund for the benefit of the Catholic Church schools. Two or three years subsequently the American party was reorganized in New York. In 1844 this new party elected the mayor and most of the other municipal officers in that city.

Some effort was now made to extend the American principles to other parts of the country, and notwithstanding the success was not inconsiderable, the whole matter went down, and was not revived until the appearance of Louis Kossuth here in 1851. This foreigner, with his turgid oratory, exaggerated manners, and erroneous theories, had actually been on the verge of changing the very honorable old policy of the Government; and when not successful, however, in that, he had turned his attention to the foreign elements in an effort to accomplish through them what he had not been able to do otherwise, or if not, at least lead them to embrace and pursue