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The American Party in Philadelphia


Its Origin-Thc Riots, sc.


PHiLApELPnIA, May q, lsii
To the Editor Of The Tribune:


The independent course pursued by your journal
with respect TO the Native movement has confirmed
the high respect long entertained for YOU by every
jndcious friend Of those great principles Of Politi-
cal Economy by which alone our country can be
securely and successfully governed. The soundness
of your views with regard the union Of the Wings
with that party in the late Municipal Election Of
New-Y ork is now manifested By the jealous discon-
tent cvinced by the Natives towards the few Wing
appointments made by the Council; and the mpolicy
Of the course pursued by the Coarier 81 Enquirer
on that occasion s sufficiently demonstrated by the
late action o. the Naive party in reference TO those
appointments. Ii is, therefore, much 10 be regretted
tor many reasons, that the course SO wisely laid
down and go satisfactorily yindcated in ycnr excel
lent journal had not been universally adopted by
The Wings of New lork. But though The errors of
the past cannot be recalled they may at least efod
lesson for the future and the lesson afiurded BY
The selfish jealousy OF that party TO those who placed
them in power will not, il IS tu be hoped, be easily
forgotten.


The course OF one or two of our own Wing jour
nails, in reference the Naive movement, Is simar
TO- but more censur,ble than that oil The Courier
& Enquirer inasmuch as II Is deycld oil Inc only
apology put forth for the junction OF the Two Faries
m New ork-yiz. the defeat oil ihe Loco-fo oco
ucket-an erroneous but certainly plansiDie hfgu-
menl in i,s favor With the case Is entirely dii-
fsren,. and in order 10 show the suicidal policy OF
the journals referred 10, shall, with your perlnis-
ION briefly aude the origin ana present position
of the Native party n our city. In The iacts am
about 10 state there will, pcrnaps be found better
view of the remote OF The late rlos IN our cy
a;,h ,harn he accounts
respondents here, both OF whom 10 certain
rcut, wrong-Natire american being right in his
facts and wrong in his nerences, and your regular
correspondent right in some OF his inierences, but
almost entirely wrong in his facts.


Your readers are OF course, aware that, up 10 the
period at which the great Temperance Reform took
place in this county, the great majority CT Irish
citizens almost invariably voted with the Loco-tOco
party. This may be ascribed as well 10 the copge-
ninv of sentiment which always exists among the
dsoricrly portions of the population as 10 the petty
ambition OF the leaders OF the Irish party 10 obtain
the insignificant posts arIuy held out by Loco
Foco denagugues az The reward oi their adherence
TO Democracy. One OF the first consequences OF
lhe great moral and intellectual improvement OF The
Adopted Citizens produced by the temperance lie
formation was detection Of the stralagems OF Loco
Focosm, and an almost universal abandonment OF
that party by the rank and tiic ot the IRISH ltis
revolution in the political position OF the Adopted
Citizens was borne with some patience by tie locos
40 10 the time OF the Fall Elections in l313, when
II resulted in the defeat Of the LOcoF Foco candidates
for four of the lucrative Offices in the gift OF
Philadelphia County. 1t was then for the first time
ascertained bv the patriotic leaders OF the Demo
ctacy' that Adopted Citizens were incapable of ex
ercising judciousy the Right OF Surug', and they
yehemen1ly proclaimed that the Elective Franchise
must be limited to foreigners Of twenyone years
residence. Thus originated the Native party in
Phadelp lphia, which has snce ii is true, been aug
nlenled, rs Antire Amertcda Justly observes, by q
| large accession OF fInatcs OF both foreign and ma
tive birth. But its origin grew out OF the defeat oi
ioco-F Focosm the last election, and II is therefore
absolute suicide in the Wings OF Phadelpha 10
| ed Citizens supported Loco Focoism, il was very
well their right 10 the Elective Franchise could not
he doubted without exciting the virtuous indignation
oithe very party who have originated and are Row
sustaining the twenty years naturalization pm
cpe; nor would 10 this day have heard OF this
new qualification Of foreign voters, had they con
tnued submissive 10 the diclaton OF their old lea
| ders.


1t will thus be perceived how erroneous is the
course pursued by the Wings Of Philadelphia, or %
,hc small portion of them who favor this new move
,nent designed as il undoubtedly is to iruslrate The


Immense advantage gained by the Wing party IN 'ht


Intellectual and political improvement OF the Adopt
I'd Ctizens through the influence oi the Temperance
Reform among them. And hence may he seen ih'


wisdom oil the policy suggested and enforced in you
able discussion Of this question with the Courier
Enquirer of New-Y York. Let The Wings have moth
ing 10 do with Natvism; II originated with th'
Locos: with them let il remain, and by them be sup
ported; and if il vet farther disracts and wcaken
that party, already reduced by the detection Of th


irish vote, why well und good; so long rs Loco
Eocoism is prostrae the country must and Will pros
per.


One other inference from these premises in con
nection with the late dsgraceful Riots of this coun
" which may be traced 10 their fountain source th
characteristic turbulence and radicalism OF Loco
Focosu, and have done. Ii was long ago pre-
dicted that if Adopted Citizens were 10 separate
themselves from the rowdy party, they would b'
visited with summary vengeance and with n retrl
button of more forci6ie character than mere dis
reimbursement. Such has been the result and how
ever your regular correspondent may qubble abou
the peaceable disposition OF the EX-Loco-Nativt
meetings, it is beyond question that violence wa'
determined upon by them, and would have beer
sooner or later inflicted upon the Irish for their de
sIrtion OF Democracy, and transition 10 the wing
party And the second Kensington meeting, it Is
hey ond dispute, convened in an illegal manner
and with Il violent, turbulent and rioious intent. Nc
better evidence Of this is required than that iound II
the remarks appended 10 the call for II, in the organ
OF that party-the Native Amercan-and in The pla'
! cards which, with similar demonstrations, were IN
austriously disseminated throughout the City and
| County, arrestng the attention of the most casual
observers, and exciting the most gloomy anticipa.
lions, which were more than realized by the awful
| results. This was the first instance III the annals
| of our Republic of public meeting convened with
| an open invitation come prepared with arms, and
far surpasses in aocily the riotous conduct OF the
same Loco-Focoism in the election in Locust Ward
IN 1882. AHHiG.
To the Friends OF MIR. Clay.
LIFE AND SPEECHES HENRY CLAy-The publish
.. Of this work are now prepared any