Part 17 (1/2)
TO JOHN ADAMS, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
”PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 27, 1794.
”DEAR SIR:--... My opinion with respect to immigration is, that except of useful mechanics and some particular description of men or professions, there is no need of encouragement. I am, &c.,
”G. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.”
[Vol. XI., p. 1.]
TO J. Q. ADAMS, AMERICAN MINISTER AT BERLIN.
”MOUNT VERNON, Jan. 20, 1799.
”SIR:--... You know, my good sir, that it is not the policy of this country to employ aliens where it can well be avoided, either in the civil or military walks of life.... There is a species of self-importance in all foreign officers that cannot be gratified without doing injustice to meritorious characters among our own countrymen, who conceive, and justly, where there is no great preponderancy of experience or merit, that they are ent.i.tled to the occupancy of all offices in the gift of their government.
”I am, &c.,
”G. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.”
[Vol. XI., p. 392.]
SAME DATE, TO A FOREIGNER APPLYING FOR OFFICE.
”DEAR SIR:--... It does not accord with the policy of this government to bestow offices, civil or military, upon foreigners, to the exclusion of our own citizens. Yours, &c.,
”G. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.”
[Vol. XI., p. 392.]
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL.
”WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. 4, 1799.
”... For the cavalry, for the regulations restrict the recruiting officers to engage none _except natives_ for this corps, and those only as from their known character and fidelity may be trusted.”
[From the Knoxville Whig for March, 1856.]
WHO IS MILLARD FILLMORE?
A Brief history of the American nominee for the Presidency is this: He was born in the year 1800, in Cayuga county, New York, and is now fifty-six years of age. His father was then, as he now is, a farmer, in moderate circ.u.mstances; and now lives in the county of Erie, a short distance from Buffalo. The limited means of the family prevented the old gentleman from giving his son Millard any other or better education than was obtained in the imperfect common schools of that age.
In his sixteenth year, Mr. Fillmore was placed with a merchant tailor near his home to learn that business. He remained four years in his apprentices.h.i.+p, during which time he had access to a small library, improving the advantages it offered by perusing all the books therein contained. Judge Wood, of Cayuga county, pleased with his intellectual advancement, urged him to study the profession of the law; and as his poverty was the only obstacle in his way, Judge Wood advanced him the necessary means, relying upon his making a lawyer, and being able by the practice of the profession to refund the money again. With a portion of this money young Fillmore bought his unexpired time, which was for the winter, and he pursued his legal studies with energy and success, in the office of the n.o.ble Judge.
In 1822, he removed to Buffalo, where he was admitted to the bar. His object in removing to Buffalo was to complete his studies and to obtain a license. This accomplished, he removed to Aurora, not far from where his parents resided, and there commenced the practice of his profession.
The confidence of his neighbors in his integrity and abilities was such that he found himself in the midst of a lucrative practice at once. In 1826, he was married to Miss Powers, the daughter of a clergyman in the village of Aurora, and this excellent woman lived to see him elected Vice-President of the United States.