A party formed in New York in 1844, for the purpose of rendering the naturalization laws more stringent, and keeping political power in the hands of persons born in the U.S. Also called KNOW-NOTHINGS, q.v.
1845. This Native American party had been generated by the corruptions of our great cities…. Who ever heard of a Native American meeting in a country school-house?… George Washington never had been a Native American, in their sense of the term.—Mr. Bowlin of Missouri, House of Repr., Dec. 18: Cong. Globe, pp. 43–4, App.
1845. Mr. Hunt of N.Y. hardly knew whether to be more amazed or amused at the terrific denunciations of Native Americanism which had been heard…. He had always understood that in the City of New York nativism had its origin in the disputes of the Tammany party. Certain Native Democrats … proclaimed a new party, to be called the Native American.—The same, Dec. 18: id., p. 66, App.
[See also Dec. 18 and 30, the remarks of Mr. Chase of Tennessee and Mr. Dixon of Connecticut.]
1854. See Appendix VIII.
