The native American., 1837-08-19

It could not then have entered into The heart Of man to
conceive, atin fifty years the beautiful edifce OF Ou
Consultation would be in danger Of being marred and
blurred by hordes Of foreigners, subjects OF kings, and
strangers customs, institutions and our laws
is for this generation Mr.. President TO take care
that the precious deposit of free and rational govern
ment be preserved 1t is sacred duty TO watch and
guard the temple Of Liberty, and take that no
rude hands disturb its fair proportions.
In the faithful discharge Of the trusts which devolve
on the American people, naturaized feowcitizens
no less interested than we are. Here they have
taken up their permanent abode. With us, they are
admitted to the enjoyment of every privilege secured
by the Constitution and laws Of the Union. The safety
of their persons and property and the free exercise Of
their religion guaranteed by the laws and pro-
tected by the same tribunals as own. And theil
children, educated in the same schools, minging in
the same sports and acquiring the same habits, grow
up with our children as people of the same nation
kneeng at the same altars, and fighting the battles Of
one common nnty for the preservation Of institutions
equally endeared TO, because equally the property of all
Then why do they complain of the American feeling
manifested by this Association. If they have indeed
as they say they have, cut asunder the cords which
bound them to their native land ifthey have fed from
the house Of bondage with no desire to return to it, il
they have, indeed, become "bone of our bone, and
flesh of our fesh," why this looking back and long
ing it were, for the flesh pots of Egypt in the houses
and palaces of kingss Why this discomfort and ex
element, because zoe, the masters of the FEAST choose
to invite no guests to sit at table and parake
of cheer? Surely sir there is gross inconsistency
in such course. Those who, by the indulgence Of
our laws, permitted to share with us, as mem.
bers of the family, enjoy the same liberty, and
exercise the same privileges native born citizens
have no just cause of complaint, because we think il
time to stop the ever swelling tide of immigration
Their complaints made without just cause, and
their angry vtnperatons only calculated to excite
regret that such inesmable benefits have been Law.
shed on men, whose hearts strangers to every i'm
pulse of gratitude.
But, Mr.. President, why should this country of all
others, be required to continue forever to receive
strangers from every clme' What peculiar obliga-
ton rests upon this nation aone Of all nations Of the
earth to permit all who come to it to claim equality
lin all respects with its own people! Why should
England and France and Germany and Holland and
all other states, claim from benefits for their subjects
and people, which they will not grant our citizens
and whcb they do not claim from each other9 Tell me-
sir, know, which Of all the nations Of the earth
has provided general system Of naturalization. No:
one, sir, not one. And yet, because we think j,
time to look little closer after our own AFFAIRS Ia
provide little more for ourselves and care little
less for other people, this association is to be branded
by the ungrateful from other countries, and the u-
thinking unfaithfnl amongst our own citizens, as
lliberai and unjust! Sir you must disregard these
mputations. As you value the perpetuity Of the hap
Py form Of government you live under, you must per
severe in tho good work you have begun. AS your
purposes and objects become known to, and under
stood by the great mass Of the people throughout the
Union they will flock to the standard Of their coun-
try and even every liberal and intelligent foreigner.
who looks to the effects of your efforts his own off
spring, will cheer you on, until those efforts are
crowned with complete success. Sir, the liberty
which was purchased by the blood Of the bravest and
guarded by the unceasing vigilance Of the wsest Of
your ancestors, is not baube to be tossed to and fro
by the rude hands of the stranger and intruder.
The last branch Of the resolution is in my view the
most important, and although from its nature it calls
for but few remarks to enforce its propIety, con-
ess hardly know how to approach it with the calm
ness with which every subject considered here should
be discussed.
1t is known to you, for il is matter Of general no.
toriety, that practice prevails in several of the Eu-
ropean states, and particularly in England, to get rid
of their redundant and pauper population by trans
porting them, at the public expense, to the United
States. The overseers of the poor in the parishes Of
Great Britain openly contract at fixed rates. said to be
about five pounds sterling head, with the captains Of
ships, to transport their paupers the United States.
and land them here, with provision whatever 70,
even days support. Of about sixty thousand emf.
grants landed within the last twelve months. it has
been computed that at least onehaf are paupers and
destined to take up their abode in the
almshouses erected by the charity Of our cities for the
and destitute of our peoples prey upon
the property of citizens or perish with want in
our streets and highways. How often do we receive
accounts of these floating lazar houses stealing along
our coasts like smugglers, and merciessly casting
their disgusting, halfdyng sarvlngs upon our Shores
to become an intolerable burden upon our peoplel
Why, sir, the very cost of their burial is tax that,
amongst any people, but which is proverbial for
,nnrav AZ ~l111s - -