The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-30

be hoped by all, friends or foes, Of the present adj
ministration, that more equitable spirit presides
over the acts of those in whose care the people
have thought proper to entrust their destnies; and
that the eyes of the public will be opened before
mt be too late, on the vast responsibility we as
sumo, and danger we encounter, every time we
naturalist an alien
| If every foreigner who came to us for citlzen-
ship were to tender us on application strong and
unexceptionable testimonials OF good character
| from those among whom he was born and educa-
ted-if he brought us, open letters OIL introduc-
ton, education, gentlemanly manners and opin-
ions. and money sufficient to keep him from be-
coming burden on the public---if, in fine, he
1 could convince us that his views were dsintcrest-
ed for leaving his own country, or that he has
been exiled from his home by oppression, and not
by the violated laws of the land-then, indeed, the
alien might be an acquisition, and not curse,
upon us and our children.
But when an alien offers himself for admission,
with no testimonial of previous good behaviour
bearing upon his own person the clearest proofs of
moral and physical degradation-a stranger to the
feelings and habits of gentleman and an hon
est ,nan--poor and needy, and consequently ready
to adopt any political creed, provided he be well
paid for his trouble, and prepared to do any dirty
rob when all expedicnts have Eiled-under such
circumstances, say, it is both mad and criminal
10 adopt such degraded wretches, and make our
selves responsible for their subsequent msdeeds.
We cannot expect from the latter any thing that
is good or uscful-whch will be cre,litable to us
on the score of Judgment and discrimination
they will be whilst amongst us the fruitful sources
|of moral and political corruption and contagiOn;
and as they were rotten members of the body po-
litic at home, will they continue when trans
planted to our soil ''cPlum non amman mutant
qul transmare current"
From the former, indeed, we may expect
something that is good and useful, and crcditable
to our Judgment and discrimination; but at the
same time it cannot be denied that responsibility
is assumed BY our Government in the act of their
adoption, and that more or less danger is incur
red. For the very same reason that we require
letters of introduction, or previous acquaintance,
before we admit stranger to enter our families,
and are cautious in proportion to the responsibility
we assume, it should be our duty, as it is our in
terest, to exercise wise and just discrimination
as to those aliens who apply for admission as fell
low citizens to the great political family in the
States.
We will be constantly exposed to the inconve-
nent necessity of pressing claims upon friendly
governments, when perhaps the claimants are
born subjects OF those governments, and neither
losses actually in contending against their own
country in favor Of the one they had found it their
interest to adopt. We will be constantly exposed
to the modification and loss resulting from mis-
placed confidence, if the practice now in vogue Of
prelerrng foreigners to natives-of receiving ali
ems without certificates of good character and suf-
ficent preparatory ordeal, to an equal share with
ourselves in our political rights and immuniies,
be not discontinued. We will discover, if we do
not now put our shoulders to the wheel, and when
it is too late to reform or correct, that our own
blindness, infatuation and indifference, have been
the causes of our ruin, and have brought with
them their own peculiar punishment.
As finale of this argument, fatter myself,
Reader, that you will be equally impressed with
myself of the evils growing out of the present
provisions Of the law, on Naturalization, and par
tculary with the truth and justice of the facts and
deductions have adduced on the position.-that
every time alien is made citizen Of our coun-
try, our Government becomes responsible for his
acts, and is exposed to the danger Of being en-
broiled with friendly nations to aid and support
felon traitor. BOSTON.