The native American., 1837-12-09
For the Natipe .Amertcan.
Mr.. COOPER, AND HIS NATIVE AMERICAN
OPINIONS.


degree to have facts and authority on our side of
the question, | beg leave to insert in your CO.
lumns few of the most pertinent remarks of
Mr.. Fenimore Cooper, touching certain points
which bear Immediately upon the principles of
the Native American cause, and which | am proud
to see is daily gaining ground in the country.
Whatever that gifted writer and shrewd traveller
puts upon paper, is deserving of the most calm
and favorable consideration; and as he speaks in
the matters now al issue between US and our OPP
ponents, from personal experience, cool and ho-
nest examination, and with the appearances of
deep conviction clearly developed in every sylla-
bic and fact, his assertions to be taken con-
elusive evidence in our favor 1t were well to re-
the pages which embrace his impressions on the
physical and moral state of England, our gifted
countryman labors to impress us all with the con-
victon, that profound and inveterate prejudice
pervades society in that country to the damage
and disadvantage of our own that an improper
and deleterious influence is exercised by English
over American mind and that there is a strong
desire to overturn our institutions and destroy our
Union.
First, then, he asserts-s' The statements rela-
tive to drunkenness, got up for effect by the Tenn
perance Societies at home, are giving us an I'M
deserved reputation for that vice, of which feel
convinced we have, relatively, among The Natiuc
population, as little as any other nation | have
visited, and much less than most of them. | feel
persuaded there is party in America that wishes
to see these msstatements propagated, in order to
bring free institutions into disrepute; party that
embraces a large portion Of the trading foreign
ers; and verify they achieve their object, for de-
moeracy and drunkenness are closely associated
in the minds of millions of the wcE-intentioned in
this hemisphere"
j Thank you, Mr.. Cooper, for this clincher! All
impartial and observant men must endorse this as.
sertion, for we have but to look around u.s. to en-.
ter our grog-shops, and read over the licenses fol
selling liquors. to- learn, that the shameful trade
vending strong drink is almost exclusively in the
hands of foreigners; and that intemperance pre-
walls almost as exclusively among their fellow
countrymen, who come squalid and degraded
paupers to our shores.
i Again, he remarks" Some pcculiarities of ;
physical nature serve to aid foreigners in perpetu
atlng their power over the American mind. The
population is so dilfused, that, unless in cases
which excite local interest, there is no opinion
sufficiently strong to cope with that which is
formed in the towns; and those toaons, pariicu-
iariy those Of the most influence, are quite as
much foreign as .4mcrican. n large portion Q,
ecen the presses, IN the seu-ports, are directh
controlled by men aOho Dere born British su6-
ljects; and Il is a peculiarity about these people,
scarcely eUer to forget their origin. There is an
lnfatuaton in America, on this subject, that one
who stands aloof, can hardly credit. Still, when
we come to look into all the causes, it can scarcely
create surprise that the writers of the nation look
rs much to foreign as to native appreciation; that
the dlplomatists court their enemies, instead of
their friends; and that public opinion is constant
ly influenced by interests and rights adverse to
our own
These conclusions deserve, Sir, to be italicised,
and even made standing matter, SO deeply are
they saturated with that nationality, love of cum
try and sound sense, which we deem to be en-
braced i'll the generic term of Native American
Besides it goes far to explain why we meet with
so much violent and scurrilous opposition, since
commerce Is so generally absorbed in foreign
hands, and the public press invaded by those who
never forget their origin and like the Jews, re-
main III feelings, habits, and interests, separate
and distinct from .e people among whom their
pecunary necessities, not their convictions, have
induced them to reside. There is world of mo-
raj in the thought; but the small space which |
propose occupying in my present lucubraton, ar
rests my pen, and warns me to prune my reAec-
tons.
Another example to prove the fact of foreign in
1uence existing III our country, and have done
:" An American was at Washington applying
for some diplomatic appointment; at the moment
Congress had the subject of the French Repri-
sails, as recommended by the President, before
them. OF SO much greater importance did this
diplomatic agent deem foreign Than natire sup
port, that he is said to have written letters to Pa
rls, assuring his friends there, that neither the
Nation nor Congress would sustain the President
in his proposition! In faoo instances the acriter
foma Engishnacn employed IN the legations at
fo'o sdfartes; and, Of course, the secrets of the
goo''n'ne'a arere put at the disposal Of foreign
mcrcenarics." So have they been also at home,
Mr. Cooper, and we hail you as a true, single
minded, bold, Native American, and extend to
You in consequence the % full right hand of Anne
rican brotherhood"
l, too, have, on small scale, had the same oc-
caslon to observe the same thing; and whilst in
Paris, knew that the letter of the ssdiplomatic
agent, or rather eXagent, had been written; and
mat foreign support preferred to natiUc /
also endorse Mr.. C.'s assertion concerning Eng
ilsh dislike to Americans and learned from for