The native American., 1837-12-02
THE NATIVE AMERICAN.
For the Natipe .American. ,


OF THE ENGLISH PRESS UPON OPINION I'm
AMERICA.
Mr.. EDIToR: From the hour which even
tlally, in political sense, separated these now
apparently independent States from the Bri-
tish Crown, there have been too many con-
vincing proofs of the SlaviSh Difference which
we pay to the opinions ofthose who once were
our open, as they now are our secret, enc
miles, We are told by observant and able
writers upon the subject, that it is the regll-
lar and daily practice Of the British Press to
manufacture articles expressly for the Ameri-
can market, inculcating with all that ponde-
rosity of style, and skill in mystifcation, for
which the reviews of London, Edinburgh,
and Dublin, are celebrated doctrines and
conclusions in positive contradiction to those
principles and doctrines which we feel proud
to name emphatically Native Amercan-in-
digenous to us and our soil. The reading
public in this country, imbibing from educa-
ton and habit strong prediction to what
ever has foreign stamp upon 1t, III literature
or science, devour with morbid avidity the
productions of the British Press, and imper
ceptibly inhale the spirit which breathes in
them, infused for the most part in order to
support and eulogiZe crumbling systems and
corrupted politicians. Writers of ability and
influence are regularly employed in England
whose profession it is to advance the interests
OF the government at the expense of our own;
and as a shrewd traveller remarks-"t that
agents of this sort are unquestionably employ
ed on the continent of Europe, and think it
more than probable that it has them in Anne
rica." There is no intelligent observer Of
men and things, who is at all conversant with
European politics, or opinions, that does not
feel convinced that a profound, powerful, and
widely ramihed conspiracy is formed in the
Old World, for the purpose of crushing the
liberal opinions which are encroaching ra-
pldly upon old and worn out feelings and in
stltutlons, and that their operations are aimed
at us Republicans of the New. The moral
influence which our example exercises among
them, and the increasing tendency of the
masses to protest against oppression, have con-
vlnced the lovers OF despotism, monarchy, and
hereditary arlstocracy, that nothing but union
and diligent circulation of their disguised
opinions, endorsed by their personal weight
and riches, can avert the storm which is about
TO burst upon them. Among a variety of ex-
pedlents, they have adopted the following:-
lst. 10 misrepresent and calumniate us and
our institutions, and hold us up as a warning
to those of their vassals or subjects, who, as
yet, are wavering, or are in complete igno-
rance OF the progress and success of the ex-
pertinent of Selfgovernment in the western
world. End. by the employment of learned,
gifted, and practised, though unprincipled and
Venal writers, to exercise moral SWAY over
the minds of the American public, and to
nourlsh that hereditary respect and venera-
ton which we pay to England in matters of
art and taste, to the manifest injury of native
learning and talent. 3rd. To organize a sys-
fematlc order of emigration, or rather, trans
portation, by which the discontented, the dis
affected, and the burdensome poor, are expell-
ed from their native land under the specious
plea OF philanthropy, to tax us and corrupt
our institutions.
AS to the first point, our fellow countrymen,
who travel for their own, or our improve
ment, inform us, that the British Government
actually inserted in the Quarterly Review ar
tlcles calumniating this country, and that the |
daily press teens with scurrilous abuse of
every thing that is American. We have, be-
sides, but to peruse the numerous travels,
journals, Itineraries, &C., which have been
circulated IN this country and Europe, from
the pens of Hall, Hamilton, Trollope. KEN
BILE, Martlneau, &c, &c. in order to arrive at
the inevitable conclusion, that there is an he
redltary and lnveterate prejudice against us
IN the mass of the inhabitants of the British
Isles, whether proceeding from ignorance, ma
lice, jealousy, or venal motives, l shall not
here pretend to assert. 1t is equally true, that
these calumnies and falsehoods are published
for the purpose of warping the public mind
In Europe, in reference to our national char
acter and political institutions; and although
it may be, that the dishonorable trick which
Tory presses are practising upon the people,
will react, ere long, upon those guilty of the
deception, still it is fact, that the conspiracy
is strong, profound, and active and that its
main object is to injure us, and mar our hopes
and prosperity. 1t becomes us, then, to eman-
cipate ourselves from this servile obedience
to the dicta and writings of foreign authors
and politicians; to express, in an open, frank,
and manly manner, our contempt for their
falsehood, and our deep indignation at their
foul misrepresentation and abuse.
In the second place, it is unfortunately too
apparent, that strong and pervading attach
ment to every thing that is English or ex-
otic, exists in our community, and that this
attachment appears to be hereditary rather
than acquired. Now would ask, if there is