The native American., 1838-05-19
COMMUNICATED.
TO HENRY L. ELLSWORTH, ESQ,
Hnlnali ! pinnei. of fhp Pniplf 0Hce

CoHtHtSStoHef " We oteh cVfEe.
"As censure is awkwardly sohened by apo
logy, shall offer you for this letter." SO
wrote a man whose iron pen asserted, what the
arms of our sres maintained, the principles of
our independence. The times in which he wrote
were singular-singular, for the production of
great men-singular, for the ardor and constancy
of their patriotism singular, for the sacrifices
which they made, and the hardships which they
endured-singnar, for their wisdom in council,
and their bravery in the feld-singular, above
all, for disnterestedness of motive which looked
to their countrys good as inseparably connected
with their own. These times changed and
the glory of those days has passed away. We
have now, new men upon our political theatre,
and, i'll some respects, new order of things.
We have now men, some of whom seem to for
get that they are Americans-lnany of whom
treat-when the occasion occurs-the Native
American with scorn and contempt. | ask you,
Sir, in sober seriousness, is this right? If you
assume that it is, l ask, upon what ground! If
you do not, then l demand the reason of the
course, which you pursue in your appointments?
Demaaa Sir, is strong word, and 1t NAV sound
little grating III your ears. The head of an Of
fce i" coathed with a little brief auhority''-it
may be, for power sometimes turns heads even as
strong that of the Superintendent of a Patent
Ofice-it may be, that you think, that you should
be approached in the language of supplication,
and not of renonstrance-in the style of petition
and not OF demand But, Sir, this is not nv
conception of the case, and hence I shall en-
plov the terms which think are adapted to the
subject.
We used to be told, that the Officers of our
Government are the servants of the People. Yes
Sir, the SERVANTS Of the People; and ever and
anon, in some of those precious periodicals which
are conducted by Foreigners, who fatten upon the
money Of the Native Americans, we see the
same sentiment reiterated. l adopt it, Sir, not
however because it is reiterated by these exotic
sponsors: no, Sir, no American, who has any self
respect, will consent to be schooled in the prin-
ciples of his Government by imported patriots.
But, adopt it, Sir, because it is true-because
it is a principle of our Constitution-because it
is interviewer i'll all our political institutions
cause it is the basis of our elections-because it
is our best security against the stratagems Of cor
ruption, aud the inventions Of tyranny. The
officers of our Government are the servants Of
the People. They have been placed there by the
People-they have been paid-and considering
what sort of creatures some Of them are, pretty
well paid too, by the peope-they are respon-
sible to the People, and may be removed by the
People. Such then being the state of the case, l.
Sir, as one of this people, Nafiue .4n1eri-
can, your equal by birth, and not your inferior in
conditlon-l address you-1ot, however, in the
language of supplication, but of remonstrance-
not in that of servity, but of freedom-not in
that of petition for ask no Office at your hands
not in that of request, for that is adapted to ia
vors solicited-but in that of DEMAND. And.
Sir, demand of you, upon what principle it is,
that in your appointment of Clerks, you exclude
the Native American, and select the Foreigner?
Is it, that you find more talent in the one than the
OTHER? But, what American, unless he be base
and degenerate, will admit this! Is it that he has
more integrity of character than the Native? But
will you, will any Native American dare assume
this ground! Is it that he loves this country
more than the man who drew the first breath of
life upon its soil? But, who, except the knave.
can assert, or the fool, believe it? Is it that lie
is more worthy Of trust than the Native9 But.
Sir, would not even you blush for the stupidity
OF the creature who could entertain such an opi-
mon! Is 1t that institutions are dearer to his
heart, than they are to him, who has been born
under them-who has grown up under them
and who loves them not merely because thew are
gool-not merely because they are the legacy Of
his ancestors-but, because they are his conn
try's 1t is impossible, Sir, that anv man can
believe this. No, Sir, you do not believe it
Upon what principle then-But this shall be the
subject of another letter from your fellow-cizen,
NARAGANsETT.