The native American., 1838-09-22
[coMMUNICATED.] ]
To the Editors of the Native american.

To the Editors of the Natice american.
You published communication of mine some
weeks ago, on the subject of the danger of ap-
pointing foreigners to offices of trust in this coun
try, as fully exempLfed in the remarkable cases
of General Bernard and Captain Poussin. 1t is
some satisfaction to me to have been assured that
that exposition has had its effect in arousing the
attention Of very many Of our countrymen to the
importance of the subject Many have acknow-
lodged that, until they read that article they had
treated the fears of the Association, as idle, and
their objects as absurd if not ridiculous. They
now the full force Of the objection urged
against the naturalization laws as now constituted,
and heartily concur with the Association, of which
you are the able and enlightened organs, and
pledge themselves to unite with us in our efforts
to effect repeal Of them. The Natives Of the
United States are patriotic to the core. They
want but light, and they must have it. Let it
come then, in constant and steady stream and
before long, every man whose first breath was
drawn in this land of rational freedom, will be
found on the side of natural Justice and natural
too dearly purchased, to be cast away upon for
eign intruders, foreign paupers, and foreign fel-
Ions. Our national liberties are like our national
domain, and we must resolutely keep off all
squafters. If foreigners aUW come amongst us,
let the only conditions of their right of pre-emp
tion, be good character, peaceable department,
and tranquil submission to the laws for twenty
one years. When this apprenticeship has been
fIJfIfuIbf Saryed md 7 for
shall be willing to trust them with the exercise
of the franchises Of American citizens, and admit
them into the enviable brotherhood of freemen
who know how to govern themselves.
| The thoughtless and fatal Indifference to the
danger of appointing foreigners to posts of honor
and confidence, has not been peculiar to any one
of the administrators OF our public affairs. The
fault has been committed by all of them. In
stances, believe, can be found, that even Wash
lngton, with all his known caution on that sub
ject, was not always on his guard, and had rea-
son to regret, and did sometimes regret, that he
suffered his own sound judgment to be overruled
by lmpudent and persevering Importantly. The
elder Adams, we know, was often imposed upon.
case under his administration just occurs to
me. The notorious John Henry, smooth
tongued, polished Irish adventurer, came to this
co lntry about the year l794-5. For some year
or two he found employment as a clerk to one
of the superintendents of the Potomac Company's
Works then in progress. By skful practice
of the arts of hattery and fawning, she won go-
del opinions of all sorts of men; and thus met
with little difficulty procuring Captains COM
mission in the ''Provisional Army" raised in
1913. in contemplation of a war with France.
Whether he was employed as Quarter-master,
Commissarat, or in some other lucrative post,
know not but it is certain that, ''by hook or by
crook he contrived to line his pockets pretty
well with Uncle Sans money. Like General
Bernard and Capt. Poussin, he solemnly swore
to renounce forever all foreign allegiance, and
cleave to us alone. The marriage was solemn
ised, and he stuck to his bargain, so long as it
was his interest to do so, but not one instant
longer. The moment that the Provisional Army
was disbanded, our patriotic Irishman betook
himself to his first loUe. Like the dog mentioned
in Scripture, che returned to his vomit." The
title of Captain, SO easily obtained from the sim
pie, confding, unsuspecting American Govern
ment, was passport to good society, in England,
and soon after, as we learned from his own sub
sequent revelations to Mr.. Madison, he figured in
an intrigue with Secretaries of State in England,
huentia men in New England from their alleg-
subvert our Constitution and sever our happy
Union. Frustrated, by the unexpected and in
corruptible integrity of those it was important to
gain over, he had the consummate art to swindlc
the pure and virtuous Madison of Fifty Thou
sand Dollars of our Peoples money, by reveal
ing the particulars of his own exploded machina-
tons against the peace and integrity of the coun-
try which had generously nurtured him in her
bosom. 1t is not necessary to enter into this last
scene OF this foreigners American adventures
1t is part of our recorded history, and is, or
ought to be, familiar to every reader of your ex-
cellent and patriotic journal. 1t is only one more
proof of the insincerity of foreigners in general
when they profess such violent attachment to us
and our institutions. Let it be warning for our
good. Trust no man with power or office un-
der the Government, but him who, by nature and
education, is entitled to our confidence. Even
OF those, traitors may occasionally be detected,
but II we wilfully commit our destinies to the
keeping OF those, who, by nature and education,
are almost lrresistbly drawn to interests adverse
TO ours, we deserve to be cheated we deserve to
be betrayed, we deserve to forfeit our Liberties.
WASHINGTON.