The native American., 1838-01-27

The abandoned portion Of their population,
whose lives have been spent in the practice Of
every low and degrading vice, and whose confne-
ment in the jails of Europe would be too expen
sive to the state whose laws they have violated
have, in many instances, been shipped off to us
that they might exercise anew their vicious pro-
pensities, by plundering our unsuspecting peo-
lple. And even, in some cases, persons convicted
of assassination, and other high crimes against
the state, have been spared the last punishment Of
the law, upon the express condition of their adopt
ing these United States the places of their flu
ture and permanent abode.
! Your memorialists would not do justice to
themselves, were they to close this paper without
disclaiming, most emphatically, the wish to shut
the door against reputable foreigners, who volun-
tarily seek here free, peaceful, and happy home.
They desire that this blessed land shall continue
for all time to be, in a fair and proper sense,
.'an asylum for the oppressed Of all nations. Z
They are not to be reminded that all--all without
|excepton-of the native citizens Of the United
States, are themselves descended, mediately or
in the midst of them, your memorialists see fo-
reigners whom they gladly greet as friends and
las companions in the social circle. To such
your memoralists would say, in the language Of
the inspired volume: ssCome to us all you who
are weary and heavy laden, and we will refresh
|you;'' but they would say also "Come to and
be at rest; minge not in our political affairs; be
content to be governed, and seek not to govern
those who entertain you, and afford you shelter
and projections exercise freely, and enjoy, with
out the fear of molestation, every religious and
social right, but expect not to be invested with
political privileges, at least until the length of
your residence shall afford sufficient guaranty
that you have become fully acquainted with the
nature and extent of the obligations Of an Amer-
can citizen, and may be safely intrusted with
their exercise
Your memorialists, therefore, being deeply inn
pressed with the sonndness and great importance
of the principles they have thus imperfectly en-
forced, respectfully pray that your honorable bo-
dy will take the subject-matter of their memorial
into consideration, and pass an act to repeal the
acts now in force providing for the naturalization
/
of foreigners; or so to modify them, as in your
wisdom may seem best calculated to secure to
the native citizens of the United States the full
enjoyment Of the privileges and rights which
they are Justly entitled to under the constitution
thereof; and, also, to make ample provisions by
law, for the protection Of the United States from
any future influx Of foreign paupers and convicts
And your memorialists, in general meeting,
have directed that this application should be
signed by the President and Secretaries of the
Association, and the names of the members be
annexed thereto; it is therefore presented in this
form, from
Your fellow-countrymen,
HENRY M. MORFIT,
President Of the N. A. association,
Washington city.
HENRY J. BRENT, Corresp'g Secretary.
T. D. JONES, Recording Secretary.