The native American., 1838-01-20

the necessity or expediency OF encouraging emil
grants ceasing, and the discretion of exercising
that right or not being vested in the two Houses,
it is clear sequitur, that the right and power both
reside where the constitution has placed them.
But must tell the gentleman, as he appears TO be
ignorant of the fact, that it is our intention 70 me-
Congress for repeal OF the existing laws
Of naturalization, or such modification thereof
rs TO II n,ay seem proper and consfitufionai.-I
with them lie the manner and the measure Of the
change; and of course if the present law be abol-
ished, it will be replaced by one more in accord
ance with the creed and objects of our Association
So much for the gentleman's mixture of the ''esse
and the '.posse."
As to the regret Of the writer, that among the
objects for which it is proposed by the Society
of Native Americans to petition the national legs-
lature the passage Of rigorous law to protect and
preserve the purity of elections, has not been emu
merated,'' | tell him, that our disclaimer OF any
interference with the political questions properly
so called, which divide our community, prevented
us from alluding pointedly to that abuse; and ne
should do us the Justice to confess that our organ
here, s'rhe Native American" has discussed that
point, and had expressed with becoming warmth
and indignation the condemnation of the Assocla-
ton of which it speaks the sentiments 1t would
be no doubt gratifying to all true lovers OF their
country, that remedy, radical and lasting, should
be applied to the evil of which the gentleman SO
Justly complains; and it is to be hoped that the in
PRODUCTION of our memorial in Congress will have
the effect of bringing before that body an exami-
nation into the abuses of the elective franchise,
whether they proceed from natives, foreigners, or
aliens.
The "Native Of Maryland then asks the ques-
|tion, with tone of triumph, "Who are those that
would deny to the honest foreigner the rights of
; citizenship! Are they not all descendants some
"a little more and some less remote-from Euro
pean parents ~ Now, it would just be about as
reasonable to censure England for her hostility to
France, because their and our ancestors were in
= olden times inhabitants Of Normandy. 1t would
be as reasonable to assert that the re- aonshp
; American possessions ought to have forbidden an
appeal to arms; and because they might have con-
tended against kinsfolk, the resistance Of the Col
: onies, and their achievement of independence are
not ustifabe on the score of natural feelings and
gratitude. The gentleman also falls into the worm
out cant of the day by reproaching us for our for
getfulness of what aliens have achieved for our
liberty, forgetting himself in his hurry to convict
us of ingrattude, that our debt has been paid and
cancelled. 1t has been paid in full, repeat for
we all must know that those brave foreigners who
! fought with our fathers, have been rewarded in
: their persons, or in their descendants; and
! that the fact of our having been benefited by a
:. few extraordinary does not and ought not to
serve as recommendation to those of the present
day, who, besides having no claims in themselves,
can have none either on the plea of relationship
to the Lafayetes, Montgomeries, &c. &C., or as
their legal and acknowledged agents or represen-
tatives. We do not pretend to differ from the
Marylander in his praise of those great and good
men, but we do protest against this hackneyed
practice of endorsing the rotten certificates of pau
lpers and felons by the names Of such worthless.
In receiving aliens to the same rights ourselves,
1t is both fair and sensible to Judge them by their
own merits, and not by those who sleep with their
fathers, or with whom they claim neither relation
ship nor acquaintance. The two last branches of
: the argument against US, humbly conceive to be
! too weak and commonplace to need any more dis
cussion and shall pass to that part of the COM
munication which is Native American in form and
: matter.
Every member of our Association, and all Ma
tves from Maine to New Orleans, agree in toto
with the writer, when he exclaims, at is intoe-
: rable that this country should be burdcned by the
, cunning policy Of petty corporations or parishes
there lin Europe) with the charge of their infirm
and disabled paupers, or vicious culprts.'' Why,
gentlemen, it is almost verbatim what we all have
asserted; and as to the remedy to be applied to
turn aside the foul invasion from abroad, we leave
that to the wisdom and discretion of Congress, at
whose hands we solemnly ask for redress. ssLet
Europe bear the burden of her own vices and in
hrmities,' says the gentleman; and our Association
enthusiastically cry Amen
! The gentleman is also right when he recon-