The native American., 1838-11-03
NATIVE AMERICANISM.

What is it! What do we mean by the NAIVE
American party? We are frequently called upon
to answer these questions as though our prlncl-
nles and our objects were not as we'll understood
as any other thing about which men daily con-
verse. We mean by Native Americans, to dis
tinguish the citizens of this country who were
born in it, who have grown or are growing up IN
it. from those who were born in foreign coun-
try. This is the first, the grand distinction. We
maintain their paramount right to think and act
for this country in all things pertaining to the ad-
mission of others to a participation IN their po-
litical rights But in doing this, we do not IN
the slightest degree mean to impinge the rights of
those who, upon our invitation, have become
part of our body polite. That however is grant
by us-ours is the Inheritance. We, the right
full possessors, have extended that to them a
bounty. We mean to deny their right SO to ex-
tend that invitation, as to enable them and their
abetors to wrest from that which we have
heretofore yielded Of our own motion. The Indian
was, it is true the original proprietor. lie re-
ceiyed our ancestors, and gave them shelter and a
live He never brought them into his wigwam,
or sat them down at his council fires We have
done both-all that the Indian gave, and more than
he ever conceded. Our ancestors multiplied, in
creased, and drove back the Indian from the fertile
shore to the bleak and desolate mountain. We re-
gret tive sometimes lament the necessity
and at others condemn the violence which forced
the savage to yield to the Anglo Saxon, whose
march has ever been onward, for hundreds of
years.
Now, we intend, if possible, to awaken this
country, to like evil, which is by degrees grow
inc up among us, and to stop, while it is not yet
too late, that increase and tiplication which,
unchecked, will sooner or later compel us to
+re,d the maths which the Indian has trodden be-
fore us. Or what is no less to be dreaded, to
break UP our council fires and pull down the
glorious fabric of laws, manners, customs, and
habits. by the influence of which we have become
what we are. This is Native Amerlcanlsm. We
do not mean to turn or to look back, till we have
fairly, and by the voice of the People, modified
essentially the laws Standardization 10 the op-
pressed and the prosecuted, we will offer an asy-
lum-to the honest and industrious, employment
and the means of wealth, protection, peace, and
plenty-equal laws and equal protection; but 1t
must be laws created by us--protectlon afforded
and Guaranteed by u.s. We must not have our
halls Of legislation our courts of justice dlsn-
quished like Babel of old, by confusion OF
TONGUES: but those laws must be framed and ex-
pounded by men speaking the language in which
thew are to be expressed. We will not be con-
tent till the native citizen, and he alone, shall
have the right to make laws for the native and the
foreigner.
Rut who are these who thus daily sneeringy
point to the Native American? They tell us they
too are Native Americans. Be it SO. What
then! We quarrel not with you because you do
not see and feel as we do. We may and do la
,nent that we two are not of one mind. But they
sometimes tell us they are foreigners by birth,
and vet are as good and intelligent citizens, and
WORN natriots. and understand the frame of our
government quite as WELL and have just as much
roh to interfere in the affairs of the country as II
+bev had been born here Be it so. We ask
won how YOU came here, by what right you in
tsrfere in our affairs! They sho'o as their pa
ners. Papers! Why, gentlemen, we are glad to
zee vou-most of you at least; but papers are
never shown to us by Native Americans. There
.ben must be some difference between u.s. Some
one or some authority, must have granted you
those papers. Who was 1t!
Now, we are not surprised that these gentlemen
should feel as they do, because we think they do
not consider. We will not mpugn their motives,
because many ofthem, mostot them, believe 'hey
are right We ask them to renect-and, il GER
tain conditions have heretofore been imposed upon
them for wise purposes, we ask them why they
are so sensitive, when we propose to put further