The native American., 1838-06-02
[coMMUNIcATEp.l
To the Commissioner Of the Patent Office
FREEDOM.

[coMMUNIcATEp.l
To the Commissioner Of the Patent Office.
SIR: If you only had been the object of my
correspondence, perhaps it would never have
ommenced-certainly it would very soon have
been closed. But, Sir, had another object in
view-and great and mighty object it IS. This,
is the maintenance of correct principles, and the
castigation of those who disregard them. rhe
first is the major, before whose magnitude, the
second, which is the minor, dwindes into insig-
nifcance. You are in office. am not. You
are-so says the Head of one of the Departments
Of our Government, and this presume is authori-
ty enough, since he belongs to the double distilled
pure democracy,-you are according to this
great photographer, who dubs his clerks $ hire
hngs," an agent of the People. Now, am
one of the People--a native, Sir, not an imported
patriot, not man who has the double advantage
OF having taken two oaths of allegiance different
sovereigns-not General Bernard, who, to the
disgrace OF our Government, held a most impOr-
tant military station under it while he owed al
legiance to the Grand Monarque-no, Sir, no
thing of all this, but Native American-born
upon the same soil which gave birth to your oson
progenitor; and the descendant of the same an
cestors whose deeds in arms, and wisdom in
counsel mark them as the Simpsons and Solomons
OF the age in which they lived Thus am one
Of the People-one Of the Native American Peo-
ple-one, OF hat body, through whose agency you
have been placed in Office, and to which YOU are
responsible for your official acts. When | see
matter for approval in these | shall commend
them with pleasure, when | see that for repre-
hension, shall censure it with freedom. 70
me, your opinion is a matter of no moment i
do not ask for Office at your hands; hence from
you shall never experience the modification of
a REFUSAL to Craze upon commons which already
are nearly all monopolized by manufactured
Patriots and as for any other consequences am
indifferent. To the laws Of my country am
amenable, and for the public opinion of my Ma
tive Countrymen, entertain due respect. Men
in Office, should be watched. Men in office, when
they do wrong, should be rebuked. Menin office,
when they will persevere in this wrong, should
be holsted on a gibbet, exposed to the indignant
scorn Of the people. The freedom of speech, and
the liberty of the press still remain to u.s. They
are the guarantees Of our constitution, the pillars
which support the edfce of our liberties, our
best security against corruption and tyranny
These we aoW preserve. Other inhertances have
been taken from us by the rude hand of the
foreigners, and the base and temporsing policy of
corrupt agents, but these yet remain. But, to
the main object Of this letter.
This, sir, Is my proposition. man must love
the land OF his birth better than any other. Is this
true! The voice of the universe responds in the
affirmative. The voice of the universe has al
rays responded in the affirmative. This, then,
is fact. TO reason about the correctness of this
feeling, would be great a folly as to reason
about that of maternal affection. 1t does erisf.
1t IS, therefore, law of our nature; as the law of
nature derives It's origin from God, it is there
lore good. Hence it is rght--it is proper
that man should love his own country-the
country which gave him BIRTH better than any
other. But, if this be the case, as it certainly is,
then does 1t not follow, as natural consequence,
that the country which is his natural parent
should love him more than her adopted ctizens?
think, SIR, that but one response will be given to
this question. But in order that we may have
a more comprehensive and clear view of this SUBJ
ect, will suppose few possible cases, and SUBJ
NIT them to your considerations You are father.
and husband; and doubt not but that YOU love
your children with the most undying affection,
ana' that you cherish for your wife the tenderest
rove. suppose now that the life of that wife be |
p,a1eo IN tne greatest jeopardy, and that person
a. :. 'he manifest hazard Of his own had preserved
:. MS man we will suppose to be stranger |
e o,eigner-and, to make the case as strong
- wen can be, let us also suppose, that he had
ios' an arm IN preserving her life. Such 4 man
mou'u undoubtedly have very great claims upon
you. Is ne poor! You should assist him. Js he
ir,endless! You should be his friend Is he in
aiilIctlon! You should soothe him. All tba,
man could be required to do in reason. Won would
be bound to perform for him. But should Won
SIR dIsinherit your children for him9 No matter
what his services to you--no matter what sacri-
lces ne has made on your account-no matter what
wounds ne may have received for your sake-yet.
would you give the homestead---the hall of your
ancestors TO him, rather than to your own son?
u'lhk' SIR, that you would not. am sure So
'iey "ouid regard you as a monster, if YOU did. |