The native American., 1838-03-03

energetic, independent people; in the great Ma
tion of which we form a part-in the freedom W,
Ienjoy-in the boundless prospects which futurity
"opens to our hopes---in the hearts of thirteeI
millions of freemen. His name and memory
brighten, and will continue to illuminate the patti
of his country. Let US endeavor to walk in iti
4 light-let us never forget the fundamental princ
\ pie which formed the basis Of his Characteristic
without virtue no intelligence can ensure perma-
nent successful glory can be lasting.
1t has been often asked, what were his senti-
ments in regard to the great question which has
given rise to this Association, and of which am
further instructed to say something to you?
Look at his Farewell Address. With what So
lemnity does he conjure you to guard against for
leign influence and corruption. Look at his letter
in ITS, to Mr.. Morris, on the employmentof for
eign officers. Look at his letter to the Governor
Of Virginia, in l784-5; when earnestly advoca-
ting the extension of inland communication by
means of the great nayigable waters, and their tr
butaries; when striving to break through the bar
riers of the everlasting Aleghanies, and to unite
indissolubly. the East with the West. He speaks
of the vast fertility and countless resources of that
western world, then being fast settled, and which
would be settled with SO much more rapidity
s.by means of foreign, emigra,,fs aoso can hare
no particular preditecfion for u.s." Look at his
letter in 1894: when speaking of emigration, he
expresses his apprehension Of the policy or ad-
vantage of settling emigrants in body; 9 for by
so doing they retain the language, habits, and
principles, good or bad, which they bring with
them.'' l
Scarcely thirty-eight years have passed, since
the grave was closed over his mortal remains
and we are called to witness strange spectacle
i to commemorate remarkable event in the his
tory of this Nation. The natve-born citizen is
separating himself from the mass of his fellow ci-
tizens, to devise additional securities for the Con-
stitution and the Laws under which he lives--to
throw up new muniments to guard them from the
approach of danger. 1t has filled the country
with surprise, and to our great regret has produ-
|ced no small degree of excitement among some
of our fellow citizens, who daily assail us with
Questions such as these: Why this segregation?
Why this exclusveness! Why limit your Asso-
citation to the natve-born? What dangers do you
j |apprehend! How do you propose to guard
!, against them? 4tiatS s'shtis lifH~r-i #
Il Heaven forbid, that in aught we say or do, we
should be understood to interfere with the right
"a single human being, which has been guaranteed
to him by our laws, or that should infllct one
unnecessary wound, or be compelled to utter ont
f |unkind word to any man who stands among US
an American citizen--natve or naturalized; o.
Z that we should attempt in any manner to ettec
any thing by means of this Association, which
the Constitution does not authorize. or the prin
lciples embodied in that instrument emphaticall,
= demand of us. sti35stii ita ~s-ai,iftat Ia
5 But one would think from the tone and tempe
e lin which these questions too often asked, thu
/. we were embarked in some vast vessel, with thou
Fl sands of others of different and lineage, in
IcommOn cause of exploration and discovery. Aye
and that all had equal right to participate il
the voyage. Nay, more, that our adventure wa.
open to all corners. who, by whatever motive they
might be actuated, had equal right to partici
pate with us. .iis tao aaa5tfs
On all hands we have been held up to ridicule
or reproach. Let us ''gve reason Tor the faith
I that is in u.s." 'e#l a
! We are no longer on trackless ocean---the
dangers of the seas are passed-the land is reach
ed and won--the possession is now ours-and
while few Of that gallant host, who achieved the
voyage and secured the possession, still survive
n we, their sons, and the of those who they
admitted to participation with them in the glori
GUS results of their daring and labors, claim the
right to deliberate among ourselves, and to resolve
among ourselves the terms and conditions on
which others shall be admitted hereafter.
4 And we are told this is being exclusives: we
are ridiculed for presuming to call ourselves the
sons of the soil--Native Americans eYet such
we are. No man can deny this. And as such
we claim, and hold exclusive privileges more to be
priced than mortal man hath elsewhere conceived
of-the privilege of owing and paying with oul
first breath allegiance to the frees purest, best go
yernment that human sagacity hath yet contrived
the privilege of being elected to the Presidency
and Vice-Presidency over thirteen millions o
freemen. Are not these distinctive characteristics
which should teach us to prize our birthright as
the richest jewell-to guard Its possible injury
against the first approach Of danger with the mos
Jealous care?
+ The Constitution of the United States has
f drawn the line of distinction, broad and clear
} between him who pays native allegiance, inhe
t rent and perpetual, and him who once owed al
allegiance to foreign power equally inherent ant
perpetual, which nothing but the will of the sove
t reign power or death can dissolve. Born the sub
f iect of State, that State may claim the services
: of that subject at any period of his life And al
f though such subject may become the citizen 0
/ another State, and bind himself by new oaths 0
allegiance, and bring himself into positions OF dit
|ficulty and danger by the conflicting claims Q
: sovereign powers, he cannot throw oil that allcgi
S ance which attached to him at his birth. isst
n rpb;s 10 No new doctrine, promulgated to sui