The native American., 1838-09-01


, annually, as State, besides what is done in the
!, owns ior the support of paupers In some of
''ie iarger towns, the places where they kept
are so constructed and managed that the poor
houses are most corrupt and corruptng. They
, are nearly as injurious in their influence as the
Od penlentlarles-not in the arts of mischief but
I'm the low and corruptng vices. There is, some
,ltlmes, not even separation of the sexes We
might specify large and extensive establishments,
which are now what the old alms-house in Bos-
ton was few years ago. And we could give
detail of facts, which have been ascertained from
careful examination of witnesses, to which we
can only aude in this place, on account of the
character of these facts Suffice it to say, that
they are such as to demand immediate attention
| from the towns and the State. The people Of
the towns would not countenance such things if
they were known, and the State would not ap-
lpropriate its thousands annually for the support
lof establishments which are nuisances as much
as the old State prison. They are nurseries of
vice; they are sometimes Introductory to, and
sometimes receptacles from, the prison; there
is often an alienation from alms-house to prison
and from prison to ams-house. We have not
stated the facts in detail which are known TO us,
nor shall we do il in this place and at this time;
but, if the character Of the establishments is not
altered, from which these facts are gathered they
will be exposed in their naked depravity. Pub
licty will correct the evils, if other means fall
Our desire is not to impair any of the existing
rights OF strangers who are among us; neither is
| it founded in party or political views, except so
far as politics imply the establishment of laws
for the general welfare. The constitution secures
the first, and, as regards the latter we are com
posed of men of all creeds and sides. Our ex-
elusive object is to produce national character
and strength by unity of Feeling, and guaranty
that hereafter the honor and safety of the coun-
| try shall be entirely and only intrusted to those
whom nature has vouchsafed shall be true to her
rights by the ties of birth and the bond of fellow
lship. @.@...
We have seen for many years the undue infu-
enee OF the foreigners in our popular elections;
have witnessed, time after time, the good intent
of our best frustrated by the votes of citizens
not day old, led on by den,agogues to do as they
might be directed, and not as they knew was right.
We have seen preponderance of one party over
another, in which the Weightiest in number was
made so by men unpractsed in the princip pies OF
our institutions, ignorant Of our laws, and lieen-
tous in their doctrines. Some of us have seen
our own party triumph under the banner of re-
publicanism, while the strength of the victory
came by aliens, who knew nothing of the cause
but It's name. So, too, have some OF us been de-
feated by the same men, while the administration
Of our government as compared with the wishes
of her own people, has been put into hands OBJ
noxious 10 the country. TO some exten, we
must still submit to this evil; but as it must pass
away with the present generation Of the foreigners
now in the land, and entitled, under the law, TO
nearly all the franchises of the native, we are
willing TO endure that penalty so long, under the
consolation that children and posterity will he
saved from further continuance of the curse
The motive which led to thn passage of the first
law of naturalization has been greatly misconceiv-
ed. Many popular harrangues have been deliver
ed in aid OF party, when the politician, too weak
to be sustained by his own countrymen has III
voked the aid Of the poor wanderer, ignorant of
every thing save the charity of his new brethren,
by taxing his gratitude and appealing to the phi
lanthropy of our laws, which, it was alleged,
|spread welcome, home, and equality 10 all the
world.
i Such was not the true intent of the trainers of
our Constitutions; on the contrary, it was to di-
naaniSh the number who were daily pouring n
acquiring rights which, under the greater latitude,
was tolerated by the laws of the old colonies.
Some OF the provinces allowed naturalization or
right of suffrage in one year, and some in longer
or shorter periods. There was, therefore, great
inequality in the nature of the citizenship, ac-
cording to the colony where the emigrant resided;
and it was to prevent this inequality, and TO re-
strict the facilities of citizenship that the Cons,-
tuition gave Congress the "power to pass uniform
laws of naturalization These laws have been
modified from time to tme-not, in truth because
your own people thought it wise, expedient or
honest, but because the National Legislature, act
| ing upon the suggestions of party, has endeavored
| to perpetuate lis power by an artificial increase
of its numbers When the times which gave oc
casion for these measures have passed away, ard
even the prominent actors have looked back upon
the evils which misguided policy or mistaken
benevolence had produced, and was continuing.
they have exclaimed with the patriot Gerry, Il
wish there were ocean Of fire between this and
the o.d world.' Even before the adoption of the
Constitution, General Washington, in letter 10
Mr.. Morris, dated oath July, l77s calls his at
tention, as the head of the then republican party
to what he terms ''a subject of very great impor-
tance to the wel-being of these States"-.'the APP
ponment of foreigners to offices of rank and trust
| in our SERVICE" In that letter he says, 1.-The
officers on whom you must depend for the de-
fence of this cause, and who, from length of SER
vice, their connexions, property, and, in behalf
of many, may add military merit will not sub