The native American., 1838-09-22

quainted with the valuable documents lately pub
lished in the shape Of Congressional Reports, in
our columns Those reports contain statistical
intelligence alarming in high degree, by show
ing the rapid increase of the foreign population
within the last few years in the United States
One objection bearing upon its face some show
of strength, has been urged against the Assoca-
tion and that is our want Of gratitude to the coun-
trymen of those foreigners who assisted us in the
Revolution Has it ever been ascertained~ how
many assisted us in that struggle, that we may
have some definite and just conception of the
weight of obligation we lie under to them! Sure
ly the Poles have been rewarded for the services
of their few brave counrymen-one or two only
who fought side by side with Washington-by
immense donations Of land-given them by Con-
gress: donations claimed of American gratitude
by hundreds for the services of one solitary Polish
hero of the war of the Revolution! Are not the
Polish cmigrants satisfied, when they obtain
grants of the richest lands Of the West, while the
descendants of the american patriots are obliged
to pay their money for such domains; for there is
not generous gratitude established as a national
policu to remunerate them for the life-blood of
their American fathers. Surely the Poles ought
to be more than satisfied. How stand theFrench?
Have they not received gifts and grants Of land
in Florida and esewhere?- did not Congress
vote away princely province to Lafayette! And
what did Lafayette do Of greater value than hun
dreds Of humble but untitled natives!-and where
~ lii. r L..
while it has made princes of foreign emigrants,
has kept the native citizens almost beggars amid
the fields of their fathers victories. Lafayette,
with his valuable Florida lands, paid off his debts
in France; and the whole Of that national gift, has
dwindled down into the sinking fund of foreign
family.
At this we do not complain; but we do COM
plain, that after all these argesses to foreigners.
our nation should be accused of want of graft
tude. Is that gratitude to grow with the growth
Of the European population, and be as flexible
as the tabled tent of silk in the Arabian story, that
to-day may be crumpled in lady's hand and to-
morrow spread over the assembled armies Of the
Caliph? Is that generosity to grow from he
roic band of ten or dozen foreign gentlemen who
fought for liberty and fame with ancestors, and
to be increased in degree and character, as to
embrace the thousands and thousands of that hui
man rubbish which is cast forth from the jals and
poorhouses of the Old World! The debt of Ame-
rican gratitude has been doubly paid, with inter-
est, at the rate of geometrcal progression. Those
foreigners who fought with the native heroes of
the Revolution, either died upon the field of bat
tie or lived here after the war, in peace and honor.
Their children were born upon the soil, of native
mothers, and became indigenous to the cline and
the novel institutions of national freedom. They
neration, while their descendants have mingled
with the children Of onr patriot fathers; and we
number among our associations many of their
sons. t.... '...".
Those who fought against in the armies of
Burgoine and Corvallis, either after their sur
render deserted or retired to their accustomed CEN
try boxes or battle fields in Europe. Those
who deserted may claim our gratitude by slight
tenure, while the children Of those who returned,
can possibly have no claim to our gratitude; and
yet LncIc arc dllouS many WIN dlo UoispclouS
in their behalf, and who date their noble lineage
from the troops of Rawdon or the savage Hessi-
ans The Irish, in particular, claim our grateful
servility. We honor their Montgomery for he
was hero; but Montgomery was no brawling,
perured foreigner, who could be bribed for a
glass of brandy, to vote either way at election,
as do the modern Irish Witness the five thou
sand alien votes Of Illinois, and the three thousand
Of the Croton Water Works! Who will COM
pare Montgomery, the Irish gentleman and hero,
to the low squads that overrun our land with their
grog-shops, Do these Irish, that come over to
us by the thousands, claim to be the descendants
Of Montgomery!-for, if they do, then can we
hail that youthful warrior as the father OF his
countrymen. Let them prove themselves the
l;neaI descendants Of Montgomery, and we will
then say to them, with outstretched arms, "Wel
come sons Of the Martyr" But if it turns on
that they are the sons Of those troops that mur