The native American., 1838-03-10

unjust in my remarks, for judge of the tree by
its fruits, and ask any calm and discreet observer
of men and things, if it has not often happened,
before the present occasion, that foreigners and
aliens have given the greatest trouble to the con-
stituted authorities by their violence, internal
feuds and insubordination; and gathering together
under the war-cries of their tribes or countries,
have bid defiance to the law, and ranged them
selves in hostile position against the natives of the
land! ask, if with the past experience of the
turbulence and immortality of strangers illustrated
on our criminal dockets, our police reports, our
newspaper publications, and our city mobs, and
the present sample of impudent and unlawful in
reference in the administration of our laws and
public treaties staring us fxedly in the face, we
to consider such applicants as these, paupers,
convicts, traitors, jacobins, " ct hoe genus osnne
nebulonun,,'' worthy the rank and privileges OF
an American citizen? Is it to be expected that
we will bridle our tongues and control our pens,
in the frank and fearless expression of anger and
indignation, on hearing of such fragrant cases OF
insolent interference and illegal association? Can
we expect these people, thus partial by nature, and
patronising in many instances from fellow feel
ing and interest, to the delinquent members OF
their own body polite at home, to obey the laws
and Constitution in cases where the public senti-
ment of what is just and proper, and the general
welfare and public faith demand summary pun
ishment upon an alien or foreigner for his crimes
and misdemeanors; or where the laws of nations
and the decision of courts, command the reci-
procal delivery of fugitives from justice to the
governments offended! 1t would be, indeed, a
conduct allied to folly and madness, to welcome
to our political circle, the feon and the murderer,
the pauper and the convict, the idle, dissolute,
and uneducated; and by comforting on them our
rights and immunities, which our Revolutionary
fathers transmitted to us legacy too precious
to be sold for mess of potage, place it within
their power to obstruct, as in the cited case the
course of Justice, and violate the laws and Con
stitution, which they may have sworn, solemnly
and religiously, to obey and defend. | shall not,
in this place, pretend to dwell on the numerous
examples of similar intermedding with our po-
ltical affairs, or open rebellion and resistance to
authority which unfortunately are Unidentified
with our history, and burden the records of our
courts; but shall content myself with the remark,
that in ninety cases out Of hundred, the
ringleaders and active members of mob, are
aliens or foreigners, who being accustomed in
their own lands to riot and drunkenness, trans
port the same habits and designs with them to
this country and are to be found first at reve and
brawl So much indeed do | feel convinced Of
the truth of this general assertion, that when
abroad and tainted by the foes Of ourselves and
institutions, OH the point Of our frequent mobs
and disturbances, have found it effective as an
extinguisher to their malice, though whetter
to their envy, to tell them boldly and frankly,
that it is their own countrymen, who constitute the
material Of our rows, and It's them they lecture
and condemn.
Hating, however, in this stage of my remarks,
although wide field lies open, inviting further
discussion, cannot conclude without expressing
my regret and modification, 1.-THE Native Press
Of the country has not been more alert on this
and similar abuses, by aliens and foreigners,
and spoken forth its indignant condemnation.
NoTE.-Since writing this article about the
Bambers, the author finds that the cause has been
decided in their favor. But as the Supreme Court
of New York, in analogous case, decided the
contrary, and the pre-judging Of the affair by the
violent interference of the foreigners in New
York, give cause for my structures, still think
them proper and called for.
BOSTON.