Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-04-03
From the Globe.
MADAME AMERICA vESPCCCI.

MS MOy, u is well KNOWN, presented u
petition TO Congress. asking two things;
first, to be admu,et to the rights Of citizen
ship in the Uuited States and, secondly, TO
be given a"ccrner of land" out Of the pub.
lie domain ofthe country which bears the
name Of her ancestor. The committees TO
whom her petition was referred, reported
against both applications, but on grounds in
no way personal TO the petitioner. The
cilzensp could moi be granted, because,
under the Constitution Of the United States.
Congress can only make general and uni,
form rules of naturalization, applicable to all
persons alike, and not to any one in par
tcular. The "corner Of land" could not
be granted, because there was no personal
service from the petitioner, Tor which 1t
could be compensation.
In reporting against her application. the
Committee on the Public Lands did ample
Justice to the personal character of Madame
Vespucci, her intellectual and moral quail.
ties, her liberal principles, and her descent
from the celebrated Americus Vespuccius; {;
and recommended her 10 the American Peo.
pie for that asylum ana establishment which
it was not IN The power Of Congress to
grant. The following are extracts from the
report:
"A descendant Of Americus is now here {;
young, interesting, digni6ed sand accom-
plished lady, with mind OF the highest in
tellec,ual culture, and heart beating with
all our own enthusiasm in the cause Of
American and of human liberty. She feels
that the name she bears is prouder title
than any that earthly monarchs can be.
stow, and she comes here asking of US a
small corner of American Soil where she
may pass the remainder other days in this
the land Of her adoption She comes here
as an exile, separated forever from her
family and friends, a stranger, without a
country and without home, expelled from
her native Italy for tile avowal and main.
tenance ofopinions favorable 10 free instl.
tu,ions, and an ardent desire for The estab.
.ishmenl of her couniry's freedom. That
she is indeed worthy of the name Of Amerl'
ca that her heart is indeed imbued with
American principles and fervent love Of
human liberty, is proved, in her case, by
tolls, and perils, and sacrifices, worthy o:the
proudest days of antiquity, when the Roman
and the Spartan matron we're ever ready
to surrender life itselfin their country's SER
vice.
"The petitioner desires The donation to
her of small tract of land by Congress-
With every feeling of respect and kindness
for the memorialst, a majority OF the com
mttee deem it impossible for thls Govern
ment to make the grant. They think suct
a grant without a precedent, and that j
would violate the spirit ofthose compacts bJ
which the public domain was ceded to thu
Government. 1t is the unanimous anf
anxious desire Of the commite that the pc.
TONER should receive all the benefits and re
cogni,ion that this Government can bes'ov
What this Government cannot do is wlthI'
the power of the American People. The!
feel at least an equal pride and glory witt
US in the name of America. Througho'
our wide extended country, among all class
cs, this feeling is universal and IN tn
humblest cottage the poorest American feel
that this name, the name Of his believe
country, is a prouder title than any tina
adorns the monarch's brow, and that, it b
has no other property, this name' with a
its great and glorious associations with tn
past and hopes for the future, is an ali-suft
, cicnt hcrita ge TO transmit to MS children. -
This generous, patriotic, and enlIghtene
I People will! take into their own hands II
| c. of America Vespucci. They will d
, all that Congress is forbidden to do, and ii
!, fini,ely mors than she asks or desires, ar
demonstrate to the world tina, the uame
y America-our country's name-s dear
y us all, and shall b. honored, respected, al
e cherished iu the person of the in'eres'lI
d exile from whose ancestor we derive 4
/, great and glorious title" :,
Immediately af;er tie report was geao