The native American., 1839-07-20
AN EXPLANATION,

One of the objections to the Native American
Associations, which is most frequently made and
most pertinaciously adhered to, is that it is the
object of its founders and members to erect barri-
ers to the introduction Of foreigners, not OH ac-
count Of their general incapacity to acquire, in
very limited period, a just knowledge or concep-
ton Of our republican form Of government, or of
the obligations they assume as citizens, but with
vew to indulge in sectarian prejudices and hos
tility to such Of them attached to the Cath
olc religion. 1t is argued that the Native Ame
rican Association believes, or affects to believe
that those who are members of the church of
Rome are blindly impressed with SO strong
sense Of duty to the Roman Pontf, that they
hold themselves bound to obey his COM
mands, not merely in religious but in civil mat
ters also; that his supremacy is acknowledged by
Roman Catholics in all things; and that, conse-
quently, lie may rightfully exercise the power Of
calling of the members of the church from their
civil allegiance, and that they are under an obli-
CATION to obey his commands in all cases what
soever.
this objection has had and continues to have in
impeding the progress of our cause. We know
how artfully and successfully this charge has been
made and reiterated; and we know, also, that ma
ny, very many credulous and virtuous men sim
cerely attribute to our Association such weak and
ridiculous sentiments, and such sectaran objects
and designs. But we have trusted that the utter
absurdity Of the allegation would in time, without
any particular efforts of our own tend to its own
refuta,ion. We do not doubt that on the rolls
of the Native American Associations, some men
who are righteous over much" may be discoy-
ered men whose zeal for the advancement of the
kingdom of God, according to their own partcu-
lar and exclusive rule, is marked by an absence
of knowledge or christian benevolence. But we
do most empha,ically deny, that such are, or by
possibility can be true index to the motives, OBJ
iects, or principles of the mass of our Asssocia-
tions. II an object SO an,i-republican in charac-
ter has been held i'll view by any, the number
must be indeed exceedingly limited and insignif-
cant, for zoe know them not. Or objects are,
and always have been, purely and exclusively
patriotic. We have earnestly sought to silence
the slightest approach to religious contentious,
and TO leave every man to the full, free and per-
feet enjoyment Of his religious opinions, and TO
the fulhlment of his religious obligations, as his
own sense OF duty to his Maker may dictate
With either the one side Of religious controversy
or the other, we can and will have nothing to do.
Our creed, as Native Americans, teaches us, i'll
accordance with The spirit Of the divine precept,
10 " Render unto Cesar the things that are Cg-
sdr's, and unto God The things that are Gods"
How can it be reasonably supposed that our
opposition to the introduction of foreigners, is di-
rected against Catholics alone, or to Catholics at
all. on account of their religious opinions? NE
certainly have never singled them out. We have
indeed opposed the naturalization of foreigners
generally; but all foreigners are not Catholics,