The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-04


Office in our country, from the highest to the
lowest, has been filled by naturalized foreigners,
unfortunately, as by native-born citizens.
The engagements of our forefalhers with for
egners when they made this land an asylum for
the oppressed of every nation, guaranteeing to
them under certain conditions, and after certain
probation, equal rights, immunilies and privileges
with the native-born children of the soil), have
therefore been amply redeemed, and they stand
as ever spOtless and immaculate, and no reflection
can ever be justly cast upon their memories, if
zoe, their descendants, deem it our duty for the
safety OF our country and her institutions, at this
period offimc, 10 change the naturalization laws
for future generations. U
Nou when the permanency of our republican
institutions is established upon firm and immu-
table basis, when our country's magnificent destl-
MES are beginning TO be fulfilled, when onr power
is acknowledged throughout the universe. when
we have nothing to apprehend from comparison
with any nation of the world, when we are able TO
resent the aggressions, or humble the arrogance
of any external enemy who may, by unwarran-
table acts incur our resentment, when SO abiding
is the attachment to our institutions throughout
this hemisphere, that every internal enemy which
has arisen TO agitate the elements Of our holy
Union, has been laughed to scorn by the
united voice of the whole nation-can for
elgners, who immgrate to this land, under
these propitlous circumstances, not to encounter
peris, but 10 reap the rich reward of revolutionary
lsuferings--can those who n0W come but to bask
III the bright beams of national contentmen hap
lpness and prosperity, who are permitted to reap
| in peace and security, the rich harvest which our
fathers sowed in anguish, toll, and blood, to en-
10y the fruits Of our indulgent institutions, and to
''sit under their own vine and tg-tree, and none
to make them afraid can such these (many
of whom are the direct descendants Of the very
tyrants against whose Vaccinations our fathers
struggled be permitted to demand equal rights,
privileges and immunities, or to accuse America,
If she refuses to grant to them, and to future
in1mi grants, the same terms OF citizenship which
were permitted to those who aided the reyolu-
tionary Patrarchs in their unutterable warnings
after liberty, or who pered their all in defence
and support of our country, when beset with eve
ry danger, and encountered by external and inter-
nal enemies? No, it cannot be! Justice lorbids
lit! Patriotism forbids it, 1t is indeed setting
too low an estimate upon the blessings which the
nexpressible sufferings and privations Of our re-
evolutionary fathers have achieved for us, render
them accessible to euery foreigner auho aoiN con-
descend TO accept them.
We have received from our forefathers sacred
trust; our wsest and best have toed and strug-
gled through every turmoil, danger and suffering
to achieve it. A Washington, Jefferson, and
an Adams-patriots and sages of the Revolution,
have forewarned us Of the balefu consequences
Of foreign influence in the United States. Let
us emulate their noble example and strive to trans
nit those blessings, which they have bequeathed
to us, untarnished and unendangered to future ge-
|nerations.
The next argument which is employed to de-
VT -. a.
naturalization laws is that their repeal would pre-
vent immigration TO this country, and that we re-
quire foreign aid to cultivate our fields, navigate
our fleets, and give potency to our military estab-
lishments.
To this we answer:
1t is not to benefit our country, that foreigners
come amongst lis, but to accommodate them
selves. But if it even could be substantated that
repeal of the naturalization laws would prevent
immigration to this country, we respectfully con-
ceive that such circumstance should not pre-
vent it. 1t is better for our countrys population
to increase firmly, soundly, and radically, although
slowly, than by too rapid, badly digested, and
excrescent growth, to become premalurey infrm
and unsubstantial.
We not only receive into our country hordes Of
aliens in feelings, principles, prejudices, and ha-
bits Of thinking, but through the instrumentality
the prerogative of influencing our institutions and
deciding on the future destinies of our beloved
country. Can such men who have been taught
from their earliest infancy to despise and abhor
our country, her inhabitants and her institutions
(See O'ConnelPs speeches -men who have no
idea of rational liberty, social virtue, or political
subordinaton, exceptby the strong hand and iron
rule of viceregal task-masters-men habituated by
education to tumult and instruction, and practi-
cally familiar with the fouest actions comprised
in the dark catalogue Of crme-are such as these
to be depended on to protect country from
foreign invasion, when perhaps one half of them
are imbued with feelings Of superior loyalty to
the invading enemy, and devotion to their success
while the remainder are utterly destitute of any
moral restraint, insusceptible Of military subor-
dination, and capable only Of such degree Of
fidelity, as they conceive to be Immediately con-
ducive to their private and individual interests!
What can we anticipate from such materials as
these, but perpetual series of dsaffection, mutt
ny, and nfdelity, which would soon corrupt and
vitiate native American troops in war, as their
pernicious examples and evil communications are
rapidly subverting and overturning our social
institutions in peace.