The native American., 1839-04-06

ner snail wrap them IN It's ample lOlds. Allihe
protection of our laws shall be extended 10 them
as to ourselves, i'll person and properly. They
may come 10 us as strangers and guests, but not
as Legislators or rulers
What, let us for a moment inquire, is the cha
racter OF the foreigners who emigrate TO the Uni
ted States at the present day! We do not deny
that there are good men among them, and who,
in short time, become imbued with American
patriotism, but large majority are paupers,
thrown upon public charity the moment they
reach our shore. Few of them have sufficient
education to read. Many are idle, arrogant, dis
solute, and factious; and not a few are criminal
convicts and fugitives from justice. Indeed, so
many of these latter descriptions have of late
years been thrown upon our shores, that our civil
and social institutions are in great danger of sub
version, and our country Of becoming the common
receptacle for the refuse of the whole world.
Instead of laying aside their nationality, and
assmating themselves with our people, they
band together, and even identify themselves with
political parties in the countries they have abu-
red; adhering to their national celebrations and
professions, their national badges, and all other
national distinctions. In times of elections, also,
they league together, and 60 as one man for their
own countryman, if they have a candidate; or, III
they have none, for the candidate whose princ-
piles are the most congenial with their own pecu-
liar views, having reference generally to some
political topic agitated in Europe.
In the city of New York. about year ago,
they went SO far, previous to an election, as to
circulate hand-bills, exhortng their countrymen
to cling together as one man, in support OF their
countryman; declaring themselves already strong
enough TO carry their points, if they would only
be true to themselves; that they felt confident,
by pursuing this course, they would succeed, at
no distant day, i'll placing foreigners at the head
of the Government At theatre in one of our
cities, band of foreigners refused TO permit
young actor to perform his part, unless he would
first come forward and denounce the conduct off
his father in having defended our country against
the vituperation and abuse Of a scurrilous Euro
pean demagogue, then, and now, the subject of a
foreign Prince. And it cannot yet be forgotten,
that, at political meeting held in the city of New
York, the fierce spirit of some enaigrant aliens
endeavored to drown the sober voice of the Ma
tipe americans, with the exclamation Of
'DoWn Uith the ,afives!'' This fact was, at
the time, supported on the authority of many re-
spectacle individuals who attended the meeting.
These are only two Of the many instances that
might be cited to show that foreign politicians ex-
ert an undue influence over their countrymen
here, and that these people have no disposition
to forsake their first love. On the contrary,
they take pains to cherish all those affections and
emotions inspired in childhood, and which have
grown with their growth and strengthened with
their strength, until they have become too init
maely twined around the heart to be separated
and given to another. They cling with the
whole energy of their hearts and souls to all their
early recollections, and sigh for the green hills
and cb,Ix, %ho1 ,ftxy >1o,
ant wales and puring streams of their native land
By day they long for the happy hour when they
may return to their tather-lanad; and
SIN dreams they revisit its sea- beaten Shore"
How often do they say in their minds with
another emigrant .~"
Though distant, in spirit still present to me,
My best thoughts my country still linger with thee.
My fond heart beats quick and my dim eyes DER,
When muse OH the last glance gave TO thy shore;
The chill mists OF night round thy white cliffs were
curd, ...s
But felt there spot like thee in the world
In dreams, my loved country: my spirit still halls
Thy green dashed meadows thy bright sunny wales;
When my heart shall grow cold to the mother who
bore me,
When beauty and virtue no longer impart
Delight to my bosom, or JOY TO my heart,
Then the love have cherished my country, for thee,
In the heart of thy lost child extlnguished shall be-.
All this is natural: nor will we say it is not
commcndable. Assuredly we would be the last
to condemn such patriotic manifestations. Such,
we trust and believe, would be the feelings and
manifestations of every native American who
retains the moral sense, whether he inhale the
spicy airs of Asia, or dwell in the brilliant circles
of European grandeur. Ought we to expect diff
ferent conduct from aliens in our country? Surely
not. But, while we would not condemn their
love for their native land and while entertaining
similar predictions and affections ourselves for
our own country, we would consider ourselves
guilty of shameless presumption to aspire in a
foreign land to the highest political privileges
enjoyed by the natives; we think it should dis
qualify them for full participation with native
Americans in political rights and privileges.
Our form of government and laws, purchased
with the blood, and perfected by the wisdom Of
our fathers, are too sacred, and too dear to our
hearts, to be yielded up without struggle to
strangers, whose fathers were with the foe on
that great occasion, and whose affections belong
to another people "away DER the deep blue sea-"
The peculiar character of our institutions impart
to us feelings Of jealousy, and our country claims
the achotc heart of her devotees-their undivided
affection.
1t is the policy of our Government to maintain
friendly relations with all foreign powers; buthow
can we expect TO do this, and to cultivate peace