The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-04
From The Sunday Morning Ne'rs.
THE LATE EIECTION-ITS RESULTS

editorial article, reieratcs the charge that the loss
OF the late election was principally owing to the
unpopularity OF Aaron Clark, the wing candidate
Tor mayor. Now, we happen to differ with our
esteemed contemporary on this subject, however
we may agree in Others Blu, our object at pre-
sent is only to call attention to one single sent
ence in the article of Thursday last, in which it
is stated that .Mr. Clark had rendered himself
unpopular to a great majority of our citizens of
foreign BIRTH OF which one-haf of our population
consists" We ask our readers to take this
seron home, and reflect upon it. The Courier
asserts herc--and, we doubt not honestly and
advisedly-that in their opinion it was the for
egn vote which, decided the fate of that election;
and hence it follows, as NECESSARY consequence,
that however acceptable candidate may be to
those born upon the soil, he cannot be elected to
any office if foreigners choose 10 oppose him.
And has it come to this Are we slaves in the
home of our fathers? Has the emancipation
from foreign thraldom, purchased by the valor
and paid for with the blood of our revolutionary
sires, only been exchanged for a foreign-domestic
servitude, the more CALLING because it is at our
hearts and iresides, meets US at the corners of
the streets and defeats us at the polls? Has the
rich patrmony transmttedto us been squandered
with weak and mistaken lberality and have the
oppressed and prosecuted of other cmes and
other forms Of government only made our country
their refuge and their home to lord it over us +?
There is too much bitter truth in the assertion of
the Courier and it is high time that we should
awaken to the evils impending over us. If one
half of our population is already composed of
foreigners, who, owing to our political divisions,
can noau decide who shall or who shall not be
elected to office, it is high time that Americans,
forgetting all difference of political principle in
matters not essential, should combine for the pre-
servation of all that is dear to us as men, anal
sacred as Americans. What matter is it to us il
Van Buren,, Clay, Webster, Harrison, or Scott,
be president, if we can save ourselves from de-
mestic-foreign domination, and reserve to Ameri-
cans the right of deciding on matters Of foreign
and domestic policy? Pass but few years, and
the time for action will have escaped us. The
is uponus. The caution of Washing
ton the fears of Madison, and the doubts of JEFF
ferson, to the evils to arise from excessive en-
of foreign immigration, now not
shadows, but realities. The Grecian horse has
vomited forth its embowelled contents, and New
Y ork is second Troy in the hands of its Greek
invaders. Humlliatlng as it is, there is no escap-
ing the acknowledgement. We are not the less
u conquered and garrisoned city because our
masters are in undress uniform. Let but the
sound Of a foreign foe be started at the Battery,
and it will re-echo from Maine to Georgia, and
proud hearts and strong hands will grasp the
weapons to eface the contamination iii the blood
of the invaders. But we can and do submit to an
nsldious invasion, encouraged and tostered by
ourselves, which is envelopng lis in its serpentne
folds, which first encrced orr knees in the att-
tude of entreaty and humiliation, but having with
age increased and strengthened, is now endeavor-
ing to fetter our arms with the power Of the ana
onp,|o until IN ca will bo
hopeless.
II we look and see how Europe is pouring upon
its surplus, and in many instances, its mos
undesirable populntion-how they are settling on
new States, and adopting the system of unrestrict
ed suffrage-how England pours out, from Lon.
don and Liverpool only, it's hundred Thousand
per annum into New Y ork alone floating ant
fuctuating certainly, but portion always re
naming here, and certain to return in season 70
our fall and spring clectons;-if we add to th
the number who come to from the Canadas,
and the hundreds of thousands who are preparin
to migrate from Germany to the United States
like second invasion of Alaric the Goth, or NOR
like the curse Of the locust poured out upon til
devoted land of Egypt, to eat up all that the
predecessors, the caerpillars had leFt-we mus
be satisfied that now is the time for action;
the watchword shonld 60 forth from New Yor
to every part and section OF the Union, shout
travel up every stream ascend every mountain
and penetrate every hamlet and cottage, an
awake every native-horn American to the know
ledge that our city is claimed-openly and avowet
~ claimed-to be in the possession and contrt
of foreigners. ,
In every ward'of our city, associations shout
be formed, whose sole object should be to obtai
an alteration in our naturalization laws, SO tn;
hereafter no foreigner should be permitted to e.
ercise the elective franchise until he had reside
twenty-one years in the United States. and ha
become identified in thought, habit. interest an
feeling with the country Of his adoption; ant
with view Of preventing the disgracefol CORFU
ton and barefaced perjury committed at our ele
tons, registration of voters should also be mac
prominent object. We have no unpleasa'
feeling toward any Of our adopted citizens
wish to interfere with any rights which they ha,
acquired under the constitution Of the Unite
States-no disposition to turn from our shor
any individual who for honest motives seeks Il
protection Of our soil, or to deny to the oppress
and prosecuted of every cline our sympatl
and home. But we cannot forget st. Paul
beautiful reply to the question Of the Rom;