The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-08-03
OUR CAREER.

This number closes the second year Of our la
much of zeal or ability is to be determined by our
patrons. When we look around and find that
now, instead Of a supine ignorance to the dan
gers of a perpetuation of the naturalization laws
as there was when we FIRST began, whole commu-
mites alive to the necessity of a speedy repeal
of them and in place of the still small voice. of
our humble paper here, crying aloud and alone
as it were in the wilderness, there are at this time
number of bold and vigorous champions send
ing their stentorian calls to every corner Of the
land in this cause,-we good reason to rejoice
at our efforts, and to predict that the time is not
far distant when all who love their country better
than party will join us in our patriotic career.
1t was not from any personal feelings that any
of us associated to free our country from the in
juries which an impolitic law is rapidly imposing
upon us, except so far as those personal feelings
are connected with the public welfare. Far be i
from any set of good men to league together
against any others to carry out views Of private
aggrandisement. None such have acuated the
Native Associations. They have, as individuals
and in the aggregate, as much regard for the con-
stituents of society, for those who by law have ac
qured citizenship, as for those no differ from
them on the birth-right ofnativity, Of whatever par
ty-for, indeed, the honest success Of all men as
any portion or classes of this great republic; but
they cannot avoid looking abroad at the evils which
All unnatural increase Of our population thrown
from the prison houses and laZars Of Europe has
produced upon our general community, without
an effort to prevent their augmentation.
The idea that philanthropy teaches liberation
Of all, and that Anne, lea should be the ASYLUM Of
all, is false humanity, and at war with that more
natural and sensible axiom, that selCsecuritv is
the first law. Is it policy TO argue that they de-
serve protection in our land merely because they
seek it who were too impotent to raise their arms
in its behalf in their own. Hercules himself will
not help him who neglecs to put his own shout
der to the wheels, and individuals and nations
must, in the exercise of their kindness, not lose
sight Of the unworthiness OF those who suppl
cate it. ...
The vicousness of the foreign population as a
mass Qor make many exceptions) is thrown
into the great body Of our different communities
and for time lost amid the mutitudes, but it ne
vertheless exists, and upon political occasions,
when the angry passions are invoked, is always
seen as distinctive element rnting without IL
cense in the whrlwind of its own creation. Who
that has read Of the increase of paupersm-of
crimes, Of disorder in our land, does not see in
them the fertile agency of new corners let loose
from the stronger laws Of other countries to in
dulge, under the name of privilege and liberty, in
RIGHTEOUSNESS here. Good men, it is true, Ill
moral sense are good men every where; but how
few Of them are TO be found in the horde of out
casts that are daily adding to the American iami-
ly! Few, very few indeed; and surely it can be
no uncharableness for those who believe that the
institutions of this country and our integrity and
faithfulness are to be preserved by strict adhe-
roucs to principles, to unite together in repeating