The native American., 1839-12-07

before oar r2a&Iers today the eloquent ana CON
yincing Addr. IS If CuL. WILLIAM CHRIsTY,I
President ot tie Louisiana Native American As
sociatjan,-tllrough the poieress Of gentleman
T'ho took notes Of his speech \! the time.
FELLOW GrrIzGAs:-
beg leave to ask your attention Tor lew
moments, to the remarks which, as President OF
the Society, | conceive it to be my duty TO make
on this occasion. II is probably necessary, this
evening, TO go deeper than usual into the subject
which has induced US to assemble. This being
the first meeting Of the Association in this part
of the city, there are, doubtless, many persons
present who have not had all opportunity OF hear
ing the addresses made at former meetings, and
Ito whom the objects Of The Society may be novel.
| therefore hope shall be eXeused il the re-
marks may make in opening the meeting, arc
more lengthy thHu usual.
|. may be first necessary to explain why the
meetings Of the Society have been hereltore
held above Canal street. Sach has been tie
ease, not from any iliheral sectional Iealiag,--
mot because it was our deslre to be exclusive, or
make geographical distinctonS,-but merely be-
cause it 50 happened that, in the upper part OF
the city, we felt more severely the evils we now
seek TO reform, the Society was frs. organized
there; and, like the young eagle, ook no wide
circuit until its wing? were wc-iedged and
strong. Bnt now, we present ourselves, with the
confidence inspired by union and strength. We
meet here to show that we are disposed TO make
no distinction nconss tent with the sacred cause
we advocate and we come half way. nay, more
than half way, to join hands with the large mum
Der of our creole fellow citizens who have al
ready expressed thet9 warm sympathy for the
cause we maintain We meet here for the first
time, bat it will not be the last for, in the creole
population around us, feelings exist SO truly con-
genial with ours, that have every reason to be-
Iiovo that our ranks viii be adorned by acccssions
Of talent and responsibility from this part OF the
city, equal to the best we can boast Of above.
Feow-Ciuzcns ybu are all we'll acquainted
with the early history Of our Government--otl the
days when cur glorious independence WAS ACHE
yei and our sacred consultation establishcd.-
We have, since them lived under form Of gov
ernmcnt uuheard of in the annals Of the world
before, SO happy, successful, so lrec We
I'VE 10 the talents, the braycrv, the sutlcrings OF
onr f0rcIathers. the enjoyment OF the greatest
degree Of rational liberty, and tho means ct pre-
serving that liberty from foreign invasion and in
testna Infringement nnr government presents
an example 10 the world it is the admiration Of
Iall--the polar star OF natiDns and the terror Of
tyranny! In framing this government, and in
founding It's liberal institutions, our wise lorcla-
! theirs threw open the doar to all who wished to
enter and with the w4rmast feelings Of iralcrni-
| ty, greeted all who sought asylum on our
shores. They not only rendered all the pledges
! of hospitality, bat went further, and made pro-
vision for the admission Of tho etrnngar, . e,A
integral part of Our great ll:aIly--making him,
politically as we'll as socially, member Of the
American population. ,.
| The feelings which dictated This course, IhopeI
will be entertained by US all: they are proper,
nay, noblo-and ought to be INDUCED in as long
as no fear can exist Of their breeding evil conse
quences to the country. But our forefathers,
with that wisdom ana foresight which are i'm
pressed upgn all their acts, seeing that in future
times, it would be necessary to change this pol
| lew in framing the constitution, left it to the
discretion eff Congress. TO that body it express
| ly reserved, not a directory, but discretionary
power Of passing naturalization laws thus de
claring in solemn form, their opinion that the
time would arrive when it would become ncres-
sary to close the door; and wisely, prudenty for
their descendants, left it to the wis om of Con-
gress to say, with regard to naturalization, how
far it. should go-how long it shonlu last-and
when il should cease.
| How the liberal course heretofore adopted by
Congress, under the power conferred upon it, has
operated, you are all wnesses--you have all felt
its evils. The avenues have been made wider
and wider; SO wide that we ind ourselves over
run, our country filled with foreigners, alien as
well as naturalized. These laws have been
male the powerful auXiares Of a corrupt party
spirit. No sooner do foreigners arrive on our
shores than they are caught up and enlisted uu-
der the banners OF one party or the o'he, Wing
or Democrat. They are caresscd and hattered
! by both sides III order that the ranks Of patty
may be swelIai. Victory must be gained, even
| by pro5titu!ing our dear country's name and fran
.bisn f,o N, SC IL, tI,,+