The native American., 1839-05-11


the bond of union. Separate communities, espe-
cially if pursuing different habits, and speaking
different languages, cannot have these causes OF
union. They may combine for defence and mu-
,ual aid and protection, but they cannot live to-
pether as members of the same family.
In addition, then, to the foreign influence which
we reasonably and Justly fear may be brought to
bear on the peculiar form of our government, and
its general policy, from the great influx of for.
eign population settling down in masses among
us, we have still greater reason to apprehend in
ternal danger from the same cause. Not only do
these masses threaten injury to the country from
themselves, but they SOW the seeds of discord and
jealousy among the native citizens. This is ine-
vitable The effect of such discord and jealousy
is to weaken the attachment of the native citizen
TO the government under which he lives, and to-
lead him to doubt the value and excellence Of that
government which yields him no distinctive pro-
lection, and which has failed to produce the So
cial happiness upon which his individual comfort
so essentially depends. And what do we gain
What recompense for the risk thus voluntarily in
Cured? True our numerical strength is increas-
ed. But numbers without union, without COM
mon cause in which are all interested, rather wea-
ken than increase the actual strength of the coun-
try.
The freedom to which we are born, the rights
which we inherit, the muniments by which these
are fortified in the constitution, and the enlarged
and comprehensive happiness derived from them,
excite in us national feeling, combination and
unity of purpose and design, an expanded patriot
ism, widespread and general sympathy, which
pervades the whole country, and thus all the parts
Of the nation arc linked together. These are the
basis and security Of the national prosperity and
honor, and the knowledge of them being diffused
throughout the land. affords the strongest guaran-
tee OF our national independence.
We do not mean to depreciate the regard which
that portion of our naturaized citizens feel for the
government which has given them shelter, who
are informed Of, and understand the principles Of
that government. But information and knowledge
can only be acquired by education, and expert
ence which is but education. With the native
citizen this information is begun with the dawn
ing of intellect, and progresses with the enlarge
ment Of the understanding. 1t is acquired by ex-
perience in so many different forms, that before he
has reached the full stature of man, he knows his
rights, and comprehends the general outline of his
social duties under the constitution and the laws,
without being able to account for the means by
which he has obtained thousandth part of his
knowledge. He has by degrees been indoctri-
mated without an effort his part, and before the
cares and tolls Of ripper years occupy his time and
prevent his pursuing his enquiries. But how
great mass Of them) acquire his knowledge! He
too has been educated by experience at least. He
too has been indoctrinated. But what school has
he been practised in? Either he has grown up
in the avowed preference of different form of
government, and this preference has become q
second nature, or he has dreamed Of phantom Of
liberty, which has lured him on step by step, like
the mirage Of the desert, into still greater errors,
and he runs from passive obedience into personal
independence. With these views he comes
among US. A life Of labor or villany is before
him. He is ignorant of language, and our
laws are not WTlIteH Ill any OLeI w All anu he
cessity, the master spirits Of this earth, compel
him to work or steal. What time has he to en-
quire into the frame of the government, to eradi-
cate the odious errors with which he emgrated,
and to cultivate in their stead the wholesome
truths upon which the action and safety of this
Government depend! But he soon ceases to
trouble himself about this, and too often consort-
ing with his countrymen only, he attempts to
keep alive his early and cherished errors, rather
than assimilate himself to those around him.
Yet our laws Of naturalization hold out to all
these, the worst as well as the best informed ma
turaized citizen, the right to participate not only
in our elections, and thus to originate our laws
but TO hold Office, and thus to carry them into ex-
ecution, that is, we invest such men with legisla-
tive, judicial, and executive capacities.
Against this we enter our protest, on the ground
of political expedency. This is indeed one of
the great objects Of our Association, proximate as
well as Interior. We consider it fostering sore
on the body polite, and while we attempt to heal