The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-02-01

Every man of common sense and common Pru-
dence, who is under the necessity OF making
use Of the agency of others, in the transaction
of his private business is careful in the selection
Of his agents, to look well not only to their ca
pablity but to their moral honesty and also to
assure himself that those agents are not exposed
to the temptation of dtceiving him, or doing him
wrong by prior attachment to those whose inter
ests are avefse to his. This is so maniiestly the
course which a discreet man would pursue, that
if any are known to depart from them they are
Justly subjected to the ridicule and contempt OF
every sensible man in society. Was it ever
heard that man deliberately employed IN At
torney to prosecute or defend an important law
suit, when ii was notorious that such Attorney
was connected with his adversary by the ties Of
blood and kindred, or by long and close personal
friendship? Surely, if such a man was TO be
de eived and betrayed, he would be universally
pronounced as scarcely deserving the pity Of his
friends. And yet the folly Of such men is far
less to be blamed than the conduct of that Gov
eminent which Systematically entrusts high and
most important National interests to the keeping
of those who have every motive of love and at
tac!.ment to other nations, whose welfare and
public policy are, or may become in direct con-
hict with those of their employers.
In our last we touched upon instance Of this
sort, with as much delcacy towards the memory OF
the dead as consistent with due performance Of
our duty, as the conductors of an American paper
would permit. To refrain from again and again
pressing this subject upon the most serious con-
sideration OF our readers and the public, would
be SO base dereliction of duty, that we could
expect no less than the unqualified denunciation
of our patriotic and true hearted patrons. We
have again and again held up to the view OF the
people of this Country most striking examples,
of the shamlul partiality which is shown by the
Executive department their National Govern
ment for foreign pretenders and foreign em'ssa-
ries over the Just pretensions and claims Of our
own citizens Of talents and skill. We have
shown, and we challenge denial that the late
General Bernard, whilst in the service, and re-
ceving the pay of this country, was for fifteen
gears, assiduousIy occupied in collecting the most
valuable information, to be hereafter used by the
French Government. for the in jury of our coun-
try. Upon this subject we will not now enlarge
but we call the attention OF our countrymen
to the case of the Englishman, FEATHERsToN-
HAuGH now Immediately under our observation
This fellow, who, for aught we know, was orig
inally sent out by his own government as spy
upon ours succeeded in worming himself, by
false and hollow professions of attachment to our
free and republican Institutions, into the conf
dence Of the American Government: obtained
lucrative post as United States Geologist !"
traversed our whole land from East to West and
from North to South, secure from all suspicion
by public commission in his pocket; filled his
port folio with all information which could be
valuable to his own lawful sovereign, aud, when
the thin veil tina, covered his true character was
torn from him BY one Of our own talented en-
gineers, and his true objects and purposes ex-
posed to public view, returned TO his original
employers to make full report of his american
proceedings. We next hear of this United
States Grologst, in the open employment and
pay Of Her Britannia Majesty, traversing our
Eastern border, under pretence of tracing the
boundary line, selecting and marking out every
eligible spot wihia oar borders for the erection
of British forts and notifications.
Our time and room do not admit of extending
these observations at this time, but we ask our
rraders, we ask the people, and we earnestly
ask our Executive and Congress, if here is not
ample warning Of the danger of calling into our
service those whose natural allegiance, against
the strength Of which assumed allegiance, even
when strengthened by oaths, is but pack-lbread
We call uron all once more, to review the course
OF not only Bernard and Featherstonhangh but
Of every foreigner Of real or pretended talent,
who have been taken into the National conf
dencc, and at once determine that such things
shall no longer be.
Commodore Isaac Chauncey, one of the senior
of;cers or the Nayy died in this City on Sunday