The native American., 1840-03-21

attendant upon the naturalization of foreign
ers; These Onerous charges are merely sufll-
clent - ca, the actual expense of repa
and ""g'&f' ing the necessary papers. The
cost of American citizenship is about as oner-
Gus rs the cost of passport for the privilege
of travelling in European countries Really
we think the facilities for naturalization are
already sufficiently abundant, not to Say suf-
fcently licentious.
The time has long since gone by when it
was thought necessary to offer allurements
and temptations to forei gners to settle in this
country. Already, seven tenths of the pau
perism, for which our own laborng classes are
taxed, and with which our alms-houses are
crowded, are of foreign origin The drones
that Europe breeds in her decay are already
blasting some of the greenest spots in inland.
Surely no additional inducements are expcdi-
ent to increase the influx of foreign turbu-
lence, license ard improvdence.
! Heaven forbid that we should deny to our
country the proud title of the asylum Of the
oppressed or that we should close the doors
upon any because they are poor; but until we
can take proper care of those already among
us in state of dependency, it is surely no
kindness to allure others of the same class to
join them. Look at the perjury, the wretch
edness and the want already existing i'll many
Of the obscure streets and alleys Of this great
city. Note the suffering, the degradation and
dispair which riot in the lanes and by-places
where our foreign poor abide, and then ask
your conscience if it be true charity to recon-
mend any measures, however indirect, that
may increase their numbers
Examine further. Learn how few among
these extremel y poor, Incorporate or vicious,
are natiue americans and put yourself the
question whether Our free laboring classes re-
|quire any additional examples of foreign men
deity, imbecility and corruption.
We care not whether the foreign influence
here existing is thrown into the scale of the
Administration or the Anti. Administration
party. We believe it spretty equally divided.
But we do think and maintain that SO far
from extending farther facilities for the natur-
allzatlon OF foreigners, the present facilities
should be curtailed, if not abrogated atogeth
er. As the laws stand, a foreigner is more
highly favored than the native citizen, for the
latter is obliged to be an American citizen
tncnty-0ne years before he can vote. Whlleth
former can acquire the privilege by residence
of only five years in the country. Now, who
would be best qualified to discharge the sa
creddutes of an American citiZen-and lntell-
igent young man Of nineteen-born, we will
Islppose within an hours walk Of Lexington
and Bunker HILL reared at the knee of some
revolutionary sire, who bled on the heights of
Charlestown, and was the compatrlot OF War
rem and Putnam and ngton-imbued,
from his childhood, with strong, patriotic,
America7, feelings, and familiar with every
line and letter Of our military and constltu-
1tlonal hstory-Who, we ask, Would be better
qualified-such young man, or foreigner,
ignorant of the language, the history and the
institutions of the Union, and who has been
but fre years in the country and during that
time in all probability, herded exclusively
with aliens like himself? The question adj
mits of but one reply.
We think these propositions ofthe Govern
or are altogether unreasonabe andlnJudlclous
Foreign influence is, mall conscience, already
sufficiently formidable in the country. We
may even run some risk of incurring mapop
ulaIty in throwing out the few remarks we
have. Should any Native American object to
our language, we will point him to the Fare
we'll Address Of Washington, where he will
find these words: against the insidous
wiles of foreign influence q conjure you to
believe me, fellow citizens,) the jealousy of Il
free people ought to be constantly awake
since history and experience prove, that for
egn influence is one of the most baneful foes
of republican Government"