The native American., 1840-04-04
[ No. "a.

/
the constitution, and on its free exercise with
the view of rendering justice to all, mainly
depends the permanently of our free insitu-
tions-and thesuhject under consideration this
evening, in my humble Judgment, will he de
cided by adverting to the first principles ofour
government. and the meaning of the consti
l,ut,on. nnon which comment is Unnecessary,
because trey are too plain TO leave doubts on
the mind OF n'y man of connou sense.
Our anceet rs who first settled this coun-
try, were deet ly in.tucd with sacred love
OF liberty, Tor the full ENJOYMENT of which
they abandoned the old world, and sought m
asylum from oppression and tyranny in tie
new. The nsurpations of what was then
called the mother country, though she proved
10 be but II sep-n'other induced them to sound
The tocSln OF war, and raise the standard of
Independence, against the most formidable
power of the earth. Their resistance to law
less oppression was termed rebellion; Eut nni-
ted. with free hearts and strong hands, for the
defence Of their rights. our glorious revoIu-
ton was achieved, and thanks to the God of
battles. they were victorious.
| Who were the men that in those DAYS came
to this country and united with the sons of
freedom in tncil almost desperate struggle for
Independence and what prompted them to
hazard their hopes upon such an issue? The
answer is on every tongue, the true lovers Of
liberty who thought all other earthly blessings
valuelcss without the greatest ofall-and who,
for t|,nt, freely joined our fathers, in risking
n.i the rest. Such. my conitrynen. wclc
the heroes who achieved the American Revo-
luton brokrasunder the yoke that hoIlndtIlem
to the o!d World-gave liberty to continent
-nnd secured to ms, their descendants,
proud rank IN the great family of nations
They sought not their own personal aggran-
dlsement, bl, freely poured out their blood in
defence Of the sacred rights of their country
In their stern hearts burned the pure flame of
patriotism, and the same 81 irit should animate
us TO initiate their noble example
Great Erittlr till then thought invincble.
without whose permission no ship could ira
verse HE ssas, proudly styled herself the mis-
trcSs OF the ocean, and haughtily defying the
combined power of the world was for the
first time taught the lesson that three millions
Of treemen battling for the liberties of man
kind, and strongly resolved freely to live or
nobly to die. were indeed invincible.
| After shaking ofIa t"roign yoke, the United
States, sensible of the Importance Of union
for the common defence, adopted the celebra-
ted articles of confederation, but which too
soon proved a rope eff sand, and the brightest
hope Of the world Was like to fall into ruins.
TO remedy the evils Of that system, and to
form government for the mutual protection
and defence of the States and the people, q
Convention was called together consisting of
those worthless who had achieved the liberty
of their country: and who framed constitu-
ton, the palladium of our liberties, and the
greatest monument of human genius among
the records Of the world Over that band of
patriots presided, the great and good man
whose effigy now presdcs over our delibera-
TONS and seems to admonish us, as he did
while living, to beware offoreign influence in
the administration of our national affairs.
| Under the administration of the second
plesidcn the great, aud good, and much
abused john Adams-Was passed the ceebra-
ted allen law, Intended to protect the native
born citizens OF our country from the en-
|croachments OF foreigners but unfortunately
That law was united in the public prejudices,
gotten up for party purposes, with the equally
famous sedtion laws; and from being associa-
red with bad company both fell together, and
il dangerous wound was given to tie hopes Of
our country. Had the law been suffered to
REMAIN in force perhaps native American AS
sociatious would not now have become nee
essary to regain or natural rights, to preserve
our native SOIL and the prosperity OF our land
FROM being wrt>tcd from us and our children
by hordcs of immigrants from a'stlange lard.
1t is said by some to be necessary to invite
strangers to this country TO cultivate our soil.
THAT without immigration v st tracts OF
our country must long remain u bowling will
dcrness, the abode of savage beasts and of
still more savage men. But is this so? AT
the close OF the Revolution nearly all our
country was a wilderness, and in half cen
turv we have increased from three millions
Il, about eign'l en- millions OF inhabitants and
what was then emphatcalIy a bowling vii
lerncss NAV now almost he ikened 10 the
Garden OF Eden, planted by the Almighty
the Eastern world as the alb de of man III
his state OF primeval innocence. Ard sIal
we lavShy squander this Clio Ious blrthrIght
!of our children upon the worthless and wei
oas &C every country who will come and take
lit?
Iwould rather have the descendants ofthree
plions Of frecnen to be my countrymen,
thal the postcrity of n hun millions OF
Saves.
| :, .o,,l3 r.t flor have few acres i'm every