The native American., 1840-10-24

Constitution Of his country, and il is equally
his right to expoun it. Like Mr.. Jefferson,
he may not see in it the power TO charter a
bank, and therefore-this is certainly true
he is against General Washington; but is he
therefore against the Constitution Again,
lie may have formed the same opinion as
General Washington; and then he is for a
bank, and of course against Mr.. Jefferson;
but does Ills make him an enemy to this in
>trumrnl? Again. We are about to declare
war; and on the justice and policy there is
contrarie,y Of opinion. In fact the country
may be divided into two large parties on this
subject, and they debate it with warmth, and
adhere to their opinions with pertinacily.
May not a clerk belong TO one Of the paries!
And if he do, has he not right to his opin-
ions! By entering into office, is he deprived
Of this right by the Constitution or the law
Does it constitute part Of his oath Does
il form any portion of his contract with the
Government, that he shall surrender to it the
freedom Of his mind and the liberty of his
speech! No. Nothing Of the kind. Then
he has right to form and express his opin-
ions on this subject. But is he an enemy to
his country because he is either for or against
declaration of war! By no means. But
the war declared, then the case is altered.
Then the honor, the glory, the existence per
|haps Of the country are at stake, and the pol
icy Of the war is no longer debateable.
When hostile feet tramp upon our shores.
we must meet them. When cannons thun-
der upon our cities, we must silence them,
or die in the attempt. And this we shall do
if we love our country; and this last we will
do unless we are monsters. And perhaps
this clerk-this clerk who was opposed to
the declaration Of war--fhis clerk whom the
doctrine Of prescription would hurl from
office, for no other reason than his opinions
this very clerk is seen 10 relinlush his
lerkshp--to buckle on the armor OF a sol
der, and in the midst Of the battle sighting
for the land Of his birth, and the institutions
which he venerates. AMI yet, the man Whn
has done all tl,is--the man who has afforded
the most indubitable proof Of his attachment
10 his country, her Constitution and erlaws,
Iis-should he again ask for civil employment
under our Governmental be catechised up
on the subject of his politics, and his appli-
cation is. to be rejected with disdain and
perhaps the next thing he behoIds is some
foreigner who has fought-this may be-
against us--some foreigner whose principal
recommendation is found in his obsequious-
ness and base subserviency to any partizan
power; appointed to the very office for which
he was an applicant. So much for proscrip-
ton on account of measures. And now let
us say few words on prescription for the
sake of men: There are, we will suppose,
two or more candidates for the Presidency.
The moment they consent to be such, the
people have right to examine their claims
and to determine their merits; they have a
right to scrutnize their political conduct, and
10 ascertain their political principles; and ha-
wing done so, we are bound in conscience to
vote for him who we believe is the best qua
lifted TO fill the Presidential chair. If to our
perception shall appear to be better quail
fed to Fill the office than any of the others,
we should of course bestow our suffrages up
on him; and upon this hypothesis We are of
AZ ~ DE-,
does this make us an enemy to our country!
Does this make us foe to orr Constitution I?
BY no means. Then why prescribe US !?
Why treat us as an enemy! Why hold US
up as unworthy OF confidence! Suck course
as this is unjust and tyrannical. II is an in
suit offered to the prescribed, and he who
practices upon it is tyrant.
Proscription--we speak generally
ed in any respect in which it is presented, is
detestable, and contrary TO the spirit Of our
Constitution. Before an election, it is as the
presentation Of bribe; after an election it is
as gag upon the tongue. Under its bane-
full influence the clerk is slave. He is har-
messed, and must move as his driver directs
him. Does he see the mos, shameful abuses
committed under his nose He must be ST.
lent. Are populations 10 his own knowledge
committed on the Treasury? He must be
silent. Does the President recommend
measure TO Congress Right or wrong; con-
stitutional or unconstitutional; he must be 81.
lent. Does the party do any act which he
thinks is most wicked and unjust! He must
be silent. He, an American--he, perhaps
the son Of Native American hero Of 10
must be silent: he ON whm the Constitution