The native American., 1840-02-22

the Statc Of New York in seven years, exceed
ed the whole population of the State severa,
hundred thousand and instanced the great dis
parity in numbers between the native American
and alien felons confined in one single prison,
viz Bellevue. in New York, where, out of 500
conr!cts 603 are foreigners.
Mr. L. contended that under any circumstan-
ces these foreign immigrants could never make
good citizens, and attributed to them the organi
zatio,. of mob law Throughout the United States,
land a hough he was sorry to say that in the late
Itiot at Baltimore, where so much property ASas
destroyed there might have been some native
Americans led away, yet the majority Of the.
persons composing the riot We're foreigners, and
aot naturaized and niae ros out OF ten are
.composea Of low, abirct and degGadcd foreigners,
who are brought up III opposition to the govern
mcnt of their birth, ana being ahject slaves in
heir own country the moment they land here
sG2y fee! enancpated from every moral as well
A. legal restraint. ..
These remarks were not intended to apply to
the vrtuous and intelligent foreigner-come from
where he may-they are entitled to respect; but
the difficulty was to discriminate, and therefore
we must naturalize all or none He was willing
10 give to all foreigners the protection of the
laws, and the right to acquire and enjoy proper
ty; and 10 their children all the rights and priv
=
an American citizen he was not willing to ex-
tend to any foreigner hereafter.
During the palmiest days of the Roman en-
pire the title of Roman citizen was held in
| hish'estmaton throughout the whole civilized
world-She allowed it only to her own children,
and the empire nourished and was happy; but
when she extended that once proud title to the
citizens of the counties she had subjugated, it
became scorn, scoff and byword; it was no
longer pass and protection, and Rome herself
crumblcd into ruins and tumbed into atoms. And
such will be our fate if we pursue the same blind
policy. The name Of an American freeman is
now held in high estimation above all other
titles; but if we allow the scurf OF the earth,
through perjury and corruption to enjoy the
same proud ttle and give them an opportunity
to say toyon, :" am your equal am an Amer
lean citizen" the day is not far distant and will
shortly arrive that that now proud title will be-
come scorn, scolf b., word throus hout the
world.
The governments of Europe allow no political
rights 10 any but their own citizens. We can, to
be sure, by procuring pass, such as we give our
slaves, visit those countries for the purpose Of
trade, &c, and might buy land enough to bury
ourselves; but no American would wish to lay
his bones therefor II, alien can hold property,
and should they purchase property it would be-
come the property of the sovereign.
BY the principles of all European govern
ments all political privileges belong to the natives
of the soil and to which principle all European
governments hold,-the right of expatriaon is
not allowed by any Of these governments, and in
which principles our government concur.
1t may be argued by some, that it would be
mpolilc and unjust to repeal the naturalization
laws in toto; but am willing to leave it to the
E hutT he
ieve tha, the only way to eradicate the evil IS to
lay the axe to The root and the evils falls with it,
In conclusion, Mr.. l.. remarked, that he had
endeavored to avoid in his observations any re-
marks that might hurt the feelings of the good
and virtuous Of any country. The naturalized
citizens who are now amongst us are entitled to
all the rights and privileges Of American citizens,
and cannot be nterferred with.
Mr. T. d. CONRAD asked permission to intro
duco il substitute.
NJ MORSE hoped that the gentleman from Ra-
pides would Withdraw his substitute, and allow
that Of Mr.. Conrad to be presented.
Mr.. DUNBAR refused to withdraw his snbsti-
Inte, and called for its adoption, and offered the
following remarks in its favor:
He was opposed to the report and resolution as
reported by the committee entirely. He consid-
cred it would be iilibera and unwise to depart
card to the naturalization OF foreigners, and con-
silercd the law as it stands sufficient to guard
against mpositions, but was willing to have Con-
grcss pass law to punish perjury.
Mr.. y. had read the report in the Native Amer
lean newspaper, a paper edited with considerable
ability, and admits that there exists considerable
evil and would have no objection to Congress pas
sing laws to prevent maefactors and paupers from
being brought to this country.
Mr.. D. then alluded to Lafayette and those
foreigners who had been the companions in arms
of Washington and the great benefit the country
had derived from their services, as well as those
who had enjoyed Offices of trust profit and honor
in our country, and who had never betrayed their
trusts and nstanced Albert Gallatn, who had
served our country with fidelity, both at home
and abroad, in several responsible situations and
that there was no danger to our institutions from
foreigners, as none had ever betrayed any trust
confded to them in our country.
He differed entirely from the report and reso-
luons, and was not disposed to pin his faith to
tho Native American Assocation's g memorial the