The native American., 1840-07-18
TO THE HON. MR.. J. REYNOLDS.

Court OF Massachusetts. lIIS
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TO THE HON. MIR. j. REYNOLDS.
SIR,-In few remarks which we made last
week, on your letter to your constituents, we sug-
gesed that you had gained an important point in
political warlare--the obtaining the votes Of for
eigners in your district, and, perhaps, the poison
ing of their minds against our native population.
Sir, we care but little for the party squabbes Of
the day-ours is a hobler and All honest task; but
if our sentiments were contraslcd, it may be that
our opinions differ but very little on the funda-
mental questions which agi.ate the country; for,
to define our positon,'' we are much IN the
same situation as your honorable Speaker But
sir, though there is between US still, great dlf-
ference-we mean as regards agcs-we hope
our opinion, set up in opposition to your own,
may not be thought presumptuous. Our course
is set-we are fighting for our country and all
we ask is, that each soa Of the soil should lend a
helping hand but if he will not do this, patriot
ism forbds him to cast his weig ght to sink her still
deeper in the mire Of foreign degradation.
Can it be possible sir, that man who has pas
sed as many summers as yourself has not yet per-
ceyed the banefu effects of the indiscriminate
immigration that is setting in upon our country !
Have you not observed the viated tastes of for
eigners corrupting the heretofore unsuIlied native
character? Can you not see lamentable differ
ence between Americans now, and those of the
pure and happy hours of your schoolboy days
Does not the public purse feel the sceigM Of for
egn capital, and the emptiness thereof attest the
truth Of its paupersm? Has nothing come un-
der your observation, to convince you that the
foreign immigration which is overspreading our
land, is drawback, rather than help to our pro-
gress, in every thing that should characterize the
American people! Do you not plainly see, even
in your own section Of country, the bad effects Of
these clans settling within your borders! And
DO you fear nothing, sir, when you endeavor to
excite their bloated passions against the rgh(ul
sons of the soil Do you wish your descendants
to be deprived Of their dear-bought privileges I?
Is it your prayer (as it ought to be) that our lnst
tutions should be perpetuated II SO, sir, why
endeavor to array the whole force Of foreigners in
our country against portion of her children I?
Pause, sir, ere i! be too late-hnk well Of the
impoliiic course you are pursulng-ask yourself
whether you are doing your country, yonr pos
.erty, a service, by the position you have assum-
ed-and soemnly enquire if you are not doing a
deep and lasting injury to part of your fellow
citizens, who have taken this grouNd Of the Con
sti,ulion for the safety of the Republic? Do you
deny that W. >lve the right to ask for Repeal
of the Laws OF Naturalization You cannot
Then, sir, why oppose US? Why endeavor, by
misrepresentation, to overthrow us, and with US,
our hope for oar coun,ry's salvation We are
but en,!envoring y avert the curse that has over
thrown Ie.nubcs before us. That you desire
the permanency of our Institutions, we cannot
doubt r. then, you can show us any surer or
better method of accomplishing it than the one
we are pursuing, point it out to us, and we will
cheerlully espouse it. Your great political leader
Martin Van Buren,, has said, :" Foreigners UW
make reflections curse instead Of a blessing"
Your great apostle of liberty, Jefferson, has said,
81 hone we nav find some MEANS in future,
of shielding ourselves from Foreign influence, po-
litical, commercial or in whatever form 1t may be
attempted" We are endcavoring TO follow their
advice. We wish to steer our own bark. we
believe foreigners are no acquisition to us, espe-
cially at our polls. We think they cannot learn
our Institutions in five years-ther actions prove
they cannot. Do you think we are wrong, sir !!
If SO, come out manfully and say so-bm do not
endeavor to make as, mhat zoe are not! And we
here state, sir, that Associations composed