The native American., 1840-02-22


what biting, is. nevertheless, true. As the author
says, in note his 9 respects will be paid to Mr.
Feathestonhaugh and others, at another time"
we give this specimen, in hopes that his other
communications will give the I" Devils their due
in every instance If we did not know the au-
thor to be good and true Democrat, we should
think he bore rather hard on the "powers that
be-" but knowing this fact, we give his ideas
in his own peculiarly felictous style, and hope
to hear from him again and often.
For the Natipe american.
In the popular branch of the Massachusetts
Legislature, it has heretofore been the practice
10 place on the Judiciary Committee majority
of LAWYERS. That worthy fraternity, conse-
ouently, controlled the mode by which justice
should be converted into law, and law into mo-
ney. The people, at last, being unwilling to DC
broiled any more on this sort of Masonic grid
iron, determined that they would 60 into the
fire altogether, or else suppress the prePonder-
atng influences of the bar. Accordingly, at the
commencement of the session, the Representa-
tives carried resolution, requesting the Speaker
to select from the agriculturaliss the major part
Of the Judiciary Committee. The Speaker re-
piled in substance, that although there was no
precedent for appointments by the House in that
manner, vet he had too much respect for the
wishes Of the majority to deny the request; and
Notwithstanding he had already organised the
Committees, and had preserved the custom OF
giving to the lawyers the jurisdiction which was
so strenuousy opposed, he would alter the ar
rangement.
In like manner it would be of advantage to
the public if Congress would pass resolution
desiring the President to abstain hereafter from
appointing foreigners to offices of trust and pow
er. When we were threatened with French
war few years ago, it was remarked that the
French Minister of War was the very gentle
man who had long time officiated at the head
Of our Engineer Corps. 1t was well known that
when Gen. Bernard accepted the invitation OF
Louis Philippe to return to France, that scien-
tific and ACCOMPLISHED officer carried away with
him complete plans of all our Notifications and
harbors, thus enabling the French Govern
ment to attack us, whenever they desired, with
all possible facility. Happily for both countries,
good sense interposed in time to avert the ca
amites Of war; and though do not believe
that there was any reason to apprehend an over
throw Of our destinies in case we had been in
vaded, vet the single fact that foreigner was
bct,er acquainted with all our defences than any
officer of our own Army, should be an admoni-
tion.
The prevailing passion in this country to pre-
fer the subjects of foreign powers to our own
citizens, is quite conspicuous and is in every
respect impolitic and unjust About a year ago.
there were two vacancies in the Marine Corps.
Nearly one hundred persons applied for those
Offices among them was brace of Irishmen.
One of the representatives OF Erin had been
nearly all his life in our service, and was by no
means such an exceptionable candidate as the
other, who ought to have felt too much pride to
degrade himself from the dignity OF a Mayor,
to the simple rank of Second Lieutenant
{" Ireland forever!' cried the President. 9 Hur-
rah for the shamrock !" echoed the Secretary Of
the Navy. ''Shillalahs useful at elections y
exclaimed the Senate. .4men!" groaned
tame and servile people. All the applications
Of American citizens were thrown under the
table, and the two Irishmen ,oere commissioned!
| He who had been Sergeant, bears his blushing
honors meekly, punctually attends to his duties,
and is evidently desrous Of exemplifyIng, as far
as possible, the wisdom and propriety of his ap-
nointment. The other follows the current of
| his natural disposition. To some, he is fawning
and sycophantic; to others overbearing and in
solent.. The disgust Of gentlemen, he has made
himself reproach to the service, and aby-word
Of contempt at the table Of every mess. Shortly
after the Marine Corps became defed by this
melancholy dispensation Of Providence, the POM
pous !" Major'' stated, in effect, to a member Of
Congress and others, that he entered the Corps
at the strong solicitation of his friends that the
appointment was forced upon him until some
thing more appropriate to his merits and ac-
knowedged claims could be bestowed F; and that
he had already been promoted to an important
Office in the Corps. Since then, he has been
branded as liar, and has been put into coven-
trv by the officers who refused to mess with
him. WHY does he not demand Court Of In
ouiry for his own vindication or a Court Mar
tia for the punishment Of those who have ac-
cused him? Again, how does it happen that
| while all the Lieutenants whose commissions are