The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-08-01
NATIVE AMERICANISM,

ueman extensively known in that city as respectable, O
intelligent, sound thinking man. and quiet and ami
able citizen This is decidedly the best article, both in
sentiment and spirit we have read on this most impor
tant question 1t was written in reply TO an invi'
tation sent him, TO become a member Of the Native
American Association,
TO THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF
THE "AMERICAN REPUBLICAN ASSOCI-
ALTON" HIGH STREET WARD:
Centlen,cn The enclosed circular was handed 10 me
last evening by gentleman whom suppose to be one
of you, & cannot conscientiousy accept your nvi
taton to join your Association it becomes my duty 10
tell you the reason why. The political party Of which
your association forms part has existed some months
In this city and county, and having from my youth a-
ken an interest in political affairs and the origin and
progress of parties it was natural that this party OF
yours should receive, as did, from me, considerable
attention. and that thereby should be come acquainted
with its principles and designs. :,
am a "natve born citizen, was born and breu IN
the county of Philadelphia. My ancestors, both pa
terna and maternal although of German descent were
tor two or three generations back born and reared on
the soil of Pennsylvania; so that il nativity inspires pa
trioism, ought to be patriot, and if know myself
will whenever circumstances require it. take bold and
of my country" and of the institutions which 1t is de-
signed to protect and of which tits the emblem.
And if have proper conception of my own feel
ings would be second TO in ''resisling the en-
croachments of foreigners upon the rights and prvl-
leees of the citizens of this country" and would with
equal aIacrty resist all influences whether foreign Or
domestic that would in any degree eopardize or disturb
those invaluable rights liberty of conscience and free
dom of opinion under which country has long ey-
listed in peace and quietness.
But you ask me to come and aid you in resisting the
tencroachmens of foreigners upon the rights and pnVr
Ieges of naue born citizens Your circular and your
party assume that those who were by accident born
upon the soil OF the United States have rights and pri
yileges which those born elsewhere have not In this
assumption | most decidedly differ with you-The
trainers OF the Constitution very wisely provided that
every office under the United States, even unto the
highest, should be attanabe by citizen of The poper
qualifications, no matter where born, and every man
who seeks home on our shores, even if born in the
desert of Siberia on the icy shores OF Lapand, is
when nauralized according to the Constitution o. laws
of the Union, an American citizen, not foreigner
and is Justly and righeousy entitled to all rights and
privileges equal with those whose accidental birthplace
was upon the soil of the United States.
And why should you ask to protect the flag OF my
country against the encroachments ofthose who did no
happen to be born in the same place place was?
Is it not the same 9star-spanged Banner" differing
ony in the number Of its stars that waved over tina
galand band, who so noby fought, and some of whom
so nobly died. under the walls Of Quebeoha enshroud
ed the dead body of that nobe-heared rlshman Rich
ard Montgomery who there fell fighting in its defence
Isl not the same "SarSpangled Banner" under whic
Lafayette, Pulaski De Kalb Kosciusko, Steuben am
many others of foreign birth, fought the battles of on
Independence, in defence of which many of them she
their blood? Is not the same "Starspangled Banner
which waved in triumph on the ramparls OF Yorktown
aver The victorious allied armies of France and Amer
ca2 Why then do you ask me TO aid you in exeludin
The counrymen Of these men from protection and SUP
port of this same Star Spanged Bannerl-And do yo
not know that in that noble band which assembled
the old State House, on the morning of the memorab
9TH of July 1776 and there signed and sealed that Sc
cred instrument which gave birth to our nation, ther
were many foregners2 In that body there was no seel
ing to exclude or prescribe any one, because OF h
birthplace or religion, but all-a Joined in pledgn
their lives fortunes and sacred honors, in support
the liberties of American.
And think you that those noble hearted patriots p!e'
ged their ortunes-rsked their lives and all that We
dear TO them on earth, merely that one race of men
merely that these born on one spot Of earth should e
Joy the blessings Of liberty and free Government Thin
you that those brave soldiers Of foreign birth foug
side by side with Washington and Gates with Gree
Sumpter Marion and Morgan merely that those bo
this soil should enjoy the fruits of their toll and su
feringsl No, no. Our fathers fought for and estabs
ed government that was to be an "Asylum to the o
pressed of all nations" where the defeated patriot of
lands and cmes, whether he bore the cross of Chr
or the crescent of Mahomet, should find home and
resting place, ........
Or do;you want more recent evidence Of the dispo
ton of those foreign birth 10 sustain and defend
uStar-Spangled Banner?" Go to the plain of Chippev
TO the battle grounds Of Brdgewater and Fort Erie
there you will find that the blood OF foreigners was trc
" poured out in defence of the American flag a
American Institutions. and there you will find t
bleached and mouldeEing bones OF foreigners mingl
and commingIed with those of native born citizens.
Lcannot therefore without becoming recreant 10
principles and purposes of our lorelahers join withy
in prescribing men because of their birth place, or
depriving them of any of those invaluable rights ha
wasthe design of those sages they should enjoy.
Butthere is another equally powerful reason VIII.
cannot join your association. Recent events ha
shown that the party Of which il forms part wo