The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-18
THE DAILY UNION.


gratitude to foreigners for American independence
An account has been rendered, and the balance
struck n receipt in full has passed between us,
and yet after this pain Mercantile transaction, we
are often reminded Of The debt Of gratitude we owe
TO The Cid World for American freedom. How
Inonstrous the paradox, that the New World should
be indebted to the Old World for American free
dom Let US look at this question IN its actual
relations.
The quarrel Of the inohe,re o. Europe, brought
us Frapce - m ally not because her king could
feel or Aght for freedom or the idea is preposteI-
Gus aud absurd, that king would prepare the ell
ements of destruction for the overthrow of his own
throne but because he did feel hatred of rive,
monarchy (England) and sought Il egush her. Who
her errnfss 10 this country she so acted from
love OF liberty, instead of hatred of England a
boy at the FIRST form would spurn the ridiculous
idea that France, an absolute monarchy Of feudal
origin would engage In our battles of freedom from
love Of those principles that must eventually under
mine her own despotlsm. But II may be said
that there is sentiment of gratitude in every hui
man breast which, rising superior to all niercenary
considerations enhobles HIM who feels It. No doubt,
there is such a sentiment. Sacred be its throbs!
But who will urge such sentiment as an argument
for the destruction of his country's independence or
the overthrow Of the rights of MANI Shall this SEN
timcnt urge us to the alteration of monarchy Shall
this sentiment wean US from the homage that every
republican pays to freedom On the contrary, the
heart that revcls with gratitude is the heart that
burns with patriotism, leaps at the thought of free
dom, and would sooner perish than yield one jot
of that freedom to foreign cabal.
Since our last national conflict with England, the
monarchs of Europe have changed their tactics, not
abandoned their object. lnvulnerable they have
found TO be, to all their begerent assaults by phys
ical power, they have since resored to moral and
political warfare, TO compel our free institutions to
thb,r ,ak,
frt is the same. But the weapons used are new
ones-the ballot-box, the naturalization law, and a
class alien voe--all of which can achieve greater
destruction than their armies or their navies. Am
asked, how this manifested! answer, In the moral
impression made on the minds Of the people who
are hourly brought to sympathize with foreign mon
arehies and to esteem the royast, hot from the at
mosphere of thrones as equal to--nay, as superior
to the native-born American, nursed in the lap,
and nourished from the bosom of democratic insti-
tutons Yes, superior--for that is the term made
use of to the native because, as the gentleman has
asserted "the alien is citizen from choices" and
choice implies preference Of republic, which, again,
implies superior virtue and patriotism. Now, sir,
are aliens citizens by choice' To make aliens "cit-
zens by choice" they must have motives of a
compulsory character to drive them from their ma
tive homes to seek foreign strange, and remote
land. Every circumstance Of moral enjoyment and
physical comfort must be equal to what they expect
to find in this country, to constitute choice What
nation Of Europe presents an equality with the Uni
ted States, in any Of the rational blessings of fe'
know of none. The epicure of London, or gour-
mand of Paris, may prefer them for the delicacies of
the table, and am ready to confess that epicures do
not swell the tide of foreign emigration at the
present era of our history. The philosophers, an
quarans, and lterati of Europe, may cling to their
moss-covered Museums-to Eton, Cambridge and
Oxford-with reverental fondness and, perhaps,
in ancient lore and modern cookery, we may
rank inferior to France and Britain But in
all that ennobles the human mnd-in all that sheds
the halo Of true glory around the brow of man.
standing erect in all the godike dignity of freedom,
challenge any country upon earth to show her
claim TO equality with the United States Of North
American. But this is the feebest point in the
whole argument. Man<must eat first, and think
afterwards. Show me nation on the face of the earth
where mankind can obtain so abundantly all the
comforts Of life, at SO little cost of labor in the
United Statesi Show me any nation of Europe
where the of population do not suffer for want
of subsistence. Here is the grand necessity which
drives the swarms of Europe to our shores. Is not
this necessity, The worst of all necessites--the
physical force of famine. Can such men say they
come here from "choice"--from love of freedom, or
from love of bread Wemay pity their restitution,
but Heaven save us from ravishing ridiculous ap-
pleuse upon their patriotism for having chosen this
country as their abode. In the time of Mr. Jeffer-
sons administration, what was the general impulse
that drove foreigners to emigrate from Europe to
this country? II was not "choice,' but political
persecution. The Ere nch revolution had kinded
blaze of liberty around every European throne
The emigrant came to our shores then, MS refuge
from the fiery persecution of kings, whose crowns
had been made to trembe on their brows. 1t
was not ''choice," however, but necessity. If
they remained, their heads would have been
brought to the block, where the bloody axe
of the executioner eager for the work
of death. Could more dire or cruel case Of
necessity EXIST Yet they made their own welcome
by their love of republican principles they had
tired all their dearest hopes at home, to establish
free government on sublime basis, and they came
among US, not to infect to disturb, or undermine
our institutions, but to cement confirm and strength
EN- them. And many rich treasure of morals, in
teect, science, and virtue, did they bring with
them. The naturalization law, then, was, as it
ought to have been, liberal, free, and affording
every facility to the expatraed republican to become
one of the sovereign people of this great republic.
But alas he had no "choice." stern necessity
compelled him to sojourn and abide in this New
World at the sacrifice of all those fond ties and sick
ening longings after home, which bow down. even
the spirits of the most depraved but which, to the
heart of refinement and sensbity, surround it with
the darkest clouds Of wo and dependency. Never,
sir, never, did virtuous man tear himself away
from the native bliss of his homestead from "choce"
There is no such patriotism" in the human bosom.
Think you the pilgrims of the Mayhower would
ever have touched Plymouth rock with their fra
barque, had England afforded them a land in which
liberty of conscience could have been enjoyed, free
from the forfeiture of pains, penalties, and dsab-
tiesl No. Believe it not. In all cases Of emf
grafton some sort Of necessity begets the impulse
whether it be moral, physical, POLITICAL religious.
Danger Of life, from political power-danger of star
walton from poverty danger of imprisonment for
non-confermity--or the certainty of degradation
from the high dignity Of manhood. To the visions
of the poet, the dreams Of the orator, them let
consgn this fgment Of "choice," the feeling that
impels the wanderer to seek shores.
But grant that some score or two in thousand
have made this country their abode from "choce,"
and not from dread Of famine, or lust of gold
what does it provei Does it furnish any reason
why those who are driven among us from necessity
should conaminate our ballot-boxes by spurious
votes, poled under the dictaon Of foreign agents
There exists reason why we should bow down
to foreign dictators, because few--a very few
republicans have made ''choce Of this country for
their abode--because they preferred free govern
ment to a royal tyranny No, sir; we have no
aliens who are citizens from "choice." Such po-