The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-04-10

GEN. Scorr ON NATIVE AmEn1cAS1sm.
The following letter is from the appen-
dix 10 the Life Of Gen. Scott, by f. d.
Mansfield, Esq, recently published by
Barnes & Co., New York. The letter
has never before been published, and is
upon subject which was one Of great
interest few years since. 1t was writ
ten in reply to one from w. E. Robinson,
Esq:
WAsH1NcToN, May 20. l848.
Dear Sir I: In reply to your kind let
ter of the 9Th inst, l take pleasure in say
ing that, grateful for the too partial esti-
mate you place on my public services, you
do me no more than justice in assuming
that entertain ''kind and liberal views
towards our naturalized citizens" Ger
tainly it would be impossible for me to
recommend or support any measure in
tended to exclude them from a just and
full participation in all civil and political
rights now secured to them by our Re-
publican laws and institutions.
1t is true, that in season of unusual
excitement, years ago, when both parties
complained Of fraudulent practices in the
naturalization of fore eigners, and when
there seemed to be danger that native and
adopted citizens would be permanently
arrayed against each other i'll hostile fac
tions, I was inclined to concur in the opin-
ion then avowed by leading statesmen,
that some modification of the naturaliza-
tion laws might be necessary in order to
prevent abuses, allay strife, and restore
harmony between the different classes of
our people. But later experience and re-
Election have entirely removed this i'm
preston, and dissipated my apprehensions.
In my recent campaign in Mexico, a
very large proportion of the men under
my command were your countrymen-
Irish, German, Sc. witnessed with ad-
mration their zeal, fidelity and valor in
maintaining our flag in the face of every
danger, vieing with each other and our
native born soldiers in the same ranks in
patriotism, constancy and heroic daring.
| was happy TO call them brothers in the
field, as l shall always be to salute them
as countrymen at home.
Yours truly,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
VIM. E. ROBINSON, Esq.
AN ADvENrURER-The New York
Tribune says: We learn by last steamer
that gossip in London affirms that gen.
tleman who has been somewhat notorious
in the literary and theatrical circles in this
city, is in prison at Geneva for undue per-
tinacity in the pursuit of wife under
difficulties. 1t appears that he made pro-
posals Of marriage in London to the niece
of one Of the wealthiest London bankers,
largely connected with this country, who
had $4,000 in her own right. The pro-
posals were declined, and soon after the
lady left for the Continent. She was fol-
lowed by the enamored swain to Geneva.
Here she was one day informed by letter
that some formality in regard to her pass
port required that she should go in person
to certain place therein desi gnated. She
followed the directions, and upon entering
the house she found only present her Lon
don rejected, who immediately locked the
door, and producing a pair of pistols,
threatened-not to destroy himself if she
continued cruel, but to shoot her unless
she either married him or divided her for
tune with him. Neither of these reason
able requests being acceptable to the lady,
she temporised with the gentleman until
her maid, who had been alarmed at her
absence, sought her with some of the po-
lice, and found her in the above unpleas-
ant category. The lady was released,
and the unhappy swain, who had loved
her not too wisely nor too well, was sent
to cool his ardor in prison.
MISSISSIPPI VS.. THE ATLANTIC
Washington is besciged with the steamers
Of Collins s. Co., and Congress, in a body,
has been carried off captive in the Baltic !;
and hardly a sturdy defender of the rights
of the West has escaped the sweeping
grasp of this mercantile inroad.
The British steamers have for years re-
ceived from their paternal Government,
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually,
as bonus for carrying the mails between
Liverpool, Halifax, New York and Bos-
ton, and this arrangement has been of in
calculable benefit to the interests of Great
Britain.
Our Government followed their exam
pie, and had paid heavy sum as bonus
to Collins & Co. for several years, but the
question was agitated among the Free tra-
ding population of New York, whether
we had not better let Great Britain do all
the profitable mail and passenger carrying;
and petition had gone on to Washington,
protesting against granting any further and
to Collins & Go. Whereupon Collins fit
ted up the Baltic with all splendor and ell
egance, to crafty the eye and the palate,
and sent her off, and laid seige to the Ma
tional Capital; and so well did he lay and
ply his guns and manage his fleet, that,
he has Congress at his own terms, and
will get all he asks for, undoubtedly.
Now, when this question of appropria-
ton comes up, there will be fine chance