Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-09-01
DECLARATION.

We, the delegates elect, to the first Ma
tional Convention Of the Native American
body Of the United States Of America, assem-
bled at Philadelphia on the 4th day of July,
lS45, for the purpose of devising plan OF
concerted political action in defence OF
American institutions against the encroach-
ments of Foreign Influence, open or conceal
ed, hereby, solemnly and before Almighty
Sod, make known to our fellow citizens, our
country. and the world. the following incon-
trovertible facts, and the course OF conduct
consequent thereon, to which, in duty to the
cause of human rights and the claims of our
beloved country, we mutually pledge our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
The danger Of foreign influence, threatening
the gradual destruction of our national insti-
tutions, failed not to arrest the attention OF
the Father Of his Country in the very dawn
of American Liberty. Not only Its direct
agency in rendering the American system
liable to the poisonous influence OF European
policy-a policy at war with the fundamental
principles of the American Constitution-but
also its still more fatal operation in nggrava-
ting the yirulence Of partisan wariare-has
awakened deep alarm in the mind of every
intelligent patriot, from the days OF Washing
ton to the present time.
The influx of foreign population, permit
ted after little more than nominal residence
to participate in the legislation Of the coun-
try, and the sacred right of suffrage, produced
comparatively little evil during the earlier
years of the Republic; for that influx was
then limited by the considerable expenses OF
| TRANSATLANTIC voyage, by the existence OF ma
ny Wholesome restraints upon the acquisition
OF political prerogatives, by the constant ex-
tauston of the European population in long
al
slender inducements offered for emigration to
young ard sparsely populated country, con
tending for existence with a boundess will
derness, inhabited by savage men. Evils
which are only prospective rarely attract the
notice of the masses. and, until peculiar chan
ges were effected in the political condition OF
| Europe, the increased facilities for transpor-
tation and the madness of partisan legislation
| in removing all effective guards against the
| open prostitution of the right OF citizenship,
| had converted the slender current of naturali-
zation into torrent threatening to over
whelm the influence Of the natives OF the
land the far-seeing vision of the statesman,
only, being fixed upon the distant, but stca-
Oily approaching cloud.
But, since the barriers against the impro-
per extension Of the right Of suffrage were
boldly broken down, for partisan purpose,
sing numbers, and unblushing insolence oi
tine foreign population of the worst classes
have caused the general agitation of the ques-
tion, "HO,0 shall the institutions Of the country
be preserved from the blight Of foreign infu-
ence, inSanely legaiised through the conflicts ct
domestic parties Associations, under ditler-
ent names, have been formed by our fellow
citizens, in many states of this confederation,
from Louisiana to Maine, all designed to
check this imminent danger before it becomes
irremediable, and. at length, National Con-
vention of the great American people. born
upon the soil of Washington, has assembled
TO digest, suggest and announce a plan of
operations, by which the grievances Of an
abused hospitality, and the consequent degra-
dation Of political morals. may be redressed,
and the tottering columns of the temple OF
Republican Liberty secured upon the sure
foundation of an enlightened nationality.
In calling for support upon every American
who loves his country pre-eminently, and eve,
ry adopted citizen Of moral and intellectual
WORTH who would secure to his compatriots,
yet TO come amongst US, the blessings of po-
litical protection, the safety of person and
properly, it is right that we should make
known the grievances which we propose to
redress. and the manner in which We shall
endeavor to effect our object.
It is an incoutrovertible truth. that the
civil institutions of the United States o
America have been seriously affected, ans
that they now stand in imminent peril IRON
the rapid and enormous increase oi the BOD!
of residents of foreign birth, imbued with Tor
eign feelings. and Of ignorant and immora
character, who receive under the present la
and unreasonable laws Of naturalization, IN
elective franchise and the right oil eiigloiiit
to political Office.
s The whole body Of foreign citizens, invites
to our shores under a constitutional proyisio
adapted 20 other times and other politie'