Washington telegraph., 1856-02-06
We May Change our Country
not our Prejudices.


The record of our race does not exbibi,
single evidence that the emigrant can ever
forget his native land Total indifference
to the country abandoned is positive proof
of the loss of the DOblest characteristic of bu.
msnity itself, the activity of human affections
The philosophy of the mind indicates unmis.
takably the danger of weakening nationality
by infusing large proportion of foreign ele-
ment into the population of native citizeus
The history of every government shows
the high estimation placed upon citizenship,
and the extreme jealousy manifested of its ac-
QUESTION By aliens; and is also full of warn
ing of the sad effects of the abandonment of
this sound precaution against foreign influ-
ence. Du. no other nation ever offered the
inducements for emigration presented by the
United States, or received the thousandth
part of the access to its population from for
eign fountains which is yearly received into
its bosom America has become the Asa
tia Of the world. The teeming millions of
an oyercrouded and debased population. the
paupers and criminals of every description,
alike lock to our shores as refuge from ills
not to be endured, or fruitful Geld for their
vicious enterprises
By the singularity of our Law of natural
izatiOn. the man who enters our territory as
a refugee. may, in two or three years aspire
to the dignity of citizen OF legislator
Were the English law similar to that of
these States. NJ Victor Hugo might now be
eontesting with Sir Charles Napier. the rep
reseutation OF Southwark. and Citizen Pyatt
aspiring to become the colleague of Mr..
Hayter for the borough of Wells Thus it
comes to lass that adventures of every de-
scriptiOn-French Socialists and Jacobins,
Italian Red Republicans, Hunearians and
Poles, driven into frantic hatred of all gov
eminent BY Austrian or Russian tyranny, re-
fugees from every country in Europe and
adveuturers. pirates and fllibusters from ev-
cry country in the world, and last. though
not least united Irishmen, Orange men and
Catholic dsvotees, all find themselves re-
ceived into the governing class. and treated
as if they possessed sympathy for the in
terests. and an honest wish for the dig
mtg and prosperity of thus great Repub-
lic But, in the votes that they give, the
speeches they deliver, and the parties they
form, these are really thinking, not of the
country they have adopted. but of the land
they have left; not how to benefit their
friend. IN America, but how to avenge them
selves On their enemies in Europe 4
The German brings his mysticisms and
bis in6delity-the Frenchman his socialism
and Red Rspublicanism-the Catholic Irish
man his hatred of Professionalism and his
hostility to Englaud-all their peculiar pre-
judices and desires for revenge and on our
soil preach crusades against religion inter-
ference IN the troubles of Europe, or con-
spire to transplant religious despotism on
our shores. disregarding because of the
strength of their early prepossessions. their
duties to the government of their new home,
aud striving. iu all their civil action. to as
simulate our Institutions to those they have
LETT behind. or change it into Utopia of
freedom such as their blind visions have
painted as the means of the regeneration of
mankind They do not. because they can
not become Americans. They are not re-
publlcans. and life of culture cannot make
them such, because the character of their
minds Is formed-ihe direction is given to
their thOughts-the tone of their prejudices
is established.
Yet contrary to the teachings of history
the warnings of experience, aud the in
ductlons of true philosophy. there are many
willing to trust them with the destiny of our
country, which has a peculiar mission to
perform that none but the native born can
appreciate or understand Nothing could
be binder patriotism. nothing weaker states
manshIP- ". o. Creole.