Native Americanism

In a late paper we published the inquirics ofsome naturalizad citizens of Dayton, Ohio, addressed fo James G.Birnej. Thomas Morris, and Judge King, the Liberty candidate for "Governor of Ohio, iri referencc to thepropriety of the present naiuralization laws, and to the cnjovmenl of religieus irecdom by all denominations, and ■especially the Catholics. The roplv of Judge King will commnd itself toal]. It is grafifying to know that not a Liberty paper in the country has countenanced he narrow niindod views of the ATative American party: JÜDGÊ KING'S REPLY. Warren, Trumbull, County, Ohio. ) June 21, 1844. 5Gents : - Your communication in the Cincinati Herald, addressed to Messrs. Birncvj Morris and myself, ailirming that yo had Jeft the Jand of your birth, and sought a refuge and ahorne in this wide spread, fertile and free countrv - that as firra and sincere friènds to the country of your adoption, to its constitution and laws-you were desirous of so using the high privilege of the electivo franchise conferred upon you by tho laws ofthis country, as lo perpetúate its liberties. nnd secure the blessings of freedom to all - and asíring a response to certain interrogatorios therein propounded, bas just come under my observation, to whoh ] basten briefley to reply. Ist intèrrogatóry - "Are you in favor of naturalized citizens of the United S. enjoyingtherights and privileges secured to them by iho present naturalizution laws ïAnswer : lam in favor ofsecuring to1 every naturalice! citizen all the rights, privileges, and immunifes, which the Conslitutiun of the United States and the laws made in pursuance of it, confer upon thera. I do not bolievcin the wisdom or policy of proscribing any classof citizens on account of their place of birth who have in good faith, brought themselves within the provisions of the laws scciuing tothem the right of citizenship. Tlic policy of our government.the spirit of our. laws. the liberality of our institutions, & oxient of our public dornain,have been icld up as inducemeuts to the oppressed)f all natiöns; to seek freedom and sdfety under ournalional .Egis, and secure to thcmselves the rights and privileges con-ferred upon American citizens. All the facilities of acquiting and holding property. all the rewards held out to honöst industiy and enterprise, evcry assurance of an equai participaron in the afTairs of the government, its honors and emoluments, have been frecly extended to themin common with native-born citizens, un-der cortain rules and regulations pres. cribed by our lavs. We have invited them to bocome members of the great American family, that thcy might havea common interest in its welfare, and par-ticij ate in the rcsponsibiliiies of ils gove ni ment.íf ihis policy is to be changed, and ther feclings ofour mixed population are to bo brouglit inío hostile collision with each other, by the proscription of foreign emigrants, who have, or may herenfter be come incorporated into the body politie, a new and dangerous element will be introdücéd into our social a nel political system. The republican test of character, capacity. and fidelity,which has hitherto been the only essential qualification for office, mitst yield to the more important pre-requisitc of nativity, ïrrespective of char:ic:ter or ment. The seeds of dissention will be scattered broad cast overtbe land. to be Coslered and cherished by popular zeal and prejndice. until hostile collisions ofthepeople divided inta clans, will convulse the republic and endanger the fundamental principies of our government. Let theopinion extensivtly prèvail in a free government, let h be once implanted in the minds of a portion of the community, that their righLs were.invadedto. that circumstances beyond liieir control were to debar theo of the cxercise of their accusfómed privileges, tliat popular prejudice was to be excited to degrade and proscribe thenv and Ihey would be transformed into natra] enemies of the State. Their energies would be consta ntly exerted to effect a revolution of the governmont, and nothing short of military power would beable to suppress the tumultuous risings of tho people. The pages of history are replete with incident's of this character. Better would it liaVe boen, far beüer, for the peace and welfare ofour country, for the stability ofour free institutions, had they been originally excluded from our soi],. than that they should be considered' acJistinci, degraded, and proscribed olass in, our midst.ín responding to the second interrogatory - "Are yoii in favor of guarauteeing to every man, including Catholics, the sacrcu n'güt of worshiping God according to the dictates of his conscience ?"■ Pcnnit me to say, that while I have never heen connected with any ecclesiast'cal organization of the countFy, 1 have ever been taught to and respect the fundamental doctrines and precèpts of Chrisfianity. I have ever believed them to comprïse the wisest principies of government, the purest code of moráis, the most perfect rule of action, and the óïiJy remedial system for the resionition of fallen and depraved humanity. I bëlieye, however, that their benign iniluences have never been imparted or extended thvough the coerción of human lávvsí Whencver the civil power ha been invoked to disseminateand establisli any religious creed, or fo sustaiaany particular mode of worship by Tts authorityr its ui forra tendeney has been to corrupt ils votaries, and weaken the powr of trutb. Every nerson should enjoy thè absolute right of judging for himself imall mafters pertaining to roligious worship, since he alone is responsible fbr his belief, as weil as for the performance of his duty to his Maker. Human Iaws may rightfully resirain the immoralities of society, but they should never be invokcd for the enforcement of reh'gious truth upon the mind. If itcannot reach the understanding by its own intrinsc lighf, no esternal forcé can add to ií convincing power. Our Constituí ons, State and National, have wisely provided against the estabtablishment of nny religión by law, or giving any preference to any religious society or mode of worship, or requiring' nny religious test as a qualificationfor