The Arkansas banner., 1844-06-12
AnnpTER- -l,ITIZENS

W. P. R0WLES.
 ADOPTED CITIZENS.
 4 few days since, in the House of Repre- sentatiyes, Mr. Wethered of Maryland, a zeal ous opponent of the democratic cause. sneer- ed at 4Ir. Owen, of Indiana, an adopted citi- zen, as a subject of Queen Victoria, devoted therefore, to the interests of the land in which he was born, and so forth, to which Mr Owen made the suboined indignant, but man. 1 ly and becoming reply. It deserves to be read, particularly at the present moment when the illiberal spirit by which Mr. Weth- cred was prompted, has been again artfully brought in play as all element in party con tentions:
 E'Mr Owen said: have been anxious to obtain the floor, in reply to the personalities of the gentlemen from Maryland, AIr. Weth- cred, because, if such trifes are to be replied to at all, it isbetter it should be at once, they arc not worth sleeping over. l ever regret when discussion degenerates into such ir revalencies. They can add nothing to an argument. What matters 1t whether be Gas the gentleman has truly said ann a foreigner born, or whether he be (as he is a manufac- turer? How shall 1t influence the question in discussion, whether have ..British predi- lections," or he manufacturing predilec- tions?o Shall we sit in judgment on each others secret motives? That belongs to a higher tribunal than ours. That he should attribute to me foreign feelings, or 1 to him Imereenary intentions, would be equally un- parliamentary, irrevalent and unfair.
 The gentleman spoke of me as one ''so lately a subject of Great Britain.'' don't know what the gentleman means by slately.'' Eighteen years ago (then just entering on manhood1 Jeff the British monarchy, and came to these shores. If that was crime, 1t was one that has often been committed by the wisest and best. It was the crime of the pilgrim fathers. The gentleman's own an- cestors-he is not of Indian birth, presume, sir Gaughter) and if he be not, his own an- cestors committed it. Eighteen years ago, | came to make my home in this republic Eigh- teen years ago, settled in the West; then almost the frontier West, and kindly and in diligently did my adopted State receive me, and well do love her for 1t. Eighteen years ago, Pronounced allegiance to every sovereign upon earth, save one free people. That.is my offence! That is the extent of my cmmel
 But the gentleman from Maryland takes exception to 1t, that l naturalized citizen only, should have opened such debate as this Sir, when look around this hall, I see two portraits, and but two, adorling its walls. The one that of the father of his country; an American truly by birth; an American far more by the noble principles he cherished, by the glorious deeds that have made his name the first-the brightest-on the page of human history! The other-ayl sir, whose is the other2 Let the gentleman from Maryland answer me? whose portrait is the other? A European's an aristocrat's, if 10 De born among an aristocracy makes man one of themselves; subject of an Eu- ropean king; one bred up in the very atnos- phere of a court. What does his portrait there? Would it not be we'll for the gentle man, the first day that resolutions are in or der, to introduce one for the purpose of ta- king down-of snatehing from its station there--the portrait of that man; of the good, the wise, the great, the venerable Lalayette; of him whom this nation delighted to honor; of him who, when he sought these shores, was received by America as never nation, till then, received a man. If because am for eign born5I be unworthy to open such dis cussion as this, that portrait is unworthy to look upon 1t. Yet what sacriligious hand dare to pluck it thence2
 Sorry am l, sir, to recognise this bastard spirit of native Americanism here. l know that it has had it's brief hour in New Y ork; but did not know that it was to find it's ad- vocate, in partisan, inamember of this House. Unworthy, sir-utterly unworthy, is thatnar- row and illiberalspirit to find representa- tive in any legislative body-least of all, or the floor of the Congress of America. Ame- rlca IS the land-not of one class, one tribe, one people-a home, not for those only to whom tavoring fortune has granted birth within it's borders. The world claims birth right in America The world admits Ame- riea's own claim to be ..the land of the free and the home of the brayc.o The free claim this for their country; l, foreign-born though bel rightfully claim 1t for my country. It is mine by free selection, by de- lberate preference; the gentleman's by accci- dent only. And now ] am willing judgment shall go, and the decision be made which of Us has the best of ito