The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-03
REMARKS,
OfMR. OWEN of Indiana, in reply to Mr. Weth.
cred Of Maryland, in Congress, April Path.

| cred OF Maryland, IN Congress, April 24th.
Mr.. OWEN said: have been anxious
to obtain the floor, in reply to the gen.
tleman from Maryland, (Mr. WETDER-
ED,) because, if such trifles are to be re-
piled to at all, it is better it should be
at once; they are not worth sleeping
over. lever regret when discussion
deganerates into such. irrevelencies.-
They can add nothing to an argument.
What matters it whether | be las the
gentleman has truly said am) a for
eigner born, or whether he be (as he
is) manufacturer? How shall it in
huence the question in discussion,
whether have '.British predictions"
or he "mauufacturing predillctionsr
Shall we sit in judgment in each 9TH
er's secret motives! That belongs to
higher tribunal than ours. That he
should attribute to me foreign feelings,
or to him mercenary intentions would
be equally supplementary, irrelevant,
and unfair.
The gentleman spoke of me as one
$50 lately subject ofoGreat Britain"
don't know what the gentleman un-
derstands by stately" Eighteen years
ago (then just entering on manhood) |
left the British monarchy, and came to
these shores. If that was crime it
was one that has often been commit
ted by the wisest and best. 1t was the
crime of the pilgrim fathers. The gen.
tleman's own ancesters-he is not of
Indian birth, presume Qaughter) and
if he be not, his own ancestors COM
mitied it. Eighteen years ago, came
TO make my home in this republic
Eighteen years ago | settled in the
West; then almost the frontier west,
and kindly and indulgently did my a
dopted state receive, and well do ] love
her for it. Eighteen years ago, re-
nounced allegiance to every sovereign
upon ear'h, save one-a free people.
That is my offence! That is the ex,
tent ofmy crime!
But the gentleman from Maryland
takes exceptions to it, that !, a natural
lied citizen only, should have opened
such debate as this. Sir, when
look around this hall, see two portraits
and but two, adorning its walls. The
one, that OF the father of his country;
an American truly by birth; an Amer
ican 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 histo.
ry! The other-ay! sir, whose is the
other! Let the gentleman from Mary
land answer me, whose portrait is the
other? An Europeans; an aristocrat's
II to be born among an aristocracy
makes man one of themselves; SUBJ
iect ofan Europeon king; one bred up
in the very atmosphere of COURT
What does his portrait there? Would
it not De well for the gentleman, the
first day that resolutions are in order,
to introduce one tor the purpose of ta-
king down--of snatching from its sta
tlon there.--the portrait of that man;
of the good, the wise, the great, the
venerated Lafayette; of him whom this
nation delighted to honor; of him who,
when he sought these shores, was re-
ceived by America as never nation,
till then, received man? III, because
| a am foreign born, be unworthy to
open such discussion as this, that por-
trait is unworthy to look upon it,.
Yet what sacriigious hand dare pluck
it thence?
Sorry am ], sir, to recognise this
boasted spirit of native Americanism
here. know that it has had its brief
life in New York; but did not know
that it was to find its advocate, its par
tisan, in member of this House. I'm
worthy, sir; utterly unworthy is that
narrow and iIiberate spirit to find a
representative in any legislative body;
least of all, on the floor Of the Congress
of America. America is the land; not
ofone class, one tribe, one people; a
home, not to those only to whom favor
ing fortune has granted birth within its
borders. The world claims birthrighl
inAmerica! The world admits Amer
ica's own claim to be ssthe land Of the
free and the home Of the brave" The
free claim for their country; the brave
claim it for their country; /, foreign
born though Ibe; | rightfuly claim it
for my country. It is mine by free
selection, by deliberate preference; the
gentleman's by accident only. And
now | am willing judgment shall 60,
and the decision be made which ofus
has the best of il.