The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-05-30
Natiyism I'm Congress.

Pending the Tariff discussion in the House Of Repre-
scntatives at Washington, one Of the Maryland coon
members attempted sarcasm upon Mr, Owen, the able
and eloquent democratic member from Indiana who is
of foreign BIRTH and who had made strong speech in ia
vor Of he bill The reton was such as the iliberal
coon deserved. Said Mr. Owen:
"The gentleman spoke Of me as one $50 lately
subject of Great Britain4" don't know what he un-
ders.ands by 'laely" s years ago. Chen just entering
manhood) lef the British monarchy, &came TO these
shores Hthat crime, II was one mat has often
been committed by the wisest and best 1t was the
crime Of the pilgrim fathers The gentleman's own an;
cestorshe Is not Of Indian birh sir Qaughter) and
he be not his own ancestors committed it. Eighteen
years ago came TO make my home in this republic
settled in the West then almost the frontier West and
kindly and ndugeny did my adopted State receive me,
and well do love her for it, Eighteen years ago, re-
nounced every allegiance to every sovereign upon earth,
save ons-a free people. That is my offence! That 10
the extent Of my ctme
"But he takes exception TO It, that naturalized
citizen only shou1 have opened such debate as this.
Sir, When look around this hail. see two portraits,
and but two, adjoining It's walls. The one, that Of the
father Of his country American truly by birth; an
Amercanfar more by the noble principles he cherished,
by the glorious deeds that have made his name the first
the bnghtest--on the page of human histoiy7 The
other-ay! sir whose is the otherl Let the gentleman
answer me- whose porra, is the o!herl Europeans;
an arisocrats if to be born amoLg the aristocracy
makes man one Of themselves; subjec: OF an Euro
pean king; one bred up in the very atmosphere Of
court What does his portrait there7 Would not be
we'll ol the gentleman the first day that resolutions are
in order to introduce one for the purpose of taking
down-of snaching from It's station there-he portrait
Of that man; of the good the wise the great the Venera-
ted Lafayette; Of him whom this nation delighted to
honor; q him who, when he sought these shores was
received by America never nation till then received
man. If l. because am foreign born, be unworthy 10
open sucha discussion this that portrait is unworthy
10 look upon Yet what sacriligous hand dare pluck il
| thence?
Sorry am l. sir, TO recognize this bastard spirit Of Na
tipe Amcricanism here know that it has had its brief
hour in New York; but did not know that was TO find
its advocate its partisan in member Of this House,
Unworthy sir-uterly unworthy is that narrow and il
liberal spirit to find representative in any legislative
body-least of ALL on the floor Of the Congress Of A
merica America is the land-not Of one class one
people-a home not for those only whom favouring for
tune has granted birth within its borderss The world
claims birthright in Amerca The world admits Amer
icas own claim to behe land of the free and the home
Of the brave" The free claim this for their country;
foreign born though bel rightully claim ifor my
country. is mine by free selection by deliberate pre-
terence-the gentleman's Ny accident only"