Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-16

TO the President and Secretary of the
american Republican Aasocidtion,' -
High Street Ward
GENTLEMEN The enclosed circular
was handed To- me last evening by Il gen.
tleman whom suppose to be one Of you,
and rs | cannot consclentiously accept
your invitation 10 Join your association, il
becomes my duty to tell you the reason
why.
The political party Of which your asso-
citation forms a part, has existed for some
months in this city and county, and having
from my youth taken an interest in politi-
cal affairs and the origin and progress Of
parties, it was natural tina: this party OF
yours should receive, as it did, from me,
considerable attention, and that thereby
should become acquainted with its princi-
pies and designs.
am a "native born" citizen, was born
and bred in the county of Philadelphia.
My ancestors, both paternal and maternal,
although of German descent, were for two
o. three generations back born and reared
on the soil OF Pennsylvania; SO that if
nativity inspires PATRIOTISM ought TO be
a patriot, and If | know myself, | will,
whenever circumstances require it, take
- 4 bold and decided stand' in the defence
and protection of the flag of my coun-
try" and of the Institutions which it is de-
signed TO protect, and OF which it is the
emblem.
And if have 4 proper conception Of
my own feelings, | would be second to no
one in " resisting the encroachments OF
foreigners upon the rights and privileges
of citizens oil this Country;" and | would
with equal alacrty resist all Influences,
whether foreign or domestic, that would in
any degree jeopardizc or disturb those in,
valuable rights, liberty of conscience, and
freedom OF opinion, under which our coun-
Try has SO long existed IN peace and quiet
ness.
But you ask me to come and aid you in
resisting the " encroachments of foreign
ers upon the rights and privileges Of notipe
born citizens" Your circular and your
party assume that those who were by accl-
dent born upon the soil of the United
States, have rights and privileges which
those born elsewhere have not In this
assumpt on | must decidedly differ with
you. The trainers of the Constitution
very wisely provided that every office under
the United States, even unto the highest,
should be attainablc by a citizen Of the
proper qualifications, no matter where
born, and every man who seeks home
on our shores, even if born in the desert
of Siberia or on the icy shores of Lap
land, is, when naturalzed according to the
constitution and LEWIS of The Union, an
American Cti.ea, not foreigner; and is
Justly entitled to all rights and privileges
equal with those whose accidental birth
place was upon the soil of the United
States.
And why should you ask me TO protect
the flag of my country against the en-
croachmonts oil those who did not happen
TO be born in the same place was.
Is it not the same +" Star SPangled Ban
ner," differing only in the number oil 1t
stars, that waved over that gallant band,
who so nobly died under the walls OF Que
bec-,ha, enshrouded the dead body oil that
noble-hearted freshman, Richard Mont
gemery. who :here fell fighting 10 us de-
fence Is it not tie same - Star SPang-
led Banner" under which Lafayette, fu-
laski, De kalb. kosciusko, Steuben. aud
many others 81 foreign bath fought the