Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-06-27

rights end 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-.
croachments of those who did not happen
to be born 10 the same place | wasl
And think you that those noble heart.
ed patriots pledged their fortunes--rlsked
their lives and all that was dear TO them
on earth, merely tina, one race of men
merely that those born on one spot of
earth should enjoy The blessings Of liberty
and free governmenil--think you that
those brave soldiers of foreign birth fought
side by side with Washington and Gates,
with Green, Sumpter, Marion and Nor
gan, merely that those born on this soil
should enjoy the fruits of their toll and
suffering' No, No. Our fathers fought
for and established government that was
promised "Asylum TO the oppressed Of
all nations" where the defended patriot
Of all lands and climes, whether no bore
the cross of Christ or the crescent Of Ma
home,, thould fGd home and resting
place.
Or do you want more recent evidence
OF the disposition of those OF foreign birth
TO sustain and defend the "Star-Spangled
Banner'" Go 10 the plain Of Chippewa
Ito the battle grounds of Brdgewa,er
and Fort Ere-there you will fad that
the blood Of foreigners was freely poured
out in defence Of the American flag and
American institutions, and there you will
find the bleached and Wondering bones
of foreigners mingled and comminglsd
with those Of native born citiz ms.
1t is the same ''Star-Spangled Banner"
differing only in the number ofits stars,
that waved over that gallant band, who
so nobly fought, and some Of whom so no.
bly, died under the walls of Quebec that
enshrou1ed the dead body of that noble
hearted lrishman, Richard Montgomery,
who there fell fighting in IFS defencel Is
it not the same "Star-Spangled Banner"
under which Lafayette, Pulaski, De kalb,
Kosciusko, Steuben, and many others of
foreign birth fought the battles of our
Independence, and in defence of which
many of them shed their blood? Is it not
the same "Star. Spangled Banner" which
waved in triumph on the ramparts at
Yorktown, over the victorious allied ar
mics Of France and America? Why then
do you ask me to aid you in excluding
the felow-countrymen of these men from
the protection and support of this same
"Star-Spangled Bsnner?" And do you
not know that in that noble band which
assembled in our old State House, on the
morning of the memorable 4th of July,
Ire, and there signed and sealed that
sacred instrument which gave birth TO our
nation, there were many foreigners? ln
that body there was no seeking TO exclude
or prescribe any one, because Of his birth
place or religion, but all--all joined in
pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred
honors, IN support ofthe lberti of Anne
ricaR.
cannot therefore, without becoming
recreant to the principles and purposes Of
cur forefa,hers, join With you IN proscrib-
ing men because Of their birth place, or
n depriving them of any ofthose invaiua.
BILE rights that it was the design of those
sages they should enjoy.
But there is another, equally powerful
reason why cannot join your association.
Recent events have shown that the party
Of which 1t forms part, would be very
dangerous one to entrust with power. In
ours, above all other countries, should the
law and the law only reign supreme. No
outrage, however great, whether commit
ted on single individual or by body OF
them, can under any circumstances justi-
iy or excuse resort to mob violence on
the part of those injured, to redress their
grievances or avenge their wrongs; and
the party that resorts to such means is en-.
urely unfit t. have power in republican
country, and IN my humble judgment no
peace-loving, orderly citizen, can consist
emily become attached to il. icannot be.
long to q party that would wrest man
from the custody and control Of an officer
of the law, mangle and brpise h;m--beat
his head with paving stones, and when in
the apparent agonies Of death, hang him
by the neck ia pubic market.heuse
Christianity shudders and humanity weeps
at the recent outrages of your party, and
God grant that we may have no more oil
the evidences Of its ascendancy.
And there is another reason why
cannot join your association. The whole
energies Of the party of which it forms
part, are almost exclusively devoted to
the prescription and denuncatlon Of one
sect of Christians. With the Roman
Catholics as religious sec, have no
part or lot, having been born and reared
in the Protestant faith; but know that
the Constitution Of my country declares
that call men have natural and indefeasi-
BILE iigh: to worship their Creator accord
ing to the dictates of their own conscen-
ces," and | hope thatso long as God gives
me breath, / may hold in sacred remem-
brance this wise provision. When | saw
from the roof of my dwelling on the night
Of the 9Th Of May, the bright flame that
ensbrouded the lofty dome of st. Angus.
tine, thought of the Constitution of my
country. thought Of those departed sa.
ges who declared that in this land there
should be "lberty of conscience for all
men," | turned and saw the redeemed
splIe and roof ofthe sacred Hall of indie.
pendence and the whole high vault of
Heaven blushing in deep crimson at the