Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-03-12
Rights of Conscience for Americans
Abroad,

Rights Of Conscience for Americans
Abroad.
A citizen is no less a citizen while absent
from his native land, engaged in lawful pur-
suits and still preserving his allegiance here
He is, consequently, no less entitled to the pro-
lection and countenance of his government, as
far as that can under the circumstances be rem
dered. This is felt and acted upon by all in1u-
entail nations of modern times. The British
subject in Turkey, in China, on the coast of
Africa or in the States of America, is as care
fully looked after, his rights as strenuousIy en-
forced and his wrongs as punctually redressed,
as though he were upon the soil of The United
Kingdom. The humblest citizen of our Re.
public has a right to expect that he will be de-
Tended by the whole power of our national
government from oppression and unjust mos
l~estation, so long as he seeks the shelter Of the
Stars and Stripes. Sooner than leave our adop-
ted citizens to yexatious annoyance upon the
high seas, this nation avenged their quarrel in
the late war with Great Britain, by hostilities
with the mightiest of existing empires. For
the protection of our citizens and their interests
abroad, we have our foreign ministers and con.
suls and diplomatic agents, our treaties and our
fleets. The justice and propriety of these mea-
sures none will dispute and no one will grudge
the vast expense which necessarily attends
them. 1t is right and every way proper that
the rights of an American ictizen shall be
respected over all the world; that while they do
no wrong, they shall suffer none. Our citizens
should not be screened from reasonable penal
ties, in case Of misdemeanors but we should
not suffer penalties to be inflicted whep there
has been no offence. They should have Justice
abroad as vel las at home. They should ask for
no more and be satisfied with no less. Among
the rights dear to an American, none is dearer
than the right Of conscience. Shall an Amer
lean citizen, then, be protected in his rights of
property, and in his life, and not receive protec-
ton for the dearest of the rights of mana
right which our great charter pronounces 'ina-
lienable 2" In our own free country, the citizens
of al! nations have this right fully guaranteed to
them, to practice whatever religion they please,
and to follow out the dictates of their conscience
in all religious things without hindrance.
1t is no more than just that the same liberty
be secured TO American citizens when
lawfully resident or travelling abroad. All we
want is reciprocity, that our people may have
the same freedom in religion, and be protected
in its exercise, whether at Constantinople, Flo
renee, Rome, or in Austria, as the people of
countries enjoy in our own. 1t is unwor-
thy of our great and intelligent Government to
place a higher estimate upon the purse and
person of her citizen than upon his conscience.
1t has permitted our citizens to be robbed, BY
laws, of the highest %prerogatives and
privileges of man, without raising any effective
'emonstrance. 1t is now time that our Gov.
eminent should be thoroughly aroused to its
Importance. A wholesome and resistless pub
ic sentiment should rise in its majesty and
power, and demand that it shall extend the
Egis of her power over the dearest rights of
Ter citizens abroad.
This subject has already been agitated in
Congress, and we trust it will continue to be
gitated until rights such as we have spoken
f are fully secured to those of our citizens
wherever, over the wide world, their fancy or
heir interest Nay lead them.