Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-06
PROJECTION TO AmERIcANs ABROAD
From the Harrisbure TeIerrapb. Feb

tion looking to the protection of American
citizens whilst travelling or sojourning in for
! eign lands, in the enjoyment of the right OF
religious worship and the privilege of burying
their dead, should bereavement befall them,
according to the customary rites of their par
| ticular faith, and with such solemnities as they
might deem proper. The resolution, after it
had been moulded by its author, SO as to make
it as unobjectionable as possible, assumed the
form of simple request to our Senators and
Representatives in Congress to use their eff
forts to have incorporated in treaties made
with foreign nations, a stipulation ample e.
nough to secure the object contemplated. On
Friday last it was reached in the order of pub
lie bills, and coming before the House for con-
sideration, was negatiyed, on second reading,
after brief debate, by vote of 10 to Il.
We read the report, which announced this
extraordinary result, with surprise. We did
not deem it possible that forty-slx Pennsylva-
MIA Representatives could be found, who would
be willing 10 record their names upon the
journal Of the House as voting in the negative
upon a proposition like this, which should
commend itself upon the first glance to every
truly American heart. OF the forty-one who
voted in favor Of the resolution, to their honor
be it said, were twelve gentlemen acting with
the Democratic party, who were willing to
view the measure in the light of its own in
trinsic merit, without reference to the party
with which the member introducing II han
pcned to be connected, and regardless Of the
taint OF 'sAmericanism'' with which it might
be supposed to be infected. The forty-six
negative votes were thrown, We believe, by the
majority party in the House, in solid column.
What valid objection could be urged against
the passage Of { resolution Of this character.
we are at loss to imagine. 1t is nothing
more than simple request to those who rep
resent the Commonwealth upon the floor of
the National Legislature, and particularly in
that body in which, in conjunction with the
President, the treaty making power is vested,
to see to it that the American citizen whom
business or pleasure may chance to carry to
foreign land, shall be secure wherever his feet
may happen to stray, in the enjoyment Of the
same rights and privileges which our own Re-
public tenders freely to the veriest outcast
whom destiny may fling upon her shores Our
arms are open to receive the hapless wandcrer, |
whether Jew or Gentle, Christian or Turk |
WHOM the winds Of despotism or misfortune |
may watt hither, and the moment his feet touch |
our soil nc is free to worship the God of his |
fathers in whatsoever mode and With Yhatso- /
ever rises his conscience may dictate. If, too. /
the shaft of the unerring archer should strike |
down at his side the friends or kindred who
have shared his exile, he may consign their |
forms, without fear of molestation, to the bo
som of the earth, and celebrate their obsequies
as ne may deem most fitting, either with the
pompous rights of Holy Mother Church, or
with the simpler solemnities Of less gorgeous
ritual Nay, we offer him still more. 4 few
years residence upon American soil, and he is
'dmitted TO all the privileges Of citizenship.
nay move among his fellows in all the glory of
MS manhood, and WELD equally with the na-
i've born, the lover Of political power.
What then, We would demand for the Amer
can citizen when he enters the confines of a
oreign sovereignty. is a reciprocity of privi-
eGe. We care not that the Governments Of
he Old World should confer upon those who
re aliens to their soil the rights Of citizenship
o which we admit the refugee who flies from
he shadow of their crumbling thrones. God \
orbid that any man who has drawn his first
breath in republican atmosphere sbould
ver be found willing to swear allegiance TO
NY Of Europe's fading dynasties. But we hold
TO be the duty Of our own Government to
INSIST upon it that the rights Of conscience
hall be held sacred in the persons OF her own
itizens' wherever tue flag of the Repub- I
ic floats upon the air, or her name inspires
aspect and fear. The American citizen should I
eel free to exercise the rights pertaining to {
is religious faith, whether in the quiet Will {
&c church OF his own peaceful land amid the !
vine clad hills Of sunny France, or on the 7
lains of beautiful but nisgoverned Italy t
ven in the seven hilled city itself, and at the t
cry base Of the Vatican. He should be pro- |
ected, too, in the day of his sad bereavement $
hen those who had braved with him the per c
S Of the deep, and borne him company in all Z
IS wanderings upon alien soil, are suddenly | 2
alled to their eternal home, leaving to him a
le mournfnl duty of securing for them a qui-
grave. As he lays them down to slumber
eneath the soil of 4 stranger-land, he should
e permitted to breathe over them the accents 0
hich would have burdened the air had they c
led in the places of their nativity, and the ?
,ars which fall upon the sods which cover Ii
ZEN should not be embittered by the thought 0
lat on the morrow, when he is far away, t
andal hands may perchance be busy with p
lie precious remains. "
These are the rights and privileges which
le resolution asked should be secured by t
eaty stipulations to those of our fellow citl- s
ms who, every year, in Increasing nunbers f'