Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-28
To the Editors Of tbs Enquirer:

&bS6iNoNSt
GEErLENES:-Will you be kind enough 10
give this a small space in your valuable paper,
and at the same time, should l nave eETeu Ut oe
wrong in my views, l ask you to correcs mo
The object of the writer OF this If, 10 ascef'
tain ifand in how far the foreign porn ci''-ens
deserve the repreaches and insinuatlons cast
on them very frequently, .eSardipg thelr 10Y
atty to the South IN this c~Tls'S!
DO they who have their families, tHslr Pro-
pcrtv. thor all, hero with goa snd IN your
midst really feel no interest IN tic "u'tAfc 0,
| the country i? Is not their fate linked WIN
| yours for veal or ToeY Aaa d ;hcy not Shoe
i BY their ac.s2 Are there not thousands and
thousands of Germans, French and Irish, 10
our army, some Of whom have already sealed
their devotion to the South and our Coincide.
racy with their lives Count the plumber Of
foreigners at the North, compare 1t with That
Of the foreigners South, aud you will see thai
in proportion we have more foreign born c!t!-
zens fighting in our army than they have q;
the North. And have We not also some able
officers in our army Of foreign birth And, Ii
We have some few foreign born citizens IN Gov
eminent offices, they did not seek those offices,
but our statesmen guiding our State affairs anu
Government, recognized the ability and talent
in those men, and knew them to be true South
ern men long before our Government was es'
tablished.
But we admit land are sorry to say IL there
are a great many foreigners (,hough not quite
half the Northern army is composed OF them,)
in Liocoln's army. Have we not SoulherneIs
born and bred here in Southern States lighting
against us here in Virginia, Kentucky nnd
Other placesP
Our city alone has two companies, composed
wholly Of German citizens, and two Ut Irish
citizens, in the field, those not counted that
Joined other companies; and mostly, too. men
who really are making sacrifices, considering
the dependent circumstances Of their families.
Look to Louisiana, South Carolina; Trxas, i'll
short any State in our Con!ederacy, and tell
mo if our foreign population IS not animated
BY. the proper spirit Were not the Germans
in Charleston, S. c., some Of the first 20 organ.
ize and offer their services to tho Government
cheerfully Messrs. Editors, it wounds our
feelings to hear remarks even by some OF our
press. which We think are unjust and unde.
served, knowing We are doing our duty and
willing to do and bear whatever the welfare Of
this, the only free country on earth. requires.
Only give Us impartial JUSTICE
I'VE give place with great chcelliIlness to
tho above communication from a lo:o'gn born
citizsn and We are sorry to confess tina: there
is foundation for the Complaints lie makes.-
We havo ourselves often regretted 10 see pub
LEGATIONS calculated 10 wouad tho saasibllit:es
of men who are giving tho las; and best evil
dence Of Bdelity to their adopted country by
baor;,, ,rn,o in lie ,lpfencp
The exprcssionsxeferrea 10 originate doubt
less in the very large numbers OF foreigners in
the Northern army. This arises, in part, from
thoir being Of superior courage to the North
ern native-borns; end, at tho sama tiuc,
prompted by mora indigcat circumstances
But whatever may be tho ratio OF Foreigners
in the Northern and Southern service, as com.
pared to their populations, and however wo re
greet that they should So forward 10 the ttgh;
the bidding If tic cr~sven.spiCiled i~anS:ics,
who have mado cur cOuntry's troubles, at
least, let nothing be said to wound the feelings
or irnict ~icjuslice On The g"iian; snd faithful
nsturalized citizens IL our midst. for or
selves, We are proud 10 " and IL Gail them
az brothers, and II welcome theta 10 4 lair
share in all tho privileges Of our pc!iticsl FRA
ternity. The Enquirer" has ID sympathy
with bigotry, in Church or State, and would,
especially at the present time, earnestly urge
our people of all creeds and parties and birth
places and conditions, 20 nave but ono test aE.d
rule OF fellowsbip-"If thy heart DO right
with my heart, give NE thy band
EnIr,as FSo