The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-01-06
The Presidents Message andForeigners

The Pre- sident's Message andForeigners
Eds Times THE President, in his mes
sage to Congress, suggests some alteration
in III, laws relating to foreigners, who are
liablet to be drafted into the military service.
While this subject is under consideration,
few words may be allowed us as to the
relative positions Of citizens Of this coun.
try and those who have never been admit
ted to the privileges Of "eminent domain"
1t is not pretended that the foreigner, new
ly arrived upon our shores, who has never
derived benefit from our laws and institu-
tons, or had any voice in our national con-
Germs, if, perchance, he has declared his in
tention of seeking admission some day to
the charmed circles of sovereigns, does not
owe as much allegiance to this government
and is not bound TO as much sacrifice for
it's maintainance, as he, who, fer a lifetime
has enjoyed all the privileges and honors it
could confer. He adopted the country yes
terday, and to-day he may be compelled to
die for it, although the country has not
adopted him, and declines to do so, until
either death compcls it by making him a
part Of American soil, or term Of service
has dispensed with his disqualitications.-
This is one Of his rights, and he may just
ly resent the assertion that he is not bound
to perform all the duties of the citizen, but
he may also be allowed to ask that we cease
to malign him, and that, if, though SOL
dier Of the Republic, we cannot admit him
to our civil rights, We should, in common
justice, share with him all military rewards
to which service may entitle him.
The foreign non combatants are taxed
equally with the citizen We claim their
equal obligation to military duty. Why
not also their equal compensation Pres
ident Lincoln should know that there is
scarcely a regiment in the field, that has
not foreigners in it. No part of the popu-
lation Of this broad country, have entered
the service with more alacrity, or in greater
proportion than the Foreign part. There is
probably not nationality respectfully rep
resented in these States, which has not fur.
nished its quota Of troops, and the muster
, rolls Of the army will show it. 1t is true
they have made little noise and assumed
no distinctive character, but they arc there
and in nearly every regiment.
But we are told that some deny their H.
ability to serve. This is erroneous. But
then, are there no shirks outside the foreign
element? Are the deserters all from Ire
land2 Is the floating mass, that traverses
the States, or rolls over the border into
Canada, all the product of Europe? And
can it be possible that the immense aggre-
gate OF crippled and diseased, developed in
various places by the draft, haye made at
least one voyage across the Ocean? If so,
God help the Emigration Society and the
next generation. Surely these matters were
as worthy Of mention as was the unpleas-
ant demand upon the Foreign Consulates.
But the duty Of assuming the war risk
is not morally equal between foreigners and
citizens. Thousands OF the men of mill.
tary age, who came here, have an object
altogether higher than any benefit personal
to themselves. They come because labor.