The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-21
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.

The subject Of the rights of American
citizens abroad is now exciting much inter
est in all the large cities and towns of oul
country, and great meetings are being held
at various points, to urge upon congress a
more decided and definite policy on this sub
ject. On Wednesday evening, the 18TH, q
large meeting was held in Chicago, on the
subject, presided over by the Mayor, who
made an appropriate address. Letters were
read from Gov. Oglesby, and others, approx
ing the objects of the meeting, and speeches
were made by Hon. Thomas Hoyne, Ed
ward Schlaeger, for the Germans, DR.. Ernst
Smith, Louis e. Frichter, I'm French) and
by Michael Mcauley in behalf of our Irish
American citizens. Mr.. Hoyne and Mr.
Schlaeger will both be remembered here as
able and eloquent speakers at our democrat
c meetings in this county, during the presi
dental canvass of 1864, and we therefore
copy, from the Chicago Times, brief refer
ence to their speeches, as follows;
ADDRESS OF THOMAS HoYNE.
The Mayor next introduced Mr.. Thomas
Hoyne, who spoke substantially as follows
de cheerfully accepted the invitation oil
the committee to address this meeting, be
cause it was not only question of great i'm
portance IN national point of view, but al
so a question OF rights as affecting Ameri-
can citizens. The meeting had come togeth-
er to consider matters of the highest imnor.
lance. The question is whether 1000 400
of American citizens. who have abandoned
tho boonn,, oF+ L,,.r olIIJb,oJ
nounced their allegiance to the govern ments
under whose jurisdiction they were born,
and transferred themselves, with their prop
erty, to this land of their adoption, whether
they shall receive that protection at homo
or abroad which every State gives its own
citizens. (Applause.) It ~as not ionas-
ton, as had been suggested, Wsetber q nor.
son who violated the laws of foreipp M.
ton should receive protection but xbetber
an American citizen shall BIO pf,tectad
against the demands of nation whose >llo-
glance he has renowned. applause y,
1t is said it is a maxim under the liY~-
nations that man cannot transfer his allie
glance, of his own will, from the former, un
der whose jurisdiction they We're born, to an
other government, and that that government
can do nothing to dissolve that allegiance
Mr.. Hoyne denied that this was sound law
The maxim was no Older in England thai
40 years. In the rebellion of l745. on,
Mcdonald, n former English subject, wa
claimed, to be tried for treason. He ha,
been taken to France when child, and wa
educated in that country but when Charlie
Edward set up the standard of rebellion i
England to reclaim his throne in right of hi
father James IL, Mcdonald came over wit
him, fought in the battle of Culloden, an
was taken in arms. By the terms of sure,
der all the French prisoners were allowed 4
return home but this man was made an g,
cepton. He was born upon English sol
and he must be tried as traitor, and tbi
was the origin OF this doctrine so far as Ell
glish history is concerned. Mr.. Hoyne de
MED that this was the law of most civilize
nations. From the beginning, nations bav
recognized the right of citizens to chang
their allegiance under some conditions
France recognizes the right of every citize,
10 ieS-ve his country at pleasure and re
n9unce Es allegiance, provided he does no
t"ee up Urls against his country,
olnce the b,ttle of Colloden the world ha
advanced grtat deal. Then Enelant
Dung men VINO s'ale ribbons and bread
But the American revocation has s;noa 80
CURED, and has forever amarc;na.a5 ~. y.
world from these old sdoctrlnes n 1on.
England called upon all her sons 70 - .oo
ana heip defend her against her en,e
She impressed American sean,an and tba les
suit was a war with the United Sta.ov. q 5, $
although England may not have been VIII, III,