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

ut all times, aad at all hazards, make the cause
of the humblest of its citizens its own cause.
This national duty has fsr too long been neg
lected the field has too much been left to the
medic val aud fepdal IDEAS of Europe. America
has as vt failed to oceapy and sustain against
smPriness and potentatcs its antifeudai position,
~ grand Republican mission The right OF ex-
Variation mnst be recognized at home and
Ahread, ths OBJ solete idea must be abolished, lay
ing at the bottom cfthe claims for foreign govern
ments. namely chat the individual Is bound by
the mere accident of his birth to certain aleg-
lance. The American idea considers the indivd-
nal ene end, and not the mere means or tools of
che state.
There is an irrepressible conflict between these
two fundamental standpoints that has to be end
ed blythe victory oflone orsthe other; and now is
the time to bring this question to issue. when,
for the first time in the history of this nation the
American republic has given proof of its i'm
mense heretofore latent, power. The law of ma
tons has to be remodeled according to the mod
ern and just idea, which America is bound to
make respected; and il lis the daty of our INV
making power and our executsei to cause the
rights or every citizen be he American citizen by
the accident of birth or by choice, to be relig
| iously and scrupule,tsy Sustained and kept in
| violate as the persons of our ambassadors and
! national representatives are regarded and held
| now in foreign lands, 81 ... att5t-.t
| To carry out these views we ask congress:
/ /. To set forth, by a law, the rights, rs well
! as the duties, of American citizens at home and
| abroad ~- f.f#
. To define, by law, the right of expatriation,
recogning on our part the right of our citizens to
| change their allegiance, and thereby setting an
| example TO Europe, as well as depriying foreign
governments of plausible objections, now brought
| forward against our position in this matter,
| 8. To give notice Of the new position taken by
this nation, and to ask the unconditional acknowl
| edgment of the rights of adopted citizens
! from all and every government abroad.
| 4. After a reasonable time given to European
governments 10 make mp their minds TO definite
| answer, or in ease such answer shall aot fully
| recognize and aceede to the iustness of our de
mands then our government shall notify such
| foreign power that ii win henceforth consider
| every outrage inflicted upon an American citi-
! Gen. in violation of our laws, and Of inter
| probation or change of the laws of nations, M
less than a cdsus beili, Justification of war
that is to be carried on with the whole power o
| this American republic.
We consider as such outrage any claim ant
execution of such claim the military service
of any American citizen on the ground of hi
former allegiance 10 a foreign prince state
unless the person liable t. such service had &C
tually been summoned to its performance pre-
viously- to leaving the old country. H-l =
We further consider 1t an outrage, now an(
always to be put down, the claiming of American
citizens subjects of a foreign power. according
to the exploded maxim OF barbarious ages
"Once n subject, always a subject. We demand
that all classes of our citizens receive abroad h
same espectfaI treatment that Is accorded ther
to other foreigners, principle that has been vi
iolated most shametuly and wickedly by Grea
Britain by refusing to Irish-Americans the priv
legs of mixed juries, and even prosecuting an
furnishing them for words uttered in this repub
lie.
Resolrea. That the COMMITTEES of arrangement
be instructed tetakc proper means to impress up
on our members of congress the necessity Of fur
thering the views of this meeting. p Ell
Resstred. That hail with joy the BRAY
speeches made in congress by Robinson. of NeN
York, and our Chicago representive, y. B. Judd
| in behalf of the rights OF adopted citizens
and that part sanship pales its hrid fires when tn
honor and pledged faith of our nation Is invol
| we'd.
Resotred, That the present committee of ar
ran gments be Authorized 60 calliurther meeting
If such should be necessary to~csrry out our oh
jects. -rs
Mr.. Schlaeger thanked the audience 70
their attendance and in conclusion said tina
the newspapers of the morrow would wal
r It would be the prologue ola new play i
/ the history Of the repubfc.
: The Mayor then announced that the meet
, ing was dismissed.