Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-09
rhe ETerting on. = siurday N;sas
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The MeptinE on = sturday N;gat
Last.
very large and enthusiactic meeting
OF our citizens was held OIL Saturday nj ght
IN accordance with the published call, at
tne City Hal to take arti IN with reference
to che con.lu t of the Governm mt of Great
Britain AID Ireland in arresting and con-
tihing American citizens suspected of vio-
latillg tn claws OF England. Hm Grorye
l.. Converse was called to the Chair, and
Col. John G-ary Fl. cted Secretary The
Chairman, in a few pertinent and we'll
timed remarks explained the object of the
meeting and introduced Hon. Allen G.
thurman. 9 ("
Ju ige Thurman com nenced by saving
that n. was glad that this meeting had as
srmhied, aud tnat it had BEEN called with
out reference to party. religious spcts, or.
ganizaJion of any kiud, or nativity. AS
had been most pertlnently remarked "
the Chairman, the subject to be consi'ier-,,
concerns every body, and it was. there's ore
very proper tn It every DO iy should take a
part il the pro eedings. That subj .ct was
tire Right of Exoatri ition-that i, to say,
the right of an inlivtiua', acting in good
faith and openly, to rem we from one coun-
try ep aluther AMI, becoming a citizen or
SUI ct Of the latter, eXonerat,d from all
all glance to the former. 1t Se-mrd strange
that so resonable right should be any,
where denied, and yet it was denied hy
many Governm mrs; aud he was sorry to
say that the highest judicial tribunal in
the U iited States had never distinctly af-
tirmed it. But the time had come when it
must be asserted, and he had no doubt trat
the people and every branch of the Gov
erment would distinctly do So. And hp
hoped to see it not only asserted but MAIN
tai, ed.
The doctrine of the Governments that
d ny the right is expressed by the maxim,
-" Memo potest e1uere patrians that is. No
one can renouncr nj, Own country. Or, Is
it is ofteu expressed, "Oace a subject al
ways a subject" Accord ~ t. this doc
trine, the tact of plau's being born in a
particular country, forever binds him to
owe allegiance to that country-an allegi-
ance that he cannot In any way shake of,
without the consent of its Government
The 'vernmems may be the worst in the
world, and the indivi iual Ivy have thu
st of reasons for wishing t, change his
home aud his allegiance. and yet the right
is denied hi n. If born in Ru. .sia he must
remain a R,,-ian subject; if i'll Turkey. a
Turkish su jet; nay. II bor, in Dahompy
he must continue all his life to b. sub.
jet of its savage aud murderous King.
SU 4 ha 10
the ohited states can never assentto with
nut an ulspeakable degra dation. Honor,
Justice aud interest alike r. auire us to con-
denim it. Why it appears by the last CEN
sus that nearly one fifth of the white nom
ulatlon- of the Republic are Of foreiyn
| birth. The proportion of foreign born in
TIE cities is much greater. Thus, in New
York, it is nearly one-half: in Boston and
Pniiadelphia over ene-third; in Baltimore
ne tn rd; in Chic go, St Louis and Gin
rinnati. one half; and, according to the
b. st calculation he cnuld make. it was one
naif in Columbus. The foreign born In
1860 were over four millions. They are
| now at least five millions. and a large pro-
portion OF the m have become naturalizpd
Fhey are now American ctizens. To be-
come SO eacn one OF them hal to take a
solemn oath to support the Constitution of
thr United States aud to absolutely and en-
s'refy renoance and allure all allegiance aud
| naetayto eoery foreign prince. potentate state
or soseretg"ty. sohateoer, aud particularly by
name the prince, ppteatate. state or sovereignty.
ohere'J he aoas before citizen or subject"
Alter exactihg this oath, is not our
Governement bound to protect them
against The claims of the foreign Govern
ments that it required tn, M TO renounce
and abjure? And can We fai, to discharge
this duty without Infinite i. Justice. shame
and dishonor? Can we fail to d, it with
out IL juring our prosperity. Iessening our
strength. aud lowering our character the
civilized world over? There can he hut
nne ans. er to these questions. These peo-
Pile are now American citizens, as much so
as If they had been born on our soil. Pc.
tween them and the native burn. ,bera Is
but one ley Al distinction, aud that is. that
I" be President of the United States a
= man must be native. In all other res.
nopks thpra il M fli ,tinotioo