The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-25
From the Concord N. II. Patriot.
Rights of Naturalized Citizens,

REGENTS events in England and Ireland,
growing out of the Feniau movement, have
naturally excited our Irish citizens, and
have brought into discussion the old ques
ton of the rights of naturalized citizens
AS in every case where there is supposed TO
be chance to make political capital, the
radical leaders seem to have jumped on to
this hobby, and are attempting to ride it. A
great public meeting was held at Manehes-
ter, last week, to give expression to the pub
lie feeling upon the subject; and Hartman,
j. II. Ella, and other prominent radicals,
made speeches; and Gov. Smyth, Senator
Patterson and A. F. Stevens wrote letters
all in earnest defence of the rights of natu-
ralized citizens as in all time defined and
defended BY the democratic party!
We suppose there is not an intelligent
foreign-born citizen in the country who has
not general knowledge of the positio of
parties upon this subject, from the founda.
ton of the government to the present time.
From the beginning the democracy have
been right and consistent upon the subject
always repudiating the doctrine of perpet
ual allegiance once citizen always a
citizen y" so persistently adhered to by Eu
ropean governments. Jefferson, Madison,
Jackson and Pierce, as Presidents, boldly
affirmed and defended the American doc
trine that naturalized citizen is entitled to
all the privileges, rights and immunities
which appertaiL to the native.
This doctrine has, from the beginning,
been strenuously opposed by the radicals
and their political progenitors. From the
time of the "Alien and Sedition Laws" I'M
der John Adams, through the war of 1912,
to the days of know-nothingism. they have
never failed to a. take the side of the oppres-
sor have never failed to throw every pos
sible obstacle in the way of the enjoyment
OF their rights by naturalized citizens; and
they have never failed to denounce and vii
lily the democracy for their admitted fidelity
in this regard.
The doctrine of the democracy upon the
rights OF American citizenship NATIVE and
foreign alike) was TINS admirably stated by
Gen. Pierce in his inaugural address:
The rights which belong to US as a nation
are not alone TO be regarded, but those which
pertain to every citizen in his individual capa-
city at home and abroad, mnst be sacredly main
tanned so long as he can discern every star in
Its place upon that ensign, without wealth to
purchase for him preferment or title to secure
Tor him place, it will be his privilege and must
be his Acknowledged right, to stand even in the
presence OF princes, with proud consciousness
that he Is himself one of nation of sovereigns
ard that he cannot, on legitimate pursuit wander
so far from home, that the agent whom he shall
leave behind in the place which now occupy,
VIII not see that no rude hand of power or tyran-
lcal passion is laid upon him with immunity
He must realize that upon every sea. on every
soil where our enterprise may rightfully seek the
pr0teetIon OF our flag, American citizenship 10
IN invlolable panoply for the security of Ameri-
can rights. F"
Here was the theory the profession; and
before six months had passed, an occasion
occurred for its application. And the result
proved, not only the sincerity of the profess
slon, but that the doctrine was designed to
cover the case of naturalized citizens. Mar
In hosta, an Austrian subject, came to this
country and declared his intention to become
! citizen. Having lived here two years, he
7isited Turkey, and was there seized by Aus
rian officials and taken on board ship with
he avowed purpose of carrying hint
ria. By the prompt and decided : IN
Ingraham, who happene iii
With vessel of war, Kosta was relea % "
eturned to this country. The Emp
Austria made a grave complaint to o
of the conduct of our
claimed Kosta as his subject, and der
lis surrender, disavowal of the act.
'fficers, and satisfaction for the allee 70 I
age. President Pierce, in his first
H. -as,,.. 49, They
W brands
After careful consideration OF the deliver
'nme TO the conclusion that kosta ~ jan 0
without legal authority at Smyrna; thnx
detained board of thu
brig -of-war: that, at the time of his eel EsA IN
was clothed with the nationality Of the = a$hA
States; and that the acts of our officers,n
'her oonduot has be been fully "sgs
and a comnl;apce with ~. serera1 7.r l. M
the Emneror of Austria hos boen dscI;na all kind
This was approved by the coun tsy, Aons