The Portland daily press., 1868-01-13

H.aA ocLJ. hiuSSuuty, OT
3 za. ft} VICE PRESIDENTS. @ sy !
Augustus E. Stevens, r. r. Harris,
Charles Holden G. L. Bailey I'D --.'t+
James L. McCobb, Bernard Daley, ha-i
Bon Bradbury, N A, Foster
Ezra Carter. j. NJ. Adams s.iI2 q
Samuel Spring. I NJ. Giveen, tIt
Josiah H. Drummond, j. j. McMahon 90
James Mc3linchy, C. H. Hall, .5-.He
Wm.L l. Putnam, John E. Dow, lmoW
g. Z. Mattock5, rvr-1egr Hugh D0lan. 9r ef RI
Francis Fessenuen, p. McGIinchy
James ID. Fessenden, T. H. Haskell b
james oDonneI, iI94 ~ Ae i 2
d. lnio,if55 f9 sECRbTARIss.9 IEi tuuI "a.
George. o. Gosse, William HI KaIer ae-, D
George H. Merrill, $500. 5 - e
On taking the chair Judge Kingsbury re-
marked that the familiar expression, Fellow
citizens, if used not as mere commonplace
introduction in sincerity and truth, including
naturallzed as well as homeborn citizens all
endowed with common rights, privileges and
fmmunities, exhausts the argument. The
meeting had been called to consider the out
RACES to which certain class of our citizens
had been exposed abroad, and to consider
whether man who comes to us from the old
world is to be considered one of us and as an
American citizen protected in all lands. France
alone among European nations had recognized
the American theory in this matter. The Ger
man powers repudiate it. AnlAmerican Con-
sui came home from Russia, bringing with him
his little son, six years old born on Russian
soil. A few years later he sent this same son
to Berlin to complete his education Hardly
had the young man arrived when he was mott
lied that he would be held for military service
as Hussian subject. But our great trouble
has been with England. The war of 1872
which was waged in opposition to this very
claim by England to the service of naturalized
American citizens, was drawn game. The
question has never been settled, but the time
has come when it must BIO settled. (Applause)
The flag must protect Anne rican citizens in
England, or Scotland, or Ireland Within the
last year American citizens have been punish
ed as traitors to the English government, and
our minister at London, if he has made some
delicate, polite, diplomatic remonstrances, has
done nothing more. Our object now is to ask
Congress to define by law, and the President
to enforce by such means as may become nee
ossary, the rights of naturalized citizens. %
On motion of MIR. Thomas Parker, commit
tee of seven was raised to draft resolutions ex-
pressing the wishes Of the meeting, The COM
mittee was nominated by the chair as Follows:
Thomas Parker, Nathan Cleaves, Joshua T.
Emery, Sewall Waterhouse, T. Fl. Haskell, G.
A. Gibson, Elias Thomas. 5u q, &
Hon. josiah III Drummoud was then called
upon to address the meeting, and explained the
question so faK as 1t is g matter of law There
is no statute in this country defining the rights
of naturalized citizens, but it is well enough
understood that we claim for every man of
mature years the right to renounce allegiance
to his native country. We invite immigrants
from all fl reign countries to take upon them
selves the responsibilities of American citi-
zenship, and in so doing we tacitly agree to
protect them here aad eiseEhere. Our theory
is the theory of the old Roman law, upon
which system the laws of continental Europe
are founded But in the middle ages new
notion sprung up, that the subject belonged to
the sovereign and could not shake off the chain
Of his master. France, which originally held
by the Roman law, adopted this notion but has
since dropped it. OF other nations, n Dutch
writer. on international law writes that only
the Russians, English and Chinese hold this
absurd doctrine, adding that it can only be
held in those nations where the state is pris-
on; The English haye refned upon its origi-
nal absurdity to a remarkable degree. They
claim that every child accidentally born upon
British soil ia q British subject. Under George
III. they passed law DECLARING that the child
of British subject, wherever born, is and
must remain British subject. Under George
II. they passed law making the grandchild
Of British. subject, WhePeyer hprn, a Briton
These laws have never been repealed. If your
grandfather was born in Great Britain, though
he may have been naturalized in this country,
yet you are by British law British subject;
and il drafted for military service In case az
war with England and taken In arms, YOU are
liable to trial and sentence as traitor. An
drew johnson himself is under these laws a
British subject Can we consent to admit that
three generations of our citizens, including
our very Tresldent; owe allegiance to foreign
powerf Why the Aond9n Times itself con-
fesses that these pretensions are outrageous.
1t will not do to say that these doctrines are
not practically operative They are operative.
In every se'yhich has come up during the
past year, the English courts hayye refused TO
admit evidence of naturalization in this conn.
try, and American citizens are now confined
in Irish prisons for treasopi England must
yield this point. She will not dare to stand
alone against the civilized world. She under
took In 1879 to execute prisoners Of war on this
charge of treason, but we held her officers as
hostages, man for man, and she yielded, Gap
plausel. Whether she yields or not, one of
two things this country must do. Either we
must cease to invite immigrants to become cit