Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-09
MEETING AT THE CAPITOL LAST
NIGHT.

The meeting at the capitol last night
was well attended, and was organized by
the appointment Of F. s. Richards as Pre-
sident, and the following gentlemen as Vice
Presidents: Hon. A. +. Alden, Adolph
| Nelson, Michael Mccormack, Thos. Con-
mis-, D. s. Munday, Philip OldwelI c. c.
Giers, F. A. Otis, NJ. J. Dolan, r. S. Tut
hill, II. II. Thomas. NJ, Kerrigan, d.
Dougheny, Hon. Eugene Cary, Judge
VIM. Shane, Chas. Wilson, d. W. Classic,
Patrick Walsh, Or. Knaffie, Capt. VIM.
Heydt, c. NJ. Donaldson, Captain W. c.
Kinney, F. Klooz, Chas. Kircher, Jacob
Geiger. Col. J. w. Lawless and CLAY
| Newland were chosen Secretaries. Thos.
| Mckinley, John Rhum, S. Mullins, Col.
Henry Stone, and John Mulroy were APP
pointed a committee 90 resolutions.
| Governor Neil S. Brown was called
upon, and appeared upon the stand
amid great applause. He said that the
American citizen had the same rights
as citizens on the sea and on the land, as
citizens anywhere You and all have the
same rights that ! have. The naiuraliza-
ton laws give every one the rights Of cili-
| zensldp, and the same guarantee il a war
rant of profession. When you give yonr
| allegiance yon are az much entitled to the
| protection Of the government az one in
diyidual is bound 10 another bv his bond.
Ii from France, Russia or Spain, the sub
ject is entitled TO the protection Of the
country to which he belongs 1t would be
monstrOus for a citizen 10 owe allegiance
TO government and al the same time be
deprived Of the privileges and support Of
that government. Whether in Siberia or
Patagonia, an American citizen has the
| right 10 claim the protection of citizen
ship. The theory Of protection of citizens
in any country was equitemporal with all
civilized nations II was as bright "a the
! flash of the sun, az solid as the streams that
girded us. The same right was involved
composed of population from all
countries. That population was in the
mean good one. | wOuld despise the
man who denied his birthplace The
true heart will beat TO his home and home
memories will be treasured forever. Now
| speak TO the Irishmen in no acrimoni.
ous sense the Irishmen of the Emerald
Isle came here poor, penniless, and friend
less. By thrift and industry they have
prospered. 1t is but natural that thev
should wish sometimes to visit their homes
The bird would not fly more naturally 20
Its home nest They want naturally, TO
60 back TO the old land and see again the
lazy wheel revolving, the pastoral beauties
of the home land. Belong he to King or
Duke or Emperor, there is no man but who
feels the love of his native land. If so he
is RuiiEs GiHS-nobody's son.
Years ago no Roman citizen could 90 on
the confines Of any country and have his
individual rights infringed upon. The
thought that an American citizen couId
not receive similar protection IL monstrous.
A man naturally feels and sometimes
wishes to return to his home. ANY man
has the right TO expatriate himself if he
desires. Any man from any country
has the right to leave one country, and bv
taking the oath of allegiance become the
citizen of another, and the government to
which he formerly belonged has no author.
ity over him whatever.
The policy of this government is 10, by
formal treaty with ali countries, have il Sd
understood that her citizens should be pro-
teeted, and have the power through her
diplomatic agents to demand our subjects
from all nations. Suppose no such pro
tecton pertains to government, then
there was no protection at all, and the peo-
pie would go from it for the sake of going,
Any mode of adjustment without dishonor |
is better than war. All governments that |
expect to live through the tumults of revo.
luton and the mutations of time, must |
have good faith for their Polar star ANY |
country which has not becomes a hiss and a
by-word. The Scotch highlander, the |
mountain Peruvian, and the mercurial |
Iri5lman, when he comes here and becomes |
citizen, is entitled to protection. If |
he goes to Russia, to the Polar regions, or
to Patagonia, whether he speaks the |
English language or not, if he carries
with him the impress of an American |
citizen, by the laws of allegiance and the |
plastic hand of the Judiciary, he is enti- |
tied to the benefits and protection of the |
government. Hate man because of his
birthplace / love my birthplace, and |
would rather see it than any other spot on
earth.
" Breathes there man with aoul ro dead D." etc
WhereVe we came from we are one
family, lroM the lakes to the Indian Ocean.
We want our citizens projected. If he
treads the soil of his,natiyity or that of his
adoption, let him step proudly, as the old
Romans did, a citizen everywhere. ! hate
despotism, local or foreign, and would de,
spise myself if l wished to Cypress nv
poor fellow man. At home or abroad. on
land or on sea, if constitutional citizen.
give him the broad egis of that constltn-
ton to which he has subscribed. Wherever
he might be he would love 10 see the trees
that sheltered his boyhood, and the valleys
on which his early recollections rested. A
government that would refuse protection
to her subjects for such feelings was a
failure and a humbug.
War was the last of all recti6ers Of
wrong. We have seen it here. Would
rather see the stars fall, especially if they
fell as in 1888, than see such another. We
are from Scotch, Welsh, Irish, etc. All of
these people have contributed to our popu-
latiOn and prosperity. American as he
always expected TO be, he was in favor of
protecting everybody belonging to the
great American family. Wherever he was,
and whatever he was, if an American
citizen, he was entitled TO the protection of
that flag that floats over him. The speaker
closed amidst enthusiastic cheering.
After the close Of Governor Browns
remarks, the following resolutions were
offered and passed unanimously:
Where's, 1t is the duty Of the govern
ment Of the United States to protect its
citizens from injustice and wrong of what,
ever kind or by whomsoever inflicted
And whereas, it has become evident that
many of our iellow-citizens, whilst travels
ing in Europe, have been made the VIC
tins of oppressive laws, to which they
were not in any way amenable, and were
subject 10 treatment at once barbarous in
It's nature and degrading to the hitherto
high character Of American citizenship;
therefore be it
Resolved, That We consider The conduct
of our government in neglecriHg TO defend
the assailed dignity Of the republic, in the
persons of its citizens, so outrageously in>
suited and injured by foreign despots, AZ
highly culpable and unprecedented.
Resolved, That we call upon the Con-
gress Of the United States, now in session.
to take snch measures as will preserve
the honor of American citizenship. for all
time TO come, from stain or reproach, and
all injustice from kings or annointed dea~
r a |