New-York tribune., 1870-05-24
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND THE 1LIH
CONGRESS.

The large hall of Cooper Institute was nearly
aued last evening with an audience who came 10 near
she Hon. William +. Robinson lecture on ,
Citizenship and the XLth Congress" AS tne sP0"eo'
came on the platform company Of soldiers ol 'no
OF ST. Patrick marched into the hall WIN pea.,us o
,rhere vas much applause when Mayor Han took the
chair He said: - - -,
I,n,rs ,Np GENTLEMEN AND SOLDIERS OF THE FU-
TURF The Committee of ArIangemenIs Misne6 @ nG 10 10
my friends obliged 10 respond with tne aacrIty
Which S % tbo haIs addTSs 1SS Is n American CzenshP and the
XIdh Congress" do not think 80 much OF Congress IN
pIauSeI When the subject of " American Citizenship
Is inscribed upon our banners want TO march % unuer
boasts OF is the diamond of American citizenship
a cncircled with the proud badge OF American ct
,enshp should always have the protection OF his nome
Government. The Roman of Paul,s time Was no more more
than on AmeTicon OF to-day lApausel me NIL Mno
ships the orator of the evening ApPlapS&e & ON poes IS
right OF naturalized American citizens
Mr. Robinson was then presented amid loud applause
He said When the XLth Congress met, on the
4th day of March, 1867, there was not one
freeman in the world! 1t may be said that our
slavery must have been very light few of us felt
It, But of all slaves he is the most degraded who does
not know that he is enslayed who has sentiment OF
liberty mistakes for the chime Of freedom the clank
ing of his chains ANA VINO happy in his bondage no
human being had the right of free OcomOtlon, TO go
withersOeyer he chose. Al were subject to perpetual
allegiance,
slavery. rcIer not only 10 Eneiaand %ilcro W @ rIo
doctrine of perpetual allegiance h9d oeen o un,
every one owes involuntary military service to the
Government, whose citizens or subjects coming 20 this
here marry and bringing up Their families here hav
1Rg their homes their hopes teiT property their family
tars here; living here for 10 or 20 years. their
turn 20 their native countries for business or pleasure
were cast into prison or punished as fugitive sayes
Here under the starry banner of Freedom here in the
land Of Washington and Jefferson, no man, white or
black had the freedom Of locOmOion or the choice OF
free home The doctrine OF perpetual allegiance win
al it's hrazen defiance Of the principles OF our teyolu
ton stood unehallenged by any act OF leglsan9n or
great ordinance Of universal emancipation. The exist
ence of this universal slavery and It's effect upon our
citizens visiting Europe, had been forcing themselves
upon our attention for several years past Almost every
native and naturazed citizens, and urgent applications
for their protection and relief American law on tnis
subject quite as confused as any European law our
legislative and judicial branches were not IN harmony
with the Executive nor with oaCl other. M. meDe1,
zion of it, claim TO the allegiance of citizens Mr.
Marcy perhaps more clearly thaG any oIef acTns % Of
taries, urged the true american uocIIihe oI
She right of expatIl9ton anG MI oaSS c.rDo, Ge
be at this day doubted denied in the United States"
Tic question first introduced on the th OF March,
Cress Upon that day introduced resolution, which
passed unanimously, calling upon the President to com
ings relating the arrest imprisonment and treatment
pf American citizens in Great Britain for two years last
past Thirteen days afterwaTd She President cOmmuni-
Gated to the House etter from Secretary Seward re-
fusng TO give the correspondence on the ground that ITS
publication might be detrimental TO the public good!
This bin introduced into the House on the 2th OF
January 1863 and became law by the Presdents sigma
ture the 2Tth Of july 1903 During these SIX months OF
its perilOus passage through both Houfe 1e continued
Incarceration Of citizens kept ringing in the ears OF
Congress. All great events have their anniversaries:
Washington born and the pa OF February Is held
March becomes holiday throughout the world Ameri-
can Independence declared and the 4h Of July is
celebrated with ringing of bells and firing OF cannon,
with bonfTes and i1uminations forever The British
Avacuafe NeW-YOrk and the 25th Of November is IA
marked day the calendar. The Pilgrims land AT Ply
mouth and the 22d December sa never Oe lolgoteh
Applause -. ,..o ,,
ihese all save one. have cOmmenOTaton day IN our
calendaTl il il have one, what day sha ~ PEI Saa
the 7th of March, 1861 when the hulect was nis
fhe House calling for information concerning tle I'M
srsonment of citizensY snail IL ne the 5O uay OF
ctOber 1861 when John Warren. IN the dock IN DuDln
(brew down his gauntlet 10 the British natonf which
ert motion in great writ OF error, TO be urea Dy luer
,1atiOnal law" Shall ii he the 25d Gay or NOVenher
667 when the three martyrs at Manchester rOused ths
whole country TO demand protection ny lhef euMlhe
death. and gave to Freedom new watchwOrd, GOD
cave Ircandi" shall il be the 2th OF January, lsS
xyhen he bill with its vigorous remedy or rersas was
first repOrtcd 10 the HOusei shall II be the 2Oth OF
April 1867 when passed in all its vigor the House OF
with but four dissenting NOtes; or the
5th of July 1865 when with lie vigorous remeues some
what abated, it passed both Houses OF congress- OF te
2th of July 1865 when by the signature OF Andrew
JOhnsOn, IL became law or the 1Zth OF May, 1870 WIeh
like Magma Charta IL compelled the royal assent OF En-
glands sovereign; shan We wait Tor the coming u8y
Lord how long when IL snail Nudcate lts ex Slelce
nd prove its vitality by President Grant or bis sue
eessOr, demanding tie immC diate release OF Halpn
HicCaerty, and every other American clnZen lIDusy
sfrom bondage not four millions, Of millions
hundreds Of millions OF men, and the countless NIL
lions their descendants, forever have its memorial
day, TO be celebrated forever. lApplauseJ