Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21
AMrRInAN cIrlzENsnIp.
Lecture by tho Rev. ". h. $. Murray.
D., at the Goldey Wilmington COMM

D., at the Goldey Wilmington CONNER
cial College.
Thursday afternoon Rev. w. i. s. Mnr.
raw, ID. D., OF Dover delivered lecture
before the students Of the Goldey viii
mington Commercial College, on The
Rights and Duties of An American Citi-
GEN. He said:
The American citizen finds himself n
member OF society. which guarantees unto
him rights and imposes upon him duties,
IAN old English picture represents q
king with the motto beneath, Il govern
all, bishop with this sentence, pray
for all, soldier with the inscription, i
fight for all, and farmer, who relllc-
family draws forth purse and e&clalhSi
| with rueful cuuntenance, i pay for all.
The American citizen combines III him
| self the functions oil these four. de IS
king, prophet warrior and laborcr, lie
governs, prays, fights and pays the eH-
| pense. This old picture teaches us by
contrast the advantages of civil liberty,
| Nordhoif, in his Politics for Young
| Americans, y states that the American citi-
1 zen has nine rights and seven duties,
| In relation to rights, ii you are an Ameri-
can citizen you are
|. A tree man; and no man has right
| to enslaye your person, except for CRIME,
upon which you must first be convicted.
| .. IOn have u right to believe what you
| ,
| express your opinions on all subjects
freely, TO print what you please, to assem-.
Bile with whom you please for lawful and
| proper objects.
3 You have right to be arrested only
for cause mentioned in proper warrant,
served by an authorized officer of the law,
| who must show you his authority.
4. You have u right to be released on
bail, unless charged with a capital crime.
.. You have q right to a speedy trial by
| Jury, to be confronted witch the witnesses
against you, to engage u competent person
for your defence and to know at once and
definitely before your arrest, what you
are charged with.
&. You have right TO appeal to the
proper court for projection TO your person
and property; and if the constr. nted
authorities fail to protect, you have right
TO damages for their neglect.
Z. You have a right to be secure in your
house against searches by officers of the
law, except on proper warrant, which must
first be shown you and for sufficient cause.
s. You have a right to keep and bear
arms ii not concealed upon your person.
.. You hayea right to sue for damages
any officer of the law who arrests Or tries
you iii an unlawful manner.
These are the rights for which American
citizens have fought and died. Rights
which are held dearer than lie. Rights
which if there were an attempt either TO
abridge or destroy thousands would rise
up and pledge their lives aud their for
tunes To defend. Such rights could not be
guaranteed to the American citizen with
out corresponding duties and responsibili-
ties The duties named by NordhoH are Us
follows:
l. 1t is your duty to obey the laws, even
if they are III your belief unjust or unwtse
1t is your right to expose the folly or i'll
/ f1f "a la n
to try to get majority to repeal IL. But
while it remains . law, you are TO obey it
=. 1t is your duty, il you are OF age anC
a man, to vote at all elections, and to in
form yourself beforehand what measure.
and men you ought, as good citizen, t
, support
, 3. 1t is your duty to insist upon the
prompt execution Of the laws; to be ready
even at much personal Inconvenience L
aid in their enforcement, il you are callGC
upon by proper officers; and to resent witt
j Indignation every sign Of lawlessness ant
5 violence, and require its vigorous suppress
sion.
A. 1t is your duty if you are voter, I,
serve when called on, as u grand or peti
J juror, and this at even great inconvenieuc
o. II is your duty, If you are man, Il
serve In the milita,i if the law commands it
8. IL is your duty to act generally witt
some political party and to exert your in
| Huence upon its leaders to Induce tn
nomination OF capable and honest mel
for office And it is your duty, if you
] party dominates bad man, to vote agains
c him for the public good.
1 Z. 1t is your duty TO watch the c0nduc
a of public officers, to see that they perform
their duties and observe their constitu
! tional limitations, and if they do not 1t
your duty to help to expose them and a
: the elections to punish them.
Such rights and duties as named abov
e teach that the American citizen is under
b government divided into three depar
ments, viz: the Legislative the executiv,
a the judicial. The Congress and state lei
islatures enact the laws, the President
chief executive of the United States, III
/ governor of the States and the mayor G
n the cities. There is also Chief Justice q
e the United States and of the state courI
Q as we'll. As the legislator, the eXecutiy
Q and the judge must be chosen from anon
v the citizens it becomes of the highest in
!. portance that the citizens shall seek the be-
"a possible qualification for the greatest prt
y motion and the best service.
> ---------ss->-