Speech #470056708

I hold. sir. that thisold Magna Charta of John and its ratification and extension to Ireland by Henry nd his successors are our guarantee for the protection of our citizens traveling oreusgaged in business there. and that whatever outrages they may inflict and the civilized world may permit them to inflict upon their own subjects. they cannot suspend that Magna Charta in time of peace so far as our citizens are concerned. In that instrument fbreigis nations have the guarantee that for all time their citizens shall have safety and security in coming into and going out of British possessions. in staying and traveling through those possessions-" staying." mark you. no authority to impose conditions never to return excepting in time of war. and even if we were at war with England our citizens are secured in residing there with treatment similar to what we extend to her subjects. These rights aresecured to our naturalized citizens by the fourteenth article of the amendment of the Constitution. which provides as follows: All persons born or naturalized in the United States. and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. That article was under consideration in Congress at the time the law of July 27. 1868. was under consideration. and its ratification was announced the day after that law was signed. That law was carefully considered. to prevent just such outrages as Grettt Britain nhas been perpetrating upon our citizens for the last twelve or fifteen mouths.