The Express.
London, England, 1859-06-30 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

The following important letter had been sent to
A. V. Hofer, of Cincinnati, by Secretary Casa:
Department of State, Washington, June 14, 1659.
S4,—ln answer to your letter of the Bth Met, I have to
inform you that the hid letter from this department to which
you refer, dated the 17th May last, and admired to Mr.
Felix Leclerc, wee in reply to an application for information,
and was principally intended to recommend caution to our
naturalised fellow-citizens, natives of Fresco, in returning to
that country, as the operations of the French COW
acription Law were not precisely known here, and
might bear injuriously upon that class of American
citizens. Moat of the continental European nations
have a system of military organisation by which
their citizens are compelled to serve in the army by conscrip-
tion, as in France, where the duty is designated by lot, or by
draft, so in Pr,misia, where every person is required to take
his turn se a soldier. The condition of American saturalieed
citizens, returning to their native country, when the system
of compulsory service prevails, and who had left before per-
forming such service, has frequently been the subject of dig.
cumion wilt some of the European powers. Quite recently
It has arisen between the United State. and Pillage, nnl the
temmeotative of this country at the court of Berlin has
brought the matter to the attention of the Prussian govern-
inset. In the Instructions which were sent to him, dated
May 12, 1859, it wee explicitly stated that this government
Is opposed to the doctrine of perpetual allegiance, and main-
tains the right of expatriation, and the right to form now
political ties elsewhere. Upon this subject it is observed, that
In this age of the world the iche of cohtrAing the citivn in
the choice of a home, end binding aim by a mere political
theory to inhabit for his lifetime a country which he con-
atantiy desires to leave, can hardly be entertainel by any
government whatever.
The maiden of the United States, as communicited to
the minister at Berlin for the intormation of the
Premien government, is, that native born Prussia=
neenrelised is the United States, and returning to the
country of their birth, are not liable to any duties or
psealtise, except such se were existing at the period
ot their emigration. If at that time they were In the army or
actually called into it, such emigration and naturalisation do
not exempt them from the legal penalty which they Incurred
by their desertion; but this pretty may be named against
them whenever they shall :voluntarily piece themselves
within the load jurisdiction of their nation, end shall be pro-
mead egainstaocordieg to law. But when no present liabi-
lities' exist against them at the period of their emigration,
the law of netions, in the opinion of this governmt lir, gives
no tight to any country to interfere with naturalised
American citizens, and the attempt to do so would
be I considered en act unjust in itself and unfriendly
towards the United States. This que>tion catirot of cross
arise in the case of a naturalised damn who remains in the
United States. It is only when he voluntarily returns to
dandier, country that its local laws can be enforced against
him.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant, Lewis CAW
The Board of Education in New York, by a vote
of 26 to 16, had passed a by-law to compel the
reading of the Bible in all the public schools.