Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-03-04
ALEXANDRIA:
WEDN'ESD.aI. .M.4PCH q. 1873.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASH
INGTON.
Tupsday. March S, 1919.

unOer the COisiueta5ou VI '"S
with little, il any. more effect than on
the preceding days. The looping OH oil
the first section seemed to be no obJsc-
ton to the efforts Of its advocates to give
il life with all its functions and called
to nv mind the blind but sturdy efforts oil
a large DIue-bottle fly to push t6ruara
and keep moring, after it had been ue-
priyed of its head by some cruel nnlucky
boy: it moves and rushes forward some
where-but where that somewhere Is, II
knows not. The expedlent OF fastening
Oh the head again could not be put ID
practice, because the head itself was de-
stroyed; and therefore recourse was had
to substitute, to the following ehect'
which was offered BY Mr.. Johnson ot Va
That whereas sunday persons, who
had been citizens Of the United States
Of America. and who had exercised the
right of dissolving the connexion which
hound them to the United States in the
character Of citizens, by voluntarily ami
regularly becoming citizens or subjects
Of other governments, have been hello
bound to answer in the character OF Gil
zeps, in the courts Of the United States,
for offences alleged 10 have been commit
ted subsequently to the exercise OF this
RIGHT and tor which citizens only would
be amenable in the said courts /: And
whereas in the Declaration o. lndePen.
dence of the Thirteen United Sts'es oil
America, the following truths are held TO
be s.lf.evident-Tbar all men are crea-
ted equal that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unaliena6le
rights that among these are Lille, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness-Iherefore
be it enac'ed, and it is hereby expressly
enacted and declared, that all men do
possess the right to seek their happiness
in any climate and under any form OF 60
vernn emf they may elect and that, con-
seauently, the right to dissolve the con-
nexion which binds the Individual to the
government of the United States, in the
character of citizen, and to form a SINH
lar cennexion with any other govern,
ment, is equally unaienable, and founded
on truth equally self-evident."
A smart debate succeeded to this pro,
position, occasioned by motion of Mr..
Colstop to. noslpQne the subject indaf.
with II, Several members opposed the
houses lesislating at all upon the sub
ject; but Mr.. Lowndes, particularly, ar
gued the matter with great pcrspicuity
and irresistible force OF reasoning. Mr..
Coston's proposition, however, was ne
| gatived, and Mr.. Johrson's substitute
was dismissed after it.
Still, however, the champions of expa-
triation boldly kept the field, and Mr..
Robertson moved another substitute to
thu effect, that d" in case of any citizen
of the United States who had exercised
the right Of expatriation being prosecuted
for having engaged in the military or ma
val service of any foreign state or govern
ment against any other, when without
the jurisdiction OF the United States, he
may give such fact OF expatriation in evi.
dence, upon the general issue, and if he
shall b. uble to prove such fact to the sa-
tisfactlon of the jury, shall be discharged
from prosecution"
Let il BE- remembered that when this
subject was first started by Mr.. Robert
sC?, he stated that his object in bringing
it before the house was to expunge from
the judicial records of The country, and
FOR ever erase the principle laid down
some years ago by chief justice Els.
worth, 10 a memorable trial that took
place in Connecticut, in which that great
man declared that no citizen could be |
absolyed from his allegiance by his own
will. The substitute now offered BY Mr.. |
Robertson, il carried, would 60 to COM
pletely accomplish that object, Whe-
Their j. ever will We carried or not, Is yet
to be seen; for, on motion Of Mr.. Trim
Die, the proposed substitute was ordered
to lie on the table, and is to be printed
in order to afford the house time and
means for due consideration OF it.
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