The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-12
imprisonment of American Citizens In Ire
land. Once a Subject, always Subject ~

adequate authority.
imprisonment of American Citizens In Ire
Iand-.s Once a Subject, always n Subject"
We published in Fndays paper, communi-
cation from Mr.. James Bergen, of this city, who
was arrested by the British government some time
since, and confined in Newgate prison, IN Dublin,
on the suppositlon that he was American SYM
pathiser, and had visited Ireland for the purpose Of
assisting in overthrowing the union between that
country and England. There was no proof that
Mr.. Bergen had done anything against the law;
he was arrested and detained on suspicion only,
based on information communication this side
of the Atlantic, and now lies IN Newgate, with
couple of armed soldiers to guard him. Mr. Bergen
ls we believe, native citizen of this country but
native or naturalzed, il makes difference to the
British government for it acts towards both as If
II could do so with ImpunIty.
Ii will be recollected that one of the questions
at issue between the United States and Great
Britain, in the war of 1872, was that of "oRce
subject, always subject This principle was
commended for by England; and in pursuance
what she was pleased to term right she boarded
American ships, and took from them American
citizens Of British nativity, and impressed them
into her naval service to fight her battles The
night Of searching our ships with this view, was
the main cause of that war; and strange to say
peace was concluded between the two countries
without settling it one way or the other.
BY intelligence from the other eide of the water
We learn that England has again attempted to exer-
else this "Iight," and it remains to be seen whe-
,her the United States government will allow 1t to
be done with impunity. 1t appears that an American
citizen went to Ireland lately, on private and pro.
fessonal business; but the British authorities, sup
posing him TO be sympathiser, arrested and I'M
prisoned him under the ct suspending the habeas
corpus, in Newgale, where he has remained for
upwards of three months 1t was not pretended
that he was guilty of any act showing desire
to +" subvet our glorious constitution nor Of
composing or imagining the death of our below
ed sovereign" although his baggage was minute
ly examined by the creatures of the government
10 find evidence that would fix such an intention
on him. Rightly onceiving that under the cir
cumstances his ARE was uncalled for, unneces
sary and despotic, and that his rights as an Anne
rican citizen were infringed upon, he laid his
case before the American Consul in Dublin and
also before the American Minister In London;
but notwithstanding his passport, certifying 10 his
being an American citizen, and guaranteeing to
him safe conduct wherever he went, all the salts
ia ction which could be obtained was, that he was
arrested for being engaged IN reasonable practices
under the llh and 18th Victoria, cap 81; that his
excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland enter
tanned doubt of his guilt and, as If to add in.
suit to injury, the an proceeded to say tina,
it sh 10 the satisfaction of the same Lord
Lieutenant that the party ARE sted is a subject of
her Majesty.
Here, then, we have the broad fact before us,
that two American citizens have been Illegally
arrested that their passports, signed by the United
States authorities, have been disregarded by set
OF insolent British officials and more than ALL tina
the principle which mainly led to the war OF 1872
Of 'once subject always a subject" is now again
commended for by England. We think the govern
ment OF the United States owes il to its own Dig
nifty and that Of our common country, to take |
prompt and decisive steps to make peremptory
demand on the British government for the release
OF the American captlves, Mr. Bergen and Mr.
Ryan, who have thus been illegally arrested, and
TO demand and obtain, at any cost reparat,op and
apology for this daring insult. When we were |
much more feeble nation than we are now. we |
declared war against that insoent and overbearlng
nation for acts of precisely the same nature;
and il we TO submit TO this insult now.
when are the most powerful nation in existence
when England is actually depending on us for he-
national existence from day to day-what will the
nations Of Europe think Of US We owe it,
too. to the thousands and tens of thousands Of
naiuralized citizens IN our county, 10 take I'm.
mediate measures TO establish the principe that
will protect their liberty and lives in foreign
parts; that IN return for their allegiance TO
the United States, which they have sworn in a
solemn manner, the United States Will not tole
late with IMMUNITY, any infringement OF their
rights as American citizens by any nation In exis-
tence. There is no use in debating this question
anyIonger Our naturalized citizens have ever
shown their willingness to sacrifice their lives IN
defence Of the United States They fought side
by sde IN the recent war, in every grade Of rank,
and the blood Of naturalized citizens mixed freely
with that Of natives achieving the glorious vic
tories Il Scott and Taylor. Their bones, as well
as those al natives, are now bleaching on ihe
fields Of Mexico and does not the United States