New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-16
Naturalization -Rxpatriatfon.
ndence of The Tribune.


WASHINGTON, Wednesday. Feb IA.
The following resolution was submitted 10 the
House to-day by Mr. GREELEY, during the time OF
sw aiins the appearance of the Senate to unite in
counting the votes for President and Vice-Presi-
dent and declaring the result Of the Election
R,solved That the Committee on the Judiciary be in
structed 10 inquire whether there be anything in
Laws or authoritative Judicial decisions which counte
nssces the British doctrine OF Once subject always
subject and 10 report Whist action OF Congress II suy
be necessary 10 conform the lave and decisions sfore
said consistently and thoroughly 10 the American doe
true sif ming the right of every man to migrate fros
his native land to some other, and 10 becoming cit
of the latter 10 renounce all allegiance and respon-
sbility 10 the former.
late official orrcspondence OF our Secretary
Of State and Minister al London with the British
Secretary for Foreign Affairs shows a wide ,hler-
eDce between the American and the British official
apprehension OF the right OF Voluntary Expatria
tion, which is unequivocally asserted by the one
and clearly denied by the other. Mr.. Richard
Franks Ryan, a citizen OF the United States
though born under British rule in Ireland, was
imprisoned on suspicion Of treason during re
cent visit to his native land, and, on our Govern
ment demanding his release the British Minister
replied that he was regarded as British subject.
Here are claims directly conflicting, which threat
en- serious collision at no distant day. This same
conflict was one main cause OF our Last War with
Great Britain. she claiming right to impress
scamen born ON her soil from on board American
vessels, which our Government never assent
70 without surrendering its proper independence.
The same conflict OF pretensions came near lead
ing to reciprocal slaughter Of prisoners in the
Iess w az and We he6eVa In that of the Ravnin.
tion also IL is fruitful source of irritation and
peril, and oSsht in some way TO be adjusted before
II shall result in contest from which neither party
can recede with honor
When the above resolution was offered and its
consideration objected to. some one exclaimed
that It was an attempt TO modify international
Law by act OF Congress. No correction or reply
could there be made, but the statement was en-
tirely erroneous. All that is desired is the con.
formity of our own practice entirely to our own
doctrine, so that our Executive while maintaining
the American doctrine in a controversy with some
Foreign power, shall not be liable TO be confronted
and sonfounded by an adverse decision of our own
Supreme Court on the precise question in dispute.
We DO not assert that there is now danger OF this,
but we believe there IL and it is maniiestly de
sirable that, If the doctrine uniformly maintained
by our Executive is TO be adhered to hereafter no
coordinate branch OF the Government shall be
found holding in point. blank opposition thereto.
The resolutions being objected to las were all
others indiscrminatelyl could not be received,
and the House devoted the interval to doing
nothing-sn employment for which il possesses
extraordinary capacities.