New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-08

owe and pay allegiance. That the Ameri-
can, who wishes to become a member of
an Indian Tube, as in the case of Sam
Houston, or a subject of Emperor Nicho-
La, SOulouque, Francis Joseph, the King
Of Dabomey, the Queen of England, or the
Monarch of the Mosquito Coast, has a
perfect right so to do; and by giving up
all claim to protection from the United
States Government, frees himself from all
obligation and legiance to it. What is
true of American citizens we claim also to
be true Of men born in other countries, let
their custom, ard laws be what they may.
We 90 behind all customs and laws in this
case, and say that the only allegiance
which man cannot cast OIL at will,when he
chooses to leave his birthplace, is his allie
glance to his Creator, and the only law
which he carnot cast oil is the higher law
of the Almighty. The European doctrine
is the reverse of this. Kings are born
Del GrGtid to rule-subjects are born Del
mQld Grdtid to be ruled The subject
owes allegiance and obedience to that Gov
eminent Under which he comes into exist
ence, and 10 change in his circumstances,
no change in his relations or conditions can
change this allegiance or relieve him from
it's obligations. A Holy Alliance may
change bis master, but he can have no
power nor lights in the premises.
1t is generally supposed that Great
Britain has abandoned this doctrine. But
has she! We can find no abandonment
OF it in the treaty of peace Of 1614--nor
DO we think that this point was fully
raised at that time the question then be-
ing whether our flag on the high seas shall
protect all who sail beneath it. Thanks to
the present Secretary of State that question
is now settled. AS to other European
powers, the only case in which we knowof
any concession being made to the American
doctrine is found in clause of that instru-
ment, loosely called Constitution, which
the King of Prussia went through the
farce of solemn y swearing to on the 9TH of
February, 1850, and which runs to this eff
feet THAT the right of emigration shall
be unrestricted save in the matter of Mill
tary service"
Here then is point at which the laws OF
the United States and those of the German
States clash; we say to all the world,
"come over hither, live as good citizens
a certain length of time, forswear all allie
glance to any foreign principality or pow
er, take the oath to obey and honor tho
Constitution of the American Republic, .and
you shall enjoy all immunities, rights and
privileges of American citizens. Our
flag shall protect you in your goings out
and comings in, the wings of the eagle shall
be spread over you, and beneath them you
shall find your defense to the ends of the
earth"
There is now scarcely spot within the
wide spread limits of our Republic where
may not be found young men, who have
accepted this invitation, coming over with
their property, their talents, and their in
dustry. In the lapse of time they have
taken the required Oaths and acquired the
rights of citizenship.
Multitudes of these left home before they
had reached the age at which men are re-
quired to join the army-others have has
tened hither to avoid tie ungrateful service,
and some have fled from the tyranny of
the camp and sought freedom with US.
But none of them can venture to place
their feet upon their native soil; parents
may die, property may be left them,
business may call them thither, but
they step upon German ground at their
peril. An American passport, is but
blank paper. The Prussian demands the
pound of hesh-the three years service
the Hanoverian demands the fatal trial of |
the lot; and he who draws it is chained
for seven years. As with the greater pow
ers, so with each little duke or prince,
whose possessions hardly vie with good
sized kentucky plantation.
Let the universal European war break
out, which all are so anxiously awaiting
let those clouds which darken the hori-
zon once burst, and all Europe will be
filled with procla atoms commanding
every subject to return to the assistance
of King and Fatherland, and branding as
traitors worthy to die all such as have hith-