The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-08-01

GThe following is the memorial to which
we alluded to yesterday incur article headed
Protection of German Citizens abroad"
| (iRASsLATIos)
President Franklin Piercc,s Inalig IA
ral, 4th March 1883.
The rights which belong to US as a nation
are not alone to be regarded; but those which
pertain to every citizen i'm his individual ca
Pacity, at home and abroad, must be sacredly
maintained.
TO FRANKLIN PIERCE.
PRESIDENT OF THE u. STATES OF AMERICA.
Conrad Schmidt, a naturalized citizen and
resident of the U. S. since 1899, visits his ma.
tive village in the kingdom of Hanover, in
January 1853, in order to marry woman to
whom he was bethrothed, nd then to return
to his adopted country. He experiences
difficulty in obtaining necessary license and
proceeds to Bremen where the marriage is
solemnzed by the American Consn,. The
authorities of Hanover finding that this man
has not dune military service before emiera-
ting, he being under age, makes formal re-
QUESTION OH the government of the Republic
of Bremen, aud he is accordingly imprisoned
as is usual OH the requistion of state be-
longing to the German Bund'
Mr.. King, the American Consul, protests
and claims his release; this fact is reported
to the government of Hanover, which how
ever, declines to set the man at liberty, but
claims bail in the sum OF 500 Rix Dollars,
"cash down." or the surrender of Schmidt
by the police of Bremen TO the local authoi-
ties of "Liesum," in Hanover.
Mr.. King reports to Mr.. Bernare at Berlin,
who claims of the government of Bremen the
release of Schmidt, on the ground prince
paiiy, that the question is one exclusively be-
tween the United States aud Hanover, in
which Bremen, as u third party has no BUSH
ness to interfere.
The Republic Of Bremen, DESTROYS to avoid
any and all differences with the u. States, it
appears, takes the responsibility of releasing
Schmidt, and he is enabled to return to this
cosntry without releasing himself by the
payment of 500 Dollars from the pretended
claim to his military services, by a sovereign
in whose dominions he happened 10 be born,
but which, in the exercise of his natural
rights, he chooses to abandon and become a
citizen Of the U. States.
Although the matter, as far as Schmid: is
concerned, appears TO be dropped for the pre-
sent, there is reason to believe that the gov
eminent of Hanover is much dissa;isfi ed
with the course of conduct observed by Bre-
men, and will renew the sovereign's claim on
any future occasion. That this determine
ton was M, formed and this decided course
pursued by Hanover in the case of Schmidt,
without an understanding between the Ger
man Sovereigns belonging to the German
Bund," it is but reasonable to suppose, and
if then it is their intention to make good their
claims when i'm their power, the Interests of
large number of citizens Of the United
States must be seriousl y endangered, and the
dignity of the u. States impaired in the esti-
alton of the world.
Mr.. Bernard in his argument addressed 10
the Republic of Bremen, does not take the
stand which would cover the whole ground
for the future; although successful in obtain
ing the release of Schmidt, this protection
was not extended to an American citizen on
the only ground OIL which ne can value it,
viz, 'once an American citizen he owes no
allegiance to any foreign power, and none
has any political claims on him."
If Schmidt had paid down the 500 Dollars
he could forfeit bail and depart; or by avoiding
observation might possibly escape reco,n-
ton during his visit. But is it consistent
with the dignity of the United States, and the
past history of the Union, that citize whose
only offence is that he chooses to become cit
lzen according to law, should be obliged to
hide himself, when abroad, like criminal, or
pay tribute to foreign powers in the shape
Of ransom.
When at no far distant period the German
Bund, was dissolved, OF which Hanover is a
when democratic Institutions pre-.
vailed in all thirty-four dominions OF Germany
We heard nothing of these claims of sover-
eigns; but when despotic power has again
returned to the rulers of Germany by their !
breach of faith, these claims on the fealty of
persons born in their dominions are to be en- a
orced. The object is evdent-it is to pre- q =
vent as much as may be n the power OF des- il
,otsm, the spread of the political faith of e
America among the people OF Germany. -
Is not this a subject of grave consideration
and prompt action! Respectfully submitted, :,
GUSTAV w. LUR IAN.
Baltimore, June 20, 1853. p