The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-11-21
r1.n The Washington Union.


Ftom the Washington Union.
opINIoNs.oF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
~, d 8oies noi Irresponsible 70 Citizens Or Foreigners
Iprtae ask fai.sss II l'aS6e. o5issfsssa Psisate
CvnssrRs
i. The nations Of Europe and America,
while independent each of the other IN po-
htisal sovereignty. are yet associated To-
rether in q great commonwealth OF States,
6y the common ties Of The religion Of Christ,
,Ie intellectually Of The Greeks, and the
leeislation of the Romans, modified by the
different usages oil race appertalnlng to the
Celts, the Germans. and the siavonians.
O In their mutual intercourse these ma
tons recognize, and more or less obey, GER
tain rules OF right, partly natural and partly
conventional, which oblise their consciences
and control their action in war as well as in
peace, and which constitute the law OF ma
tions.
8. This law Of nations is subdiyided into
two great parts one which treats Of the re-
ciprocal dnties and rights of nations person
flied, and in their public relation as nations !;
and another which treats of the duties and
rights Of each ms ton in its relation TO lndl-
,idudls Of another nation.
/. Each of lie nations Of Europe and A.
mcrica has exclusive Jurisdiction within IT
self iopass laws ard 10 administer them, and
10 EMPLOY its aggregate furce 10 maintain
obedience tuits focal authority, administered
primarily for the gUod Of the members OF ITS
own nationality.
8. But each nation admits foreigners Of
ether friendly natons 10 enter It's territory
iur certain limited, peaceful. and private oo-
;ects Of commerce, instruction, social inter-
course .enizenship, or the like; and the e-
cal condition of such foreigners is regulated
by the international law private, as distin-
raishsd fran The public international law.
6. None 81 the nations Of Europe or A.
merica cnnceie 10 transient, c0mmorant, or
denizen foreigners all the advantages Of the
domestic nationality nor can such foreigners
pretend to any special or exclusive rights or
peculiar privileges at the aanIs of the local
government.
:. In its internal organization each Gov
eminent has public officers, administrative,
inIicial, or ministerial, which oticers are
the agents Of the community Tor the conduct
Of the public ar common Affairs, and OF many
uriyate affairs. and are individually resPun'
sible 10 their countrr, aud Ia many cases q
Individuals. for acts 81 political or Official
misbehayior but the Government itself Is
not responsible to private individuals for in
lures sustained BIZ reason Of the acts @! such
officers, done by them in the private business
with which they may be officially concerned
though as public agents, yet for individual
benefit only. II is responsible only for sncl
injury to individuals a. HAY occur By acts %
such officers performed IN the proper behoo
and business Of The Government.
s. Thus Governments hold themselves re
spon.ible 10 individuals for injuries done Z
the latter by public officers in the collection
Of the revenue on other administrative act
Of Governmental relation but not for tn
errors Of opinion, or corruption even Of al
ninstrstiye judicial. or ministerial officers
public authority in tie interest Of indiridl
als. az distinguished from the Government
9. Hence the State Of California is not re
.ponsibIe 10 citizen Of the Uaited State
for injury which his vessel may have sustain
ed by the unskifulness Of pilot at Sai
Francisco and, forfiOri, that State Is no
responsible III such case II the vessel belong
ed TO citizen Of the Peruvian Republic.
10. Hence, also, the United States are uo'
responsible to citizen uf the United State
for the failure Of marshal 70 collect an ex
ecution; and. to-fiOri, the tinted State
are not responsible in suca case i the exc
cution belonged to citizen Of the perusiaI
Republic.
Ii. In such case pGr courts Of Law ar
open 10 tie individual who pretends himsel
ssgrieved by the &C; Of the pilot or that o
tie marshal: but the Government i no
saretv Tor their act. and the Peruvian Re
public ha. no right Of reclamation ID Dc pre-
misses against the Uaiied States Tor any i'm
pgted default, either of It's own officer o
The officer Of the state a California.