Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-08
ADOPTED CITIzENs-IEFUGEES

II Is plain enough that most American states
r,c, oi NIL par,ics are prepared Ia maintain the
doctrine tina, an im,nigran, from Europe cannot
throw OF his allegiance dis liabilities 10 his
~cxi,;inn Governmcnt)-that he Is an abscon-
/ der from his duty to his sovcrcign--ihat he
NAV take shelter here ~ any other criminal
mav--but that L his injured sovereign can sc;
hold of him he is no; to look 10 the United
/ States for protection agains. the consequences
Of his dclinquencics.
Yet there is an oath eyac;cd from him, re-
nouncing allegiance to his nome government.
| What does this oath mean: An American
| doctrine has generally been held to affirm the
.righ, Of cxpatriation.' What does this right
mean?
Before going further it is proper to say that
; the name Of Mr.. Mitchell has been, by some OF
the papers, most absurd!y introduced IN TINS
controversy. His case stands by itself: ne Is
branded by actual conviction by what the Eng
lish call q juIy for (what the English CALI
crane. and 4 subsisting sentence, Which Is pre-
tended to be legal. That Individual can not
cypect american citizenship TO shield him II
he should return within the power oil MS enc
mics: and if he should be malignant and in
sane enough to Go so i'll order to raise Such an
issue, he would be abandoned, OF course, ana
all men would say he deserved 1t =,
So much to show that we have no personal
interest in dwelling upon tins question:
Now the letters of Mr.. CaSS and Mr.. .ush'
Ing, and the arguments OF the newspapers 10
sustain them, all assume that a ltac'a'y 10
military service, arising from the bona OF
allegiance, stands OH the same footing Win
LIABILITY to the penalty OF crime Mr. lass says
that immigrants vino have come u 'his country
from lands whose governments claim Military
service, before peJorml"g M"t '%sr'Ic'' must
not expect tina; American naturalization VIII
free them from the claim; and Mr.. Gushing dc.
clarcs that this government will protect an I'M
migrant .'wi;h no present liabilities, military
or other, existing again>; him at the time ci
mis- emigration .
We'll. what are the existing liabilities Of a
prussian subject (ior eyamplc)-and what are
the military services required Of him? Why
here they are
an men, able to bear arms, from twenty to
Twenty-Five wears Of age, are Aab!e 10 serve IN
The staading aypay for three years, and then dis
CHARGED for two years, during which two years
they nrc lq5!e to be called out as the reserve.
The same iucn, from twenty-siX years Of age
70 thir,y.two, both inclusive, belong TO the
Liadrfir Tor militia Of the iirst ban, and are
! liable to he called to serve in that force; and in
the meantime every man in II is tabIe TO be
called out for drill, u certain number Of days
each year. The same men, from thirty-Six 10
th;rty-n;nc, belong 10 the second ban O. htnd-
rehr. and are iiGjic 10 be called out III time of
war. All older men. still fit for service, be-
lone 10 the Inlstarm and arc nt!b" 10 be call
cd on in case of need.
These arc the existing liabilities Of every
prussian man; and these liabilities are founded
on his allegiance, and nothing clsc-that Is,
founded OH the fact that he WAS born on prus-
sian ground.
And the American doctrine Of repatriation
ahirms that lie can throw oil that allegiance
nav. REQUIRES him 10 throw it oil and to assume
another allegiance OH his oath; and on taking
the oath Of fidelity to the Constitution as
an American citizen, he is Tor has heretofore
been Supposed 10 undertake the duty OF lie
/ Tending this country. and not PRUSSIA.
But Mr.. Ca,s and Mr.. Gushing now declare
that until after 4 Prussian has performed nj
the military duty for which he is lutte
namely, until he is decrcpid and para!ytic, he
is still a subject OF the King Of Prussia, end |
!; the King Of Prussia catches him, still liable I,
he marched to the battle-ground IN hand
. cuir>-,o fight for PRUSSIA, against the tnitet
! States, il need be; that while hc stays here II
Z shelter, lie will bc-nct protected as a ciNzeh
4 bat screened as u refugee.
I But II he comes here n bcd.Iiddcn old man
/ with cru,chcS. i!c ,nay become 4 l,il! citizen.
Let the youn; Prl,sian who withdraws him
y SELF from the d>spoiism of the Brandenhurs,
that he may dwell in The Land Of the Brave
. aud the iloinc OF the Frcc-MId who wishes tc
! fight, ii he fights al MI, undry the starry ban
, ner of a Republic, not under the eagles Of :
; dcspot--let HIM understand (>cc CaSs ant
, Cushing) that wien u Bible is put into hi,
hand, to swear thercupon, he is expected Il
l call God to witness that which is rot. .tn(
. let him understand that the perjury will prof
. him nothing; for this Land Of the Brave vii
not lift voice or finger TO save him iroin th'
Kin. Of Prussia'S cri~mp-sergeant.
But if the crimp-sergeant comes hert io
) him, in that case he will be protected. Yes
= the Americans will protect their W soil ba
not hjm, They would give the same protec
. ton to any pick-pocket.
In al! this, we have spoken only OF Prussia
e Inc same thing applies to Austria. France
Switzerland, Sardinia and the German States
! As to the existing liabilities" Of Englishmer
ana lriShmen. We Shall trca, Of those in another
chapter.
d And, candidly, the American Government
n could not do more or other than this. .Ameri
n can citizens are even now serving by compul
sion in European armies. Is America to go t
V war with oil Europe: Has America q sufi
G GENTLY vital interest in the subject to justif,
!. her in bringing down upon her shore the host
and nayies Of all banded mankind? No; by NJ