The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-07-29
Letter from Judge lara bee.
UoRTcox, JULY 18th, 1889.

I | shall he able TO SATISFY INC PERSONS Oh le-
fer to, that they mistake the position Of
Gen Cass in lis recently published letters.
II Is not matter Of surprise that the
Republican and Know Nothing organs Of
the Country should misJepreseut the doc
.yines Of the democratic party, but Il IS
little singular that some democrats should
be mi>led by such efforts Ihe truth as,
that Gen. Cass, IN lis lcttc. to Mr.. Ito
fer, has q1ne further IN his pjeag Of tie da
IA Of arr Gore, nntent to1cqTi5 Hatardlazed
cit;zei,s. than any 1mcricqu !Stotes"on has
Lot0re. He asserts in that letter, what has
not hitherto been claimed, that only when
foreign born person is ''actuotIy IN tie
arnv, Or cotied into It al the time Of has
eUziqration" is there such an ''cXisting duty
or PENALTY" as would render him liable to
military service in case lie should 9clnn-
tarily return, and thus be placed beyond
the protection Of this government.
Neither Webster or Everett. nor any
Secretary of State under any administra
ton has stated tie rights of naturallzed
citizens 50 broadly and literally, before =
Heretofore it has been conceded that the
law Of Prussia, for instance, which re-
quires every male person between the
ages Of S and 40, TO serve III the army
(thus theoretically making soldiers Of the
entire male population was an existing
duty or penalty that could be enforced
notwithstanding naturalization in this
country. Webster and Everett both con-
ceded this But Gen. Cass denies it; and
in DENYING it asserts for the first time as
an officer of the Government, the coming
American doctrine-a doctrine W ich must
commend itself to foreign born citizens,
and be respected by foreign governments.
The doctrine Cf the IlOfer letter is in
disputabIy this: The American govern
ment asserts, and will maintain, the nat
ural right Of expatriation for all men Of all
nations. 1t will receive with open arms
/ all who desire to become citizens and will
conform to the laws upon the subject Of
naturalization. 1t will never assent to the
doctrine that any government may, by Il
sweeping law, make nom nal soldiers Of
all its subjects, and then raise an obliga-
ton which subsists during the prime OF
life, though it may be practically enforced.
Such a reGuisition ettectualy defeats the
iISiiL VI tA pau idII'i.
If we assent TO such doctrine, all tho
European Governments that desire to en-
force the doctrine of perpetual allegiance
rs against our claim of The right of eNla
triation, will pass laws making all their
subjects soldiers, from the age often years
to one hundred. We can recognize nc
such law; for if we did, onl Y infants and
centenarans could become American Gill.
zen<, entitled to the same protection As
the native born. No. Gen. Cass is right
He enunciates sound progressive demo
cratic doctrines. only such persons as
,ccre actually in tie army, or caiicd into 1,
at the time Of Heir emigration, by being
designatedt FIR tie purpose IN each indipM
"at case, and not by gcnerol Tar, are to be
regarded in tie light Of deserteyS, and
hence liable to capture and punishment,
or forced military service should they be
foolish enough to return to their native
land, and even such persons, Gin the alb
sence of treaty stipulation to the contra
ry) will bc protected from the claims OF
''all the res; of mankind" rs long as they
remain upon American soil, or under the
American flag il any country other tbau
that of their birth. Can foreign born eli
r zens ask more Of the American govern
; ment than this: DO YOU wish The United
States to set mp tic claim, and enforce ii
with the sword, that deSerters from actual
military seryice-trom con@cri Iion-ahall
be received and protected, not only here
, but everywhere, even within roll call il
their native village! such a claim is ab.
surd. 1t will answer for community Oh
brigands bat not for an American Rel ub
lie.
Tie actual existing Obligations Of all
citizens and subjects to their native land
should be recognized and enforced by all
civilized governments. Hence we Shall
: never 90 to war on account ofany desert
er from 4 foreign army, who may choose
to avail himself 81 the forms Of our natur-
aIna'ion laws for the purpose Of shaking
of lis known obligations. If lie even
, takes the oath of allegiance to the FEEDER
al Constitution, and With absolute sinceri-
ty rrnounces Ill tealty to his king and
country, and then knowing himselfto be Il
descrter, voluntarily return to lis native
I country, he must suffer tie consequences
/, of his folly.
The letter Of Gen Cass to Mr. Felix lie
Clerc, has, in my judgment, been shame
fully misrepre>erIted in some quarters, and
misunderstood in others. Here is the let
ter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASnINcroN, Nay IT, 1859.
SIE-lour letter Of the 18th inst, has