The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-06-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
Citizens Natua allied.

SSVA10W0 N0tu1 008o0s
The following letter is communicated &c
A.. V. Hefer,. of Cincinnati, by Secretary
Cass: ~.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE;
WAsHlsGroS, June ID, 1859
2 Sn:-In answer to your letter of til,
9Th inst have to Inform you that tn,
brief letter from this Department to which
You refer, dated the 18th Of May last, ant
addressed to Mr.. Felix LeClere, was in re-
ply 10 an application for information, and
was, principally intended to recommend
caution to our naturalized fellow citizens,
natives Of Francs, in returning to that
country, IS the operations Of the French
transcription law were not precisely known
here, and might bear injuriously uSon tina,
class of American citizens. Most of the
Continental European nations have a sys.
tenn OF military organization by which their
citizens are compelled to serve in the army
By prescription, as in France, where the
duty is designated by lot, or draft, as in
Prussia, where every person is required to
take his turn as soldier.
The condition of American naturalizcd
citizens returning to their. native country
where the system Of compulsory service
prevails, and who have left before perform
ing such seryice, has. frequently ,.baen the
subject OF discussion with some of the
European powers. Quite recently il has
arisen between the United States and Prus-
s.a, and the representative of this country
at the Court of Berlin has brought the
matter to the attention of the Prussian
&ovsGnment. In thu instrNctousA Whirh
were sent to him dated May IL, 1850. It
IN pSplifitly, atstsdct Affts .bis perpeuuru.|
legiAnce, and maintains the right Of expat.
ritation and the right to form new political
ties elsewhere. Upon this subject It is OBJ
served, that in this age of the world the
idea Of controlling . citizen to the choice of
home and binding him by mere politi-
cal theory to inhxbit for his lifetime coun-
Try which he constantly desires to leave,
can hardly be entertained by any govern
ment whatever.
The position of the United States, Is
communicated to the Minister at Berlin for
the information Of the Prussian govern
ment, is that native born Prussians natura-
lied In the United States and returning
TO the country of their birth, are not liable
70 any duties or penalties, except such as
Were existing at the period of their emigra-
ton. If At that time they weTei IN the army
or actually called into it, such emigration
and naturalization do not exempt them
from the legal penalty which they incurred
by their desertion, but this penalty may be
enforced against them whenever they shall
voluntarily place themselves within the To-
cal Jurisdiction Of their native country and
shall be proceeded against according to law.
But when no present liabilities exist against
them at the period Of their emigration, the
law Of nations, in the opinion Of this gov
ernment gives 20 right to any country to
inEeTfegs with naturalized American citizens.
and the attempt to do SO would DO consid-
cred m act unjust in itself and unfriendly
toward the United States This question
cannot Of course arisein the case of natur-
allied citizen who remains in the United
States. 1t is only when he voluntarily re-
turns to his native country that it's local
laws can be enforced against him.
i an, sir your obi servt.
-4s LEWIS CASS.