The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-08-03
From the [Tashingtonl States.
SOUND OPINIONS WE'LL EXPRESSED.

We Huu lne I0iuNiuS aSiS - 49, - Wy
montgomery (AIabamal Confederation,
well-conducted Democratic jour-
nal, edited BY our late accomplished Minis
ter to nelgium
THE NATURALlzaTIoS QrEsTfos.-We IN
serted some short time ago the letter OF Gen,
Casa, the Secretary Of State, upon the sub
ice, Of the protection given BY our govern.
ment to its naturalized citizens, returning to
me country Of their nativity. The doctrine
laid down by Gen. Cass is the same upon
which osr government has acted since its
foundation; and we had supposed so gene
rally understood as the doctrine OF this, as
we'll as all other civilized governments, that
we did net deem il necessary TO add any
thing Of our own by way Of comment. The
enemy, however, in their desperation to re-
pair the damage done their party, by attack
ing the foreign. born citizens Of our country,
are vainiy eRdeayoring to claim for them
some Of the rights in their native land, that
they denied them in that Of their adoption.
Now, as cur constitution and laws extend
only over our own soil, it would be better for
the Know N0thngs to concede and secure
the naturaized citizea his rights here al
home before going abroad.
We stated that the principles laid down
by Gen. Cass were those upon which our GO
sernment has always acted. We do not
speak unal,isedly, but defy successful con-
tradietion. The principle is this, that ma
turalized citizen OF the United States would
be sheltered and prntected by our govern
ment, not only on cur own soil, but on every
other save that upon which he vas born.
That il he voluntarily places himself within
the jurisdiction Of his native country, and
owed that country any service or duty, and
that government DENYING the capabllity Of
its subject or citizen 70 denationalize him.
self, could claim OF him, and force him to
perform such service or duty. notwithstand-
ing his naturalization in the United States.
As the Know Nothings seem mostly con.
cerned in this newborn zeal for the "poOr
foreigner" we propose to cite some authori-
" on this subject which, we suppose, even
They will not dispute. Here are extracts
from the official correspondence Of no less a
parsonage than Daniel Webster:
Extract Mr. Webster TO Ignacio TOlcE, n. Y.
"DePartmsn, Of State.
" Washington, June IS. 1852.
" THE respee, paid to any passport grant
ed bv this Department TO naturalized citi-
zen, formerly subject Of Spain. will depend
upon the laws Of that nation in relation to
the allegiance due its authority BY its native
born subjects. II that government recogni,
yes the right Of its subjects to denationalize
themselves, ard assimilate with the citizens
Of other countries. the usual passport will be
a sufficient safeguard to YOU but if allegi-
ance TO the Crown Of Spain may not legally
be renouaced by It's subjects, you must ex-
Pect to be liable to the obligations Of Span
ISL subject L you voluntarily place yourself
within the iursdietion Of that government.
cnenl OF STATE
Washington. lane l, 1852.
ISM: have to acknowledge the receipt
Of YOUR letter 20 Mr. Reddall OF the 9th ul-
timo, inquiring whether Mr.. Victor b. De-
pierre, a native Of France, but nsturaliZed
citizen Of the United States. can expect the
protection OF this government in that coun-
try, when proceeding thither with passport
from this Department. In reply, | have TO
inform YOU that ii, as is understood TO be the
fact, the government of France does not &C.
knowledge the right Of natives Of that coun.
Try 10 renounce their allegiance, il may law
fully claim their services when found within
French jadrisdiction.
"a am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
"DAsIEL WEBSTER.
To ]. B. Sohes, Esq, New York"
We presume that no one will call in ques.
ton the patriotism, the thorough American
ism % the author Of the famous letter 70 Mr..
Ilulseman. the Austrian minister, or ques-
ton Mr.. Websters authority as statesman
familiar with national international law.
Yet il will be seen that he goes further than
Mr.. Cass, and lays down the broad principle
that we cannot annul the laws Of any coun.
Try, or interfere with their operations within
tie territories Of that country. That is TO
say, il il is Illegal in Spain or in France 10
rtnOsnce allegiance, we cannot make such
an act legal in those countries. We can
shelter French Or Spanish subject who,
removing himself from the operation Of such
a Law, gives his allegiance 10 The United
States, not only on our own soil, but in every
land save that il which be was born. That
his birth CHANGED 70 be in a land where such
Law exists, is his misfortune. which, unless
We violate the sovereignty Of that nation, we
cannot remedy. We cannot say that the
Law Of Spain OF France shall not be enforced
IN spain or France, thnsgh We will not per.
the broad principle. a. Mr.. Webster was like.
ly 70 see and clearly state il.
Since the publication of this article seine.
shat--prrhaps We should be near the mark
we're We 70 say diametricslly oppUsiic--yiew
has been ,aken 81 the subiet, BY the yenera.
Bic Secretary Of state, IN accordance with
The opinion delivered by The Attorney Gen.
eral This view. we are told, upun authDri.
II which We cannot disregard. i endorsed
by every member ol The Cabinet. We re
gfet ,his exceedingly. because We believe II
10 be al utterly mistaken one, and because il
gives us pain 70 be compelled 70 eritieise the
sets Of lantuOnsries Tor whom se cherish
no other feeling han that Of cordial good
will.
This subject was examined fifteen years
ago, With care, by one u Tie most eminent
psblitis,s which this or snY other country
has produced Tor ages. We sllude TO MI
Wheaton, to whose consideration il wss
a