Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-06-21
DEPARTMENT or STATE,

WASHINGTON. May 18th. 1889.
SIR:-Your letter Of the 18th inst, has
been received. In reply | have to state
that it is understood that the French Gov.
eminent claims military service from oil
natives OF France who m&y be found with
in it's jurisdiction. Your naturalization in
this country will not exempt you from that
claim If you should voluntarily repair
thither.
am, sir. your obedient servant,
LEWIS Case.
We notice that this matter has
been taken up by the Republican press
throughout the country as a sweet
morsel, and one out of which they in
tend TO make immense capital in the
coming Presidential campaign. But
in this case, as in many others, they
have got hold Of a cock that will not
fight. Below, we give another letter
from the Secretary Of State to Mr.. A..
V. Hofer, Of Cincinnati, which enters
more fully into the subject, and defines
more clearly the position Of this gov
eminent, asserting that it is fully pre-
pared to protect the rights of natural
ICED citizens when abroad as we'll as at
home, unless at the time Of his emf.
grafton, he actually owed military or
other service to his own government,
or had not entirely fulfilled his contract
with it. In such cases, he says, they
are liable to be proceeded against &C
cording to the laws of their native
country.
The following is the letter of the
Secretary, and is full endorsement OF
the principles Of protection to the
adopted citizens, as heretofore under
stood and practiced upon bp the Gov
eminent Of the United States
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, June IA, 1859.
Sn lin answer to your letter of the
9Th inst, have to inform you that the
brief letter from this Department to which
You refer. dated the l7thh of May last, and
addressed to Mr.. Felix Leclerc, was in rsply
to an application FIR information, and wa.
principally intended to recommend caution
to our naturalixed fellow citizens. native,
OF France. In returning to that country. a,
the operations Of the French Conservation
law were not precisely known here. and
might bear injurieusly upon that class OF
American citixens. Most Of the Contin ental
European nations have y system Of military
organization by which their citizens ar
compelled to serve in the army by conscrip.
ti0n, - 10 France, where the duty 10 desic.
mated By lot, or BY drsh, - in Prussia
where every person 10 repaired 10 take his
turn - . soldier.
The condition Of American naturalixed
citizens returning 10 their native country,
where the systsm Of compulsory service pre.
walls. and left before performing such cor.
wee. has frequently been the subiect OF
discussion with some of the Euronesn
fewsra. Quite frequently it has arisen. BE-.
tween the United States and Prussia and
the representative of this country A. III.
court Of Berlin. has brought the matter to
the attention Of the Prussian Governm.nt
In the Instructions which vere .ent e.
him, dated May IL. 1850. il vas srnl;.;.i-
seatsd that this Government i onnossd -
the dcetrins Of perpetual alleeispes and \
natntains the right Of repatriation. And ~.
right to form political ties elsev her.. rnc.
this subject Il 10 observed that in this eo1
Of the world the idea Of controlinc M
cltisen In the choice Of . home and hira;.s
him By mere political theory 10 inhsh;s
Tor his lifetime country which be con.
stantly destrss to leave can hardly \. s.-
tsrtainsd By any Government vhstsvs. gu
The position Of the United $780, a.
ss0mnaieatsd TO the Minister a. Rsrlin -.
~ Information u the Prussian Cover.
nest. = that native bern Prussisns pstnr-
alised n the Unitsd etstss, and rsturpin.
- tho sesatsy ef tAsir birth, are not liable
- any duties o. penalties, escepe ssek a.
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