The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1859-06-29

Letter from General Cass. Secretary
Of State. to A. ". Hcfer, Of Cincin-
natl. defining the Views Of the Ad-
ministration.on the Rights OF Natu-
ralized Citizens Upon Returning 70
their Native Countries.
The follow rng important letter has been
communicated 10 A. v. lioier, Of Cincin-
natl, By Sscreary Cass
DEPARTMENT or STATE, WAsHlscros,
June 10,
Sir: In answer to your letter OF the OH
instant. / have 10 inform you that the brief
letter IRON this Department. to which you
refer. dated the eth day Of May last, aud ao-
dressed TO Felix lie Clerc, was in reply 10
an application for informstion, and was
principally intended TO recommend caution
10 ous na,uralized fell w-citizens, natives o.
France. 10 returning to that country, e. me
operations Of the Freach consegipsIon law
were positively known, and might bear IN
iuriously upon that class Of American eni-
zens. Most or the continental European
nations have q system Of military orgsnizA-
ten. by which their citizens are compelled 70
serve in the army by conscriP1lon, ana mol
As 10 France, where the duty is designated
by lot or draft. In Prussia every person y
rcouiredto take his turn as n soldier.
The condition Of American naluralizFd
ritizens returning 10 their naive country
where the system Of compulsory service
prevails, aud who had left before such ser
vice. has consequently teen the subject o.
discussion with come 81 the European pow.
err. Quite recently il has risen between
The United States and Prussia. snd the ~
presentative from this country, ut the Court
Of Berlin, has brought the matter 70 Ire a.
tentlon Of the prussian Government. 10 ,hs
instructions which were sent him, May ~
1851, il was explicitly stated, that this Coy
ernment opposed the doctrine Of perpetoa
allegiance, and msintuins the right o. ex
pa,riation and the right TO form new po1t'
cal ties elsewhere. Upon this suhJectit >
observed. that in this age Of the world, th'
idea Of controlling the choice Of . home
and binding him by a mere political theory
10 inhabit for his lifetime a country whicl
he desires 10 leave, can hardy be entertain
ed BY any Government. The Y. States
therefore, main,sins the proposition that ma
uralized citizens returning 10 the country Q
,heir birth, . are not liable to any d.
tee or penalties. except such as were 10 ex
,s,ence al The period Of their eInigra'icn,-
n. al that time they were 10 The army 2
actually called into i. such emigration ~
naturalization do not exempt them rom "
legal p~enalty which they incurred by me
deser,ion. But this penalty may be enforce
AGAINST them whenever they shall vo'ur
tsriIy place themselves within she 'ocas ~
y,sd,ction Of their native country, snd shh
be proceeded against according 70 Law, ny
when no personal liabil Ties exist oea'n'
them al the period Of their emigra'len' ~
law OF nations, in the opinion q TINS uc'
rnmcnt.piv ives no right 70 any country y n
,.rtese w,ih naturalEed American ciuzon
and the attempt TO DO 50 would be conslde
I'd an act unjust in i'seli, and uniriendly 4
wards NJ. Jurizdic'ion cannot ?: cour
arise 10 the case Of the natnralized cnize
who remains ID the United Stats y y ~
when be voluntarily returns 70 his haii'
country tina, its local laws can be eniorc'
against him.
am, cir, your obedien' servant,
tSigned,l LfNlS AS