Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-09
Very respectfully, DC.
NASHVILLE, July 7, 1859


P. francesca.
NASHVILLE, July 7, 1859.
MEssRs. A. E. AHsMAN, b. IL. BARKHORN. g.
DEsCHAMPs, M. F. SELTz, A. RIvA, DR.
MEsECKs, AND OTHERS
GENTLEMEN Il did not receive until last
evening your letter of the 4th inst. asking
my opinion upon the position assumed by the
present administration, through its Secretary
of State, Gen. Cass, in his recent letters to
Mr.. lie Clerc and 10 Mr.. Hofer, with re-
ference to the reciprocal relations between
the Government and the naturalized citizens
of the United States.
Having withdrawn form official station,
after years of public service, had allotted
to myself some respite from discussion of
public questions. But the position you call
my attention to, and the questions you pro-
pound, are so novel, and so exceedingly
interesting to all naturalized citizens, that
forego the purpose had formed of remain
ing silent. While i thank you for the terms
in which you have been pleased to compli-
ment me, 1 very greatly distrust my COM
peciaIly when l find myself in conflict with
intellect and authority such as that of a
Cabinet at Washington. .-..
Butt cannot but concur with you in opin-
ion, that when foreigner once becomes an
American citizen, under the sanctions of the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
he is as much entitled to the protection of
| the Government, both at home and abroad,
as is the native born citizen. l believe. with
John c. Calhoun, LAS | had occasion TO aver
in my place in Congress last Feburary,) that
>. 'eitizen' and allen are corelative terms, and
stand in contradistinction TO each Other;"
that 1.-THE effect of naturalization is TO remove
! alienage," that Ito remove alienage, is simply
to put The foreigner IA the condition Of the ndiiue
| born" that whatever difference of opinion
there may be us to what other rights apper-
| tain to a citizen, all must at least agree that
| he has the right of petition, and also to clam,
| The projection Of has Government"
When Mr.. Calhoun uttered these senti-
ments in the Senate, april, 1866 they were
regarded as truisms under the constitution.
| The foreigner, when admitted to the rights
Of citizenship, is required not only to ALLURE
allegiance to all foreign governments, and
particularly that of which he was a citizen or
subject, but TO swear that he will support
the Constitution of the United States" This
requirement TO support the government car
ries along with it a corresponding obligation
oil the part of the government to protect the
citizen, in his person and property. The
| Constitution, in fact, expressly pledges the
government to give to every citizen this pro-
lection. II declares that "the right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated"
| The words "the people," here used, means, as
declared by the Supreme Court, the "citizens"
OF the United States. native born aud natu-
| rallied. The government is therefore bound,
| by every consideration of honor and good faith
to protect its citizens, uaturalized, and native
born. against unreasonable seizures OF their
"persons" and effects" And ifso bound, why
| is the obligation less binding abroad than at
home? Ii has been the pride and boast of
our countrymen, that in whatever part OF the
globe an American citizen may be, the flag of
bis country protects him. Ii is when far from
home. 10 foreign land, that the protecting
arm oil bis country has most value TO the citi-
zrn. 10 requiring the naturaiized citizen to
..ibjure" allegiance to all foreign countries,
our government becomes morally bound TO
protect him against all claims by such for
elgn countries, to that allegiance we have re-
qired him 10 abjure.
II will not BE- doubted that, should natur-
allied citizen give "give aid and comfort to
the enemies of the United States be would
be held guilty, under the law of treason, and
would be punishable with death. But, andsr
Nr. Cass's doctrine, such citizens may be
iorced into the military service of a power at
enmity with the United Stairs. be made to
give 1t laid aad comfort" and thus he sab
jeeted to the death penalty, by the mere fault
Of our government itself, In falling to extend
lts protecting arm over i.s own citizens. IL
l. we'll remembered fact. that the impress
ment of American seamen into the British
ssryice, under this samN speeions doctrine,
thar they O.red servios 70 Soernmesf 10 srAicA
| Asy srers ones sHbiecf, led to the war Of 1912.
Mr.. Madison repelled with indignation the
timid eounsels. such as now seem ready 10 or
| FIR up natuFalized citizens OF the United
States to the predatory claims OF beiligerens
Europesa powers. Mr.. Jefferson. as early as
HE, In the act OF the Virginia code, record.
ell bis well known opiaIon. that the right Of
every freeman TO expairiate himself from any
one country and accept citizenship 10 sny