Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-07-08


Ba- Upon the subject Of the protection of
citizens abroad, invite the attention
of the reader TO the following remarks from the
States, den.ocratic;
In Prussia every male child is born a soldier
The King has claim upon him for certain rum
Der Of years of military duty which is just valid
as the claim Of vrginian TO a slave child for life
is valid by the Constitution Of the Union.
If male quits his realm, at whatever age, with
out having discharged such duty, he Is ever liable
for its performance, either personally or by sub
stitute, upon re-entering the realm.
No obligations which he can take upon himself TO
another country, and no protection which such coun-
try can extend to him, can impair this claim, be-
cause II Is Of anterior existence
For instance, If male slave Of YIrginia--one of
Mr.. Bolts, for instance, were to escape from his
owner, proceed to Prussia, there become a subject
Of the Crown, and subsequently returned TO Vir-
ginia IL is not likely that be would be restored to
Prussia upon the demand that he is Prussian sub
jeet
rational being. Old Virginia would surrender her
existence before she would surrender him.
The cases are identical.
This is adding insult to injury. Not only Is pro-
lection denied to naturalized citizens by the Ad-
ministration, but its organs place them upon the
same footing with negro slaves, and draw ilustra-
tons of their arguments from the latter's servile
condition. With this insult however, it is not our
purpose to deal, and cite it TO show the foreign
citizen what he is to expect from the democratic
party.
If the doctrine be true, that naturalization
oath of allegiance to this government does not
absolve the foreigner from the allegiance he owes
to the land of his BIRTH there is gross defect in
our laws which calls for an immediate remedy
The government must do one of three things. 1t
must protect the naturaiized citizen wherever found
at all hazards, or IL must refuse to naturalize a
foreigner without proof that he has rendered the
military service demanded of him, before he comes
here or 1t must make his naturalization dependent
upon his producing a quit-claim, from the govern
ment he has left, to whatever service may have
grown out Of his nativity. If one of these things
be not done, the naturazed citizen is placed in a
very anomalous situation. He is made to take an
oath which he can not make good-to forswear an
allegiance he not shake off, and in return for it.
finds himself in the language of democratic authori-
ty in position identical with that of a southern
slave, should he return to his native land-there
reclaimed and held to service. But the hardship OF
his peculiar position under democratic interpreta-
ton of his citizenship does not stop here-he is
placed between two fires. Suppose we are at wal
with his native land, and he, as an American sailor
or soldier is taken prisoner what must be his fate
He is a deserter from his native government &C
cordiug to democratic authority, and has beer
cheated into the commission of that crime by tn,
} laws of this country. Suppose he returns to hi
! native land, on visit and is there pressed int
service, and is taken, by our army navy, fight
ing against this country to which he had sworI
allegiance, what is his position? That of deserter
I of course, and if he escape the punishment
: affixed thereto, it must be through clemency, no
law; and no matter on which side he is takei
prisoner, death is the sentence pronounced agains
' him. 1t is difficult to conceive of a more painful
position than that occupied by the foregn-citzen.
is a slave, or a criminal, should he return to hi
9 native land, and, here, he is citizen without tn
right of protection when he goes beyond tn
geographical limits of the United States. "a NAL
slave of Virginia" would be freeman in Prussia
but returning to Virginia. he again becomes slave
And this says the States is the identical of tn
? naturazed citizens who may visit the land of hi
, birth.