The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-06-21
Letter from GEN. Cass, Definanx the
Rights OF Naturaltzed CtaIxons MP.
ON Returning 10 their native Coun
tries.

Letter from GEN. Cass. Defiuanx the
Rights of Naturaitxed CttIxens mp.
tries.
The following important letter has been
communicated to A. V. Hofer, Of Cincinnati,
by Secretary Cass:
Department Of State, Warrington, June l6.
SIR: In answer to your letter of the 9th
instant, have to inform You that the brief
letter from this Department to which you
refer, dated the 18th OF May last, and ad-
dressed to Felix LIE Clerc, Vas in reply to an
application for information, and VAS princi-
pally intended to recommend caution TO our
nsturalised fellow citixcns natives Of France,
in returning to that country, as the opera.
tons OF the French CONSUMPTION Law were
positively known, and might bear injuriously
upon that class OF American citizens. Most
OF the continental European nations have .
system OF military organization, by which
their citizens are compelled to serve in the
army BY CONSUMPTION, and not as in France,
where the duty is designated by lot or draft
In Prussia every person is required to take
his turn as q soldier.
| The condition Of American naturalized cit
| liens returning to their native country, where
the system Of compulsory services prevails,
and who had left before such service, has
consequently been the subject Of discussion
with some Of the European powers. Quite
recently has risen between the United States
and Prussia, and the Representative Of this
country, at the Court of Berlin, has brought
the matter to the attention Of the Prussian
| Government. In the instructions which were
sent him, May II, 1859, It was explicitly sta
ted that this Government opposed the doc.
trine OF perpetual allegiance, and maintain,
the right OF expasriation and the right to form
new political ties elsewhere. Upon this sub
jees it 10 observed, that i. this age Of til.
world, the idea Of controlling the citizen in
the choice Of home, and binding him by q
mere political theory, to inhabit for his life.
time, country which be desires to leave, car
hardly be entertained by any Government.
The United States, therefore, maintains the
proposition that naturalized citizens return:
ing to the country of their birth, are not liz
bic to any duties or penalties, except such a,
we're in existence at the period Of their emf
grafton. II, at that time, they we're in tn,
army, or actually called into it, such em,gra
ton and naturalization do not exempt then
from the legal penalty which they incurred
! by their desertion. But this penalty may b
enforced against them whenever they shall
voluntarily place themselves within the loca
jurisdiction Of their native country, and shall
be proceeded against according to law. Blu
when no personal liabilities exist sgains
them at the period Of their emigration, til
law Of nations, in the opinion Of this govern
ment, gives no right to any country to inter
fere with naturalised American citizens, an
: the attempt to do so would be considered q
: act unjust in itself, and unfriendly toward
US. Jurisdiction cannot Of course arise il
the case OF the naturaiized citizen who re
remains in the United States. Ii ID onl
when he voluntarily returns to his nativ
Q country that it's local laws can be enforce
against him.
: am, sir, your obedient servant,
Signed, LEWIS CAss.
E 1~The Boston Transcript has the fol
! lowing:
"Mr. Geo. w Curtis, in his 1rumps, ha
: sketched some well-remembered characte,
. IN this vicinity Of a past generation in
d manner that has given o6ense to their rela
tives The incidents woven 10 the story ar
said to have occurred while the Howadii wa
at school at Jamaica Plain.o