The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-07-05
LANSING STATE REPUBLICAN
:,|,,' $3.50,
la0SMEkS So
TUESDAY MORNING. JULY .. 1889.



There il nothing ike practical test. The
Cincinnati Commercial states that Mr.. Charles
Ernst, Of that city, recently proposed a visit to
Europe. Mr.. Ernst has been a citizen Of the
United States for thirty years. He has served
in our volunteer military forces, and has on sew
eral OCCASION. seen active service in quelling
riots lie now holds commission as Lieut..
Colonel in the Ohio Volunteer Militia, and is AN
excellent officer and honorable citizen, widely
known and respected.
He proceeded to Washington 10 have his pass
ports made out, taking letters to the State De-
partment, stating his character and position,
from the Hon. W. 5. Groesbeck, and other dis
tinguished gentlemen. He obtained interviews
with General Cass, and was coolly told that il
would be prudent for him to stay at home, AS
government would not undertake To guaranty
him the protection Of a citizen of the United
States, and that he might be impressed into the
French army.
He has, in consequence, given up his design
OF visiting Europe, and returned To Cincinnati,
Very naturally impressed that he had been mis-
taken in believing that he would be- entitled 10
respect anywhere on the globe as a citizen OF
the American Republic. tie proposes to enter
formal protest "a a citizen against the ruling OF
the Secretary Of State in his case.
Col Ernst might have read the following bIiei
communication from Gen Ca-s to MIR Let Icrc
aud have saved hi. journey to Washington:
DfPARrMESr oF STATE,
Washington, MAY Il, 1859.
Your letter o! the 18th instant has been re-
ceived. In reply, have to state that il il un-
derstoOi that the French Government claims
military service from all natives of France who
may be found within its jurisdiction. Ioor
naturalization -, tbs coHntrg cjN nal cceapf
yoI from Hat cioim, sto',id go,s roiaptarit,
rfPa,r Hither. LEWIS CASS.
Now although, quite plain, yet notwitstand-
ing ia pliinnes+, the Fire Press seeks TO bcfors
1t. That paper says:
"The doctrine Of Gen. Cas- letter has been
grossly misreprescnted, for the very pdrpo-c oi
deceiving and imposing uron adopted citizens
The doctrine is that which has AWAY. been held
by Democratic administrations, but which no OPP
position administration has ever asserted. Every
opposition administration has held back from the
citizens travelling abroad without any well-lc-
fined status. The good Sense o! the doctrine
will commend itself to the approval OF every
citizen, naturazed and native. Ii Is stated in I,
word. IL is, that the naturaized citizen, on our
own soil, under our commercial flag, or ia foreign
countries, has the same rights To protection a.
the native born. IL he return, however, vOlun-
tarily to the land of his original allegiance, and
has obligation there undischarscd, he must meet
them; for there is nothing i'll our municipal law
OF naturalization that can annul the municipal
regulations Of another State Ii he was a debtor
there, he is liable for the debt and to imprison-
ment, If such il the local law; if sentenced to
fine or imprisonment for ofenses, he must abide
the penalty; if a deserter from the army in war,
he may be tried by cOurtmartial; and If he be
liable to military duty, must meet the obligation.
II he had left no obligations Neutrality-suspicious.
cations, we mean, which had accrued at the
time OF his emigration-then the government OF
his original allegiance has no claim upon him
and can exact no duties.
That is the simple doctrine Of Gen. C,ss' let
ter, and the soundneSI nf IL carnnt Ia, Ihata,
Ii Is the precise doctrine which the government
Of the United States holds with reference to
ciIizens who may renounce their allegiance as
Americans and become citizens of any other
country"
Under this view of the case, what is citizen
ship worth?
"If naturalized citizen voluntarily returns to
the land of his original allegiance, and has obi
cations there undischarged he must meet them.
If a naturalieed citizen takes care of himself,
the American Government will protect him il
ne gets into trouble, he must look ont for
himself
A citizen can owe military service but To- one
government ut a time. II he owes it TO the gov
ernment Of his birth, then certainly not to that
Of his residence, but if to the country of his
adoption, to which he has sworn allegiance
having renowned by oath allegiance to all 9th
ers, then certainly he owes no military service
either to the country of his residence or soiourn
nor to that of his birth.
If the doctrine Of Gen. Cass and the Ere
Press is sound, then is American citizenship al
empty name, and the pretext for the war %
1872 was as empty ~ the Fcderalists OF that
day pretended, among the foremost of whom
was the man who, as Secretary of State, now
breathes this doctrine.