Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-08
Subjects of Observation-Disclosures, &C..

all know accurately what Is conferred, ana
what is not conferred upon a foreigner by.
American naturalization. In the case ot
Martin kOszta, it is true, the government
here sustained Captain lnsraham 'r post
,tdctD: the thing was done and II was best
to stand by it: but at the same moment that
Mr.. Marcy wrote his elaborate letter to
Hulseman in assertion of the right of pro-
lection which Capt. l~ngraham put i'll force,
he issued a circular To all passport agents III
America, prohibiting them from giving any
sort of papers whatever TO an inchoate cltl-
zen. to visit Europe-that is, Il citizen VIII"
has declared his intentions, but has not yet
been fully naturalized.
Well, then it is believed at least that the
fully naturalized citizen was assured Of pro-
lection in all lands. But our government l.
becoming more prudential since lSl2.
The following letter, says the Memphis
Bulletin, has been handed us by Hume +.
Hill. esq. who has heretofore obtained pass
ports for many of our naturaliZrt citizens.
who wish 10 visit Europe. Ii will be seen
that they will not be entirely safe in relying
upon their naturalization for exemption from
military service during the existing war:
DEPARTMENT Of STATE,
WASHINGTON. May IL, 1879.
To W.. Flir lie CYerc, Memphis, TSNm.:
SIR:--Your letter of the 18th instant, has
been received. In reply | have 10 state that
it is understood that the French Government
claims military service from all natives OF
France who may he found within it. luriS-
dicti"n. Your naturalization IN this country
will not exempt YOU from that claim II You
should voluntarily repair thith"r. Mm. sir.
your obedicnt servant, LEWIS CAS-.
Now, this simply gives up all prc;emsiom
to protect naturalizcl citizens everywhere.
The French Government CiaiUS military
service" yes. and the English Government
claims indefeasible allegiance from all born
subjects. Formerly the American Govern
ment asserted the right of expatrlation: and
even pretended that American citizenship
once conferred was paramount 10 the
claims of SOyereigns. 1t Is Il pity that
this proud pretenslon should be entirely
Yielded up: but when it is SO yielded, moth
ing can be taircr than 10 let Us all distinctly
know it. aS the letter of Gen. CaSs has Scru-
puiously done
The above extract from the Southern Git
lien offers opportunity for the discussion
of Il mooted question OF international law,
very important in its bearing on the theory
of our government. not less than on the dear
est interests of our citizens.
During the present century, different gov
ernmcnts nave maintained three different
rules of principle, as regards this matter Of
allegiance.
The doctrine which Great Britain asserted
fifty years AGO. is, that allegiance is perpe-
tual and indissolublr. "Once 4 citizen. al
ways Il citizen" Is the doctrine, the prtrtl-
cal assertion of which involved that nation
in hostilities with the United States i'll ISL.
For a long time. most of the nations of
continental Europe have acted upon the AS
sumption that allegiance is disSoluble, but
ONLY with the consent of the sovereign, aud
to the extent that the sovereign may pre-
scribe.
Thus. the Prussian Constitution provides
that emigration or expatriatlon shall be sub
jcct to no restriction, except for the purpose
of enforcing from each native OF Prussia the
term Of military service, to which every cit
izeu of the kingdom is liable. Similar leg
~islation has been adopted 10y France and
most of the other continental covers.
The doctrine asserted by the Constitution
and laws Of the United States j.. that each
individual citizen may. at hi own option.
allure all allegiance to one sovereign, and
contract entire obligations of allegiance To
another sovereign, provided only that the
remuneration and act Of naturalization be
performed bona tide.
With us citizens are ndtUdRz"d, l. e., ma
hre-izcd, and thus guaranteed the full extent
of protection against the claims for service
or allegiance made 10y any foreign govern
ment, to which protection any nafir' citizen
would be entitled. By ohliging Il man to
''renuunce all allegiance 10 every foreign
potrntatr. our government ohligrs itself 10
protect him against every clam To his allie
ginnce which may be pretended hy any for
eign potentate. Without this, there would be
no reciprocity Of protection and allegiance.
The cases which now present themselves
involve Il conflict of laws. The question to
be decided is, which law ought to govern,
according to the dictates of right and Justice:
If two nations cannot agree on this point,
an appeal to arms is the only escape from
submission to wrong on the part of the in
iured contestant.
We will not go so far "a to advise resort
W DOSlllllltS -CtIllIIlN Ipl hliHl''i'"'' '''''
to hostilitics. The laws of these foreign ma
tons are the necessary consequence Of the
theories of government under which they
are established. Their execution involves no
nteHtionni insult to our national dignity
Ii is purely the result of the great moral
confiict-the triangular strife which is now
in progress between the principles of the Di-
vine right of popular sovereignty, the Divine
right Of Kings or Oligarchs, and the stheis-
tic denial of all principle, which bases the
fabric of government in each instance on
some narrow view Of mere eXpedicncv. 1t
may be that we must finally submit. IL may
he that the attempt ut this time to vindlrat"
the rights of our tellow-citizcms, would raise
II world in arms against Us. 1t may he that
ordinary prudence requires submission.
Still, the ultimate question is one OF iorri-
bic maintenance Of right. or submission to
wrong. And the Constitution Of the | nitcd
States provides that Congress alone shall
decide such Il question.
So far as the Executive is concerned, its
duty is plain. 1t must maintain the Constr
tuition and laws, by remonstrance, by pro-
test, by treaty, if possible, and, if its efforts
prove unavailing, the President must then
refer the question of war or submission di-
rcctly to Congress.
Andi if we are TO submit. let the submis-
sion be made openly and WtFey pioteSt. Let
not cur submission be yelled under such
himsy prctcxts as the State department has