Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-15

quite absurd to contend that boy, brought
to this country from foreign country with
his fathers family when but twelve years al
aye and naturalized here, who should alter
wards visit the country of his birth when
no had become man, might then be seIzed
and compelled to perform military service,
because, if he had remained there through,
out the intervening years and his lie hau
been spared he would have been bound 10
perform military service. To submit to
such principle would be to make al obi.
Gus distinction between our naturaliLed ana
native citizens For this reason, in my des-
patch to YOU Of May II, 1859, and again In
my letter to Mr. Hofer Of the l4th ultlmo,
confne the foreign jurisdiction in regard
~ our naturalized citizens to such OF them
rs were in the army or actually called into
it" at the time they left Prussia. That Is,
to the case of actual desertion or u refusal to
enter the army after having been regularly
drafted and called into it by the government
to which at the time they owed allegiance.
1t il presumed that neither Of these cases pre-
sonts any difficulty in point of principle. fla
soldier or u sailor were to desert from our
army or navy for which offence he is liable
become natur,ilized subject of another
country, should return to the United States,
it would be singular defence for HIM to
make that he WAS abSolyed from his crime
because, after it's commission. he had be-
come subject of another government. Ii
would BE- still more strange were that gov
eminent to interpose in his behalf for any
such reason. Again, during the last war
with Great Britain. i'll several Of the States
1 might mention Pennsylvania in partlcu-
lar--the militia man who was drafted and
called into the service was exposed to BE-
we're penalty if he did not obey the draft and
muster himself into the service, or, IN de-
fault thereof, procure Il substitute. suppose
such an individual, after having incurred
this penalty, had gone to foreign country
and become naturalized there and then re-
turned to Pennsylvania, is it possible to
imagine that for this reason the arm Of the
State authorities would be paral yzed, and
that they could not exact the penalty?
state these examples to show more clearly
both the extent and the limitation of right
full Hanoyerian jurisdiction in such cases.
1t is impossible to fnresee all the varying
circumstances which may attend cases rs
lutS llbf Dut IL 10 shS
principles laid down may generally be suti-
cient to guide your conduct.
1t is to be deeply regretted that the Ger
man governments evince ~ much tenacIty
on this subject. 1t would be better, far bet
ter, for them, considering the comparatively
small number OF their native subjects who
return to their dominions after being M
turalized in this country, not To attempt t"
exact military service from them They
will prove to be most reluctant soldiers. 1t
they violate any law of their native country
during their visit, they are, OF course. amen
able like other American citizens. ltw"uld
be "A sad misfortune it, for the sake Of an adj
vantage 80 triting to such governments,
they should involve themselves i'll serious
difficulties with country 80 dcslrous az We
are OF maintaining with them the most
friendly relations 1t il fortunate that seri-
Gus difficulties of this kind are mainly con
fined 10 the German States--and especially
that the laws of Great Britain do not au-
thorze any compulsory military service
whatever