The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-08-03
The position of The United States as com.

The position OF the United States, as COM
municated to the Minister at Berlin for the
information of the Prussian government, lis
that native born Prussian naluraliZed in the
United States and returning TO the country
of their birth, are not liable to any duties or
penalties, except such as wsre existing d:
the period of their emigration. If at that
time they were in the army or actually call
ed into it, sach Emigration and naturallza.
ton do not exsmpsshem from the penalty
which they y,incuffed by their discretion, but
this penalty may be enforced against them
whenever they shall voluntarily place them.
selves within the local jurisdiction of their
nativecouhtry and shdll be proceed against
according 10 law. But when no present liza.
biIities exist against Them at the period of
their emigration, the law of nations, in the
opinion Of this government gives no right
| to any country TO interfere with nat,iralized
American citizens, and the attempt to do so
would be considered an act unjust in itself
and unfriendly towards the United States
1t is only when he voluntarily returns to
his native country that it's local laws can be
enforced against him.
am, Sit, your obedient servant,
LEWIS CASS.
Extraet of a dispafeh from they Department Of
| State 10 The Minister Of The United STATES at
Berlin, dated July 8, 1859.
The right Of espsiria,ien 'osnnot at this
day be doubted OF denied in the United
States. The idea has been repudiated ever
since the origin IF our Government, that a
man is bouhd toqemain forever in The coun-
try of his birth, and that he has no right to
exercise his free will and consult his own
happiness by selecting a new home. The
most eminent writer's on public law recog.
'hhe the right of expatraton. This can only
be contested by those who in the nineteenth
century are still devoted to the ancient feu. !.
dal law with all its oppression. The doc.
trine of perpetual allegiance is relic of
barbarism which has been gradually disap.
pearing from Christendom during the last
century.
The Constitution of the United Satets re-
cognizes the natural right Of expatriation,
by comforting upon Congress the power ito
establish uniform rule of naturalization"
Indeed, it was one of the grievances al
legged against the British King in the Dec.
laration of Independence, that he had ten
deavored to prevent the population of these
States-for that purpose obstructing the
laws of naturalization of foreigners, refus.
ing TO pass others to encourage their Ini-
grafton hither," &c., sc. The Constitution n
thus clearly recognizes the principle of ex-
patria,ion in the strongest manner. 1t would
have been inconsistent in itself, and an.
worthy Of the character of the authors of
that instrument, to hold cut inducements 10
fore igners 10 abandon their native land, tc
announce their allegiance TO their native
Government, and to become citizens of the
United States, il. they had not been con.
vinced of the absolute and unconditional
right of expatriation. Congress have uni.
formly acted upon this principle ever since
| the Federal Government. They established
"a uniform rgls of naturalization" nearly
seventy years 6go. There has since beer
no period in our history when laws for this
purpose did not exist, though their provis
ions have undergone excessive changes
The alien, in order 10 become a citizen
must declare on oath or affirmation that he
will support the Constitution of the United
States and, at the same time, he is requir
ed 10 absolutely and entirely renounce and
ablure allegiance and fidelity to every for.
ei9n prince, potentate, Stale or Sovereignty
whatever, and particularly, by name, the
prince, potentate, State or sovereignty
whereof he was before citizen.
The exercise of the right of naturaliza
ton, and the consequent recognition OF the
principle of expairation, are not confnet
to the Government Of the United States.-
There is not a country in Europe, believe
at the present moment, where the law doe!
not authorize the naturalization Of foreign
ers in one fefNF other. Indeed, in some
of these countries this law is more iibera
than our own to foreigners.
The question, then, arises, what right
do our laws confer upon a foreigner b.
granting him naturalization I answer, al
the rights, privileges, and mmuni,ies which
belong 10 native born citizen, in their ful
extent, with the single qualification tha
under the Constitution, emo person excep
a natural born citizen is eligible to the offic'
of President" With this exception-th,
naturalized citizen, from and after the dat
: of lis naturalization, both at home ant
abroad, is placed upon the very same foot
ing with the native citizen. He is neithe
in better nor worse condition. If a ma
tive citizen chooses TO take up his resi-
dence in a foreign country for the purpos
of advancing his fortune or promoting hi
happiness, he is, whilst there, bound Il
. obey its municipal laws equally with tlaos
who have lived in it all their lives H.
: goes abroad with his eyes open and
these laws be arbitrary and unjust, he ha
chosen to abide by the consequences.
, they are administered in an equal spirit to
wards himself and towards native subjects
this Government have no right 10 interler
authoritatively in his behalf. To do thi
| would be to violate the right of an independ
ent nation to legislate within its own Terri
tories. If this Government were to under