Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-08-10
])olitifal.
A D D r E S s
Democratic State Committee.
OF THE

Democratic State Committee.
Fellow- Citizens Of Pennsylrania:-
We now proceed to present to you, as brief
ly as circumstances will permit, the views en-
tertaned, as the State Committee believe,
by the Democracy of the State and of the
Nation, respecting the rights of our naturali-
zcd citizens. and those principles of natural
justice and freedom which we arc prepared
to maintain in our intercourse with foreign
States, as a part of our enlightened American
Policy, This subject has been at all times
an interesting one to US as our history shows.
| The first Article in the Constitution, authori-
zing Congress to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization, aud the several acts of Con-
gress passed in pursuance of the power grant
ed, all indicate this fact. 1t so happens now
that the state of war in which several of the
leading nations of Europe have become in
volved, and which may possibly embrace in
its unhappy circle the whole of that Conti-
nent before peace shall be re-established, has
impaired, for oblivous reasons, an immediate
and most important significance to all those
questions depending on the principle of the
right of expatriation, as we understand 1t in
this country, and which in connection with
our act of Naturalization, are not Only eX-
tremely interesting to citizens by adop
tion but directly concern the dignity, power
and International consequence Of our Gov
ernments of Europe has made provision, In
some mode other, for the naturalization of
foreigners, by which they are invested with
portion or all of the rights of native born sub
jects, in the country of their adoption; but,
nevertheless these same Governments, al
most without exception, either openly affirm
| or tacitly maintained the doctrine of perpet
ual allegiance absolute or qualified on the part
of an alleged subject to the Government un-
der which he happens to be born. In oppo-
stion to this, the People and Government of
the United States have always denounced the
idea of perpetual allegiance as unworthy, the
era in which we live, and as inconsistant
with and inimical to the generous principles
of our Government, and it is well known thar
on one occasion we successfully resisted its
application at the cannors mouth In the
same spirit, the Imperial or Monarchial Gov
crnments of Europe, still more or less sub
servient to old Fcudal influences. regard ex-
patriation as matter of grace from the Gov
ernment to the subject. nc. as matter of
right in the subject, and of course as being
subordinate to their claim Of perpetual allie
glance. We, ON the contrary, regard expa-
triation as natural and indispensable ri ght,
right to enjoy the sunshine or to breathe the
air; we believe it to be superior to allegiance
and that it can only be limited, or modified,
responded, or in any way impugned or affect
ed by some actually existing debt, penalty or
obligation due to the law, civil or criminal, at
the period of immigration.
The Governments of Europe have all been
disposed to treat naturalization as being no
more than p municipal regulation, which
each nation mi ght make for its own particu-
lar interests or convenience operative within
its own jurisdiction, but which did not war
rant anything to be done fo5 naturalized
subject, in contravention of the international
code of Europe, perpetual allegiance being
part of that code. On the other band, with
a larger comprehension of civilization and lib
erty. we regard the act of naturalization az
placing the naturlizcd citizen in all respects
excepting in the one Constitutional! reserva
ton of intelligibility to the Presidency o.
Vice Presidency, on the same footing and il
the same degree of rights and honor, tha
occupied by the native-born citizen-as il
II point of fact inducting man, hitherto for tn
,, period of prohibition required by the law a
Il inhabitant or resident i'll the land, into fu
and perfect citizenship under Governmen
which proclaims expatriation to be natura
= right and which disaffrms the doctrine of pc
r. petual allegiance as conflicting equally wit
justice and reason.
- 1t must be 5orn in mind, however, th;
n independently Of the tie or duty of allcgiane
and really distinct from it, there is and a
ways must be in the necessity of the cas-
as the very cement of any organized politics
society endured with sovereignty, certai
contract between the Government aud its su
4. jects or citizens. Under this contract, Il
lg Government engages, among other things,
, give protection to persons and property,
> preserve order. to guarantee civil and polIt
. cal rights, and to defend the nation against
# foreign enemies, and the subject or citizt
: for his own part engages to obey the lay
and pay to the Government whatever debt
penalty the Judgment of the law may just
demand of him. What may be an actu
y subsisting debt or obligation in the law whi'
:, one may attempt to evade or escape by exp
at ration may be hereafter the subject of dipl
ey matte controversy between the Governme
of the Union and foreign States but it is ce
tain, that while the United States, so long
@ the Government remains in the hands of Il
IS, Democracy, will permit no insulting visit
tn ton of the claim of perpetual allegiance
"a our adopted citizens, or any political dlstin
tions to be drawn IN principle between natl
and natur allied citizens at home or abroa
f.. no act of naturalization. whether Of an An,e
is scae cttizen by foreign government, or
i'll foreigner by our laws, can release eitherfro
er actual-not eonstructive-existing debt, pc
atty, or obligation under the contract refer
- to between all governments and their citize
or subjects, incurred and owing at the tin
D. Of expatriation and unpaid at the moment
NO voluntary return to the jurisdiction of t
To- deserted country.
But there is no need to occupy your atte
ton further with any observation Of our ov