Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-25


It is curious to witness how chary the Demo-
cratic press is in defending the humiliating Po-
sition of the Administration on the subject oI
American citizenship. The present position
gives the lie TO former professions oi sPecial
friendship and regard for the rights of adopted
citizens and out Herods the most ultra Know
Nothingism in the hey day of its brief tn
umphs. Democracy has boldly taken the lead
of Massachusetts,, and in endorsing the uls,
graceful Cass concession, yields all nationa
selfrespect Foreign desPOts are invited to
help themselves to adopted American citizens
under certain circumstances, at will.
Illustrations of the working of the doctrine
of protection to naturalized citizens laid down
by Secretary Cass, unfortunately, are not want
inc. The Cincinnati Enquirer (Democrapc)
states that a man named Krecker has recently
returned to that city from Prussia, where du-
ring the last three years, he has been doing mil
itary service in the army of Frederick William
The Enquirer says
Twenty-one years ago he left his native
country and came to Cincinnati, where he To-
saved enough money to purchase some property
which he still owns. After q residence OF a
sufficient length of time he became naturalizedi
IOr tweIve yvaIs VrJVy "a ." 49, r-;--;l~sas
Of a citizen of the United States.
At this time he determined to return to Prus
purpose Of vRGge geqshHssS is ana Psl.y ior .n5
there Immediately upon his arrival his ser
vice was claimed by the government he was
imprisoned and compelled to perform military
duty for tho space of time we have named, all
this time having a family and owning real es'
tate in this country.
Here is another illustration which we com
mend to all democratic eIpoundera of the new
faith. 1t is an Administration Interpretation Of
the Cass letters which everybody can under
stand, native or adopted.
Col Chas. Ernst and Secretary CRss
The beauties of the doctrine of the Admins
tration, regarding the rights and liberties or our
naturalizeI citizens who may visit their native
countries, as laid down in the letters OF the
Secretary Of State to lie Cleric, of Memphis, and
Mr. Hofer of this city, are illustrated in the case
of Col Chas. Ernst of this city, who recently
proposed to visit Europe, with the design of
making observations at the seat Of war. Mr..
Ernst has been citizen of the United States
for thirty years He has served in our volunteer
military forces, and has on several occasions
seen active service in quelling riots. He now
holds commission as Lieut.. Colonel in the
Ohio Volunteer Militia, and is an excellent ofii.
Ger and honorable citizen, widely known and
respected He proceeded to Washington to
have his passports made out, taking letters to
the State Department, stating his character and
position, from the Hon. William S. Groesbeck,
and other distinguished gentlemen, He obtain
ed interviews with Gen 0ass, and was coolly
told that it would be prudent for him to stay at
home, as the Government would not undertake
to guaranty his protection 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 this city, very
naturally impressed that he had been mistaken
in believing that he would be entitled to respect
anywhere ON the globe as a citizen of the Amer.
ican Republic, He proposes to enter formal
protest as d citizen against the ruling of the
Secretary of State in his case 1t is question
that be feels interested in having settled wheth-
or he is citizen of the United States or ci5-
zen Of France, and whether as a naturalized
citizen of this country he has any rights that
Napoleon is bound to respect. Cincinnati
Commercial