Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-07-21
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alton and the right to form new
political ties elsewhere. In this age
of the world the idea of controlling
the citizen in the choice Of a home,
and binding him by mere political
theory, to inhabit for a life time
a country which hs constantly de-
sires to leave, can hardly be enter
tanned by any government whatever.
| understand Gen. Cass in his
letter to Hoier, to which YOU call
my attention, as repudiating this
doctrine of perpetual allegiance, and
as simply admitting the right Of all
governments, to punish crime, inc!u- /
ding the crime Of desertion, accor-
ding to the law of that government,
when the party voluntarily places
himself within its jurisdiction.
regret to Say however, that
there has been some conflict Of
opinion amongst American statesmen
upon this question Of perpetu al ale
glance, and that portion of them
have not always been ready to ex-
tend protection to the naturalized
citizens abroad, as will be seen by
reference to the following note dated
June LIST, 1852, from MIR, Webster.
Secretary Of State, under the Fill
more administration:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, June l, 1852.
SIR: | have to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter to Mr.. Reddnil
Of the 9th ullimo, inguiling whether
Mr.. Victor B. D5pierre, nntive Of
France, but naturaizod citizen of
the United States, can expect the
protection Of :his Government in that
country when proceeding thithcr
with a passport from this Department,
In reply, | have to inform you, that
if. as is understood to be the fact,
the government of France does not
acknowledge the right Of natives
of that country to renounce their al
legiance, ii may lawfully claim their
services when found within French
Jurisdiction.
| am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obGdiept, servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
In zig note to Ignacio Token, da-
ted June 18th, 1852, Dir. Webster
says:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,l
Washington, June %, 80.
The respect paid to any passport
granted by this Department to a
naturalized citizen, formerly a sub
Iiject Of Spain, will depend upon the
laws of that Nation in relation to
the allegiance due its authority by
its native born subjects. If that
government recognizes the right of
its subjects to denationalize them
selves, and assimilate with the cit
liens Of other countries. the usual
passport will be a safeguard to you;
bu. if allegiance to the Crown of
Spain may not legally be renowned
by its subjects, you must expect to
be liable to The obligations Of Spsn-
ish subject if you voluntarily place
yourself within the Jurisdiction Of
that government.
Under the same administration,
Mr.. Everett, Secretary Of State, adj
dressed letter to our Minister at
Berlin, under date of 14th Of Janua-
~, 1858, in reference to several cas-
es which had been presented by that
Minister. ''The question raised"
Mr.. Everett writes, has received
the particular attention of the PreSi-
dent" The following extracts sulli-
GENTLY state the doctrine:
"If, then, a Prussian subject, born
and living under this state Of law,
chooses to emigrate to foreign coun-
try without obtaining the certificate
which alone can. discharge him from
the obligation Of military services, he
takes that step at his own risk. He
elects to go abroad under the burden
of a duty which he owes to his gov
eminent. His departure is of the
nature of an escape from her laws;
and if, at any subsf quent period, hei
is indiscreet enough to return to
his native country, be cannot COM
plain if those laws are executed to
his disadvantage. His case resem.
bles that of a soldier or sailor enlis-
ted by CONSUMPTION or other COM
pulsory process in the army or navy.
If he should desert the service of
his country, and thereby lender him
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