The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1859-08-05
Gov. wise on the Rights OF Natur.,,s.s
Citizens.

RICHMOND, June 10, 1859
To MAJ L. Mage, Esq: Absence
has delayed my reply to yours of the
10th inst.
/ have not time TO elaborate an
opinion upon the letter of Gen. Cas-.
dated Washington, May IL, 1859. ad.
dressed to Mr.. Felix LIE Clere, Of Mem
phis, Tenn. saying TO him, .'Your nat.
uralization in this country will not ex-
empt you from that claim" (the claim
of the'Freneh Government to military
service from all natives Of France who
may be found within its jurisdiction
IF you shall voluntarily repair tbither,"
Ito Franae.)
My opinion is, that this concession
BY our Government is an aboudon.
ment of one ofthe most precious Amer
lean doctrines ever established BY our
patriots for free people. And regret
that Democratic Administration has
endorsed it as laid down by its Wing
| predecessor in the Department Of State.
MIR. Edward Everett, following The au.
thority of Wheaton.
The United States first established
the right of experimentation and the
solemn ceremony of naturalization on
investing foreigners with citizenship.
binding them to allsgiate, and contracting
TO give them protection whenever bY
oath and residence they should become
as native born. The old despot;sm
held to the maxim-" Once citizen
always citizen" The new republic
set up new refuge of liberty, and as.
serted that birth and nativity should
not limit the rights Of man. She es-
tablished naturalization of those
who choose to expatriate themselves.
It was for this we declared the last war
with Great Britain. She claimed the
right to seize her native citizens on
board our ships. This we fought TO
resist. We said that when her natives
were once naturalized here, they be-
came as if they were born. That is,
in fact, the meaning of naturalization.
Well, as We would not permit England
to seize our native born, so we would
not permit her to seine the naturalized
citizens of America, for the reason that
naturalization put them on the footing
of native born.
Again, Mr.. Cass may say that he
limits the case to those who yoluntari-
" go-to France and are natives ofthat
country. But be admits there within
her jurisdiction, the claim to military
service.
Now, military service is a political
duty, belonging wherever allegiance is
due; and inasmuch as we swear By an
oath the native Of France naturaiiSed
here to renouncc allegiance. to. that
country, and to every prince and poten-
tate on earth, citizen Of France, natu-
rallied here, owes allegiance, by our
laws, to the United States, and has re-
nounced allegiance to France. She
ought net to claim allegiance Of our
citizens against our laws. Again The
naturalized citizen not only renounces
allegiance, by our laws, to his native
country, but by the same law we adopt
him as one of our citizens to an intents
and purposes, and we contract 10 give
him protection as we give it TO our
native born. Naturalization is thus a
contract between a subject and soser.
eign; allegiance is the consideration on
other. The subject swears allegiance
to the United States, and the United
States promises protection to him.
Thus, the laws Of every country must
prevail in its own jurisdiction. But
this is law as to municipal and crimi.
nal and commercial relations, not as 10
political. A native or naturalized citi.
zed citizen Of the United States made
the same by their laws, may be in
France aud must observe the laws
there-mast pay, for example, customs
and duties or penalties for crime there.
But neither the one no more than the
other Is bound to do military duty
there, because it is a political duty
which. relates to allegiance, aud not
TO residence or adjournment or travel
IN trensitu. In word, the natural.
lied may be compelled to do and OBJ.
serve whatever the native citizens may
be compelled to do and observe in
France, but no more; and so The
United States have contracted with
him. And political must be distin-
guished from other duties as to other
class of citizens.
The Old World has never recogniz.
ed these American doctrines; but they
are the true American doctrines, and
the United States is bound to afford
protection in the case supposed by Mr..
Cas-. He is but following Mr.. Everett