The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-09-21
From the Detroit Free Press, Sept. 10.
American Adopted Citizens Abroad--'
Triun,pk of the Democratic Doctrine.

From the Detroit Free Press, Sept 10.
American Adopted Citizens Abroad---
Triup,ph of the Democratic Doctrine.
Among the telegraphic dispatches in
our yesterdays issue was the following
dated at Washington, Sept. 18Th:
"The State Department has received lnior-
nation from our Minister ut Berlin that CHRIS
finn Ernst an American naturalized citlzen, VINO
had been eompelled by force TO enter the Han
overian army, has, upon the remonstrance OF
our government, been discharged from the SER
vice."
The case of this man Ernst was that
in which Gen. Cass addressed the dis
patch which we published some time back
to our Minister at Berlin, in which he
took such high and bold ground in favor
of the rights of American adopted citi-
zens who may temporarily return to the
country of their birth. "The moment
foreigner becomes naturalized," was tho
language of that dispatch, " his allegi-
ance to his native country is severed for
'eyer. He experiences n new political
birth. A broad and impossible line
separates him from his native country.
He is no more responsible for any thing
he may say or do, or omit TO say or do,
after assuming his new character, than
If he had been born in the United States.
SHOULD he return to his native country
'he returns rs an American citizen and
in no other character. In order TO en-
title his original government TO punish
him for an offence, this must have been
committed whilst he was q subject and
lowed allegiance TO that government
THE offence must have been complete be-
fore his expatriation. IT. must have been
of such character that he might have
'been tried and punished for it at the mo-
'ment of his departure. A future liabil-
ity TO serve in the army will not be suf
ficient; because, before the time can mr.
rive for such service, he has changed his
allegiance, and has become citizen OF
the United States" Whether the gov
eminent of Hanover, in yielding to the
circumstances of our minister, fully ac-
ceded to the doctrine announced by Gen.
Cass, we cannot of course at this mo.
ment state. 1t was undoubtedly upon
the basis of this doctrine that the dis
charge of Ernst was asked, and if Han
over had been ut all inclined to hold OF
to the contrary doctrine of perpetual al
legiance, she would hardly have complied
with the demand of our Minister. Ger
tainly she would not have complied with
out protest that the act must not be con
strued into acknowledgment Of the Amer
lean democratic doctrine. We are in
clned to the belief that Hanover ha;
agreed to the American democratic doc
trine, as most of the European govern
ments will probably agree to it as The
subject shall be brought before them by
the government of the United States.--
Thus will another great and valuable prin
ciple of international law have been set
tied.
In this connection, we desire to agail
direct attention to the impudence an
falschood of one of the resolutions of tn
recent New York black republican Stat
convention, in these words: "that we alb
hor and reprobate the doctrine Of tn
present Federal administration whicl
abandons the adopted citizens who ma
be sojourning in foreign countries, eithe
for tho purposes of business or pleasure
to the tender mercies of French drill-ser
geants and Austrian jailers." Could i'm
pudence 90 further? Could more pos
tive falsehood have been generated in p
many lines?
Deeds are of more value than words
Some of tho opposition journals and politi
clans have expended any quantity of word
over the wrongs to which adopted citizen
going abroad may be subject, at the sam
time keeping silence rs to the wrongs L
which adopted citizens are subject, il
Massachusetts. The pathos Of their sym
patty has been most sublime. The dem
ocratic press has expended few words il
the matter, and the democratic govern
ment at Washington has done no more il
that way than to permit Gen. Cass' dis
patch TO the American Minister at Berlin
to be published. Its actions has beel
deeds rather than words. And we Sc
what has been accomplished by thes
deeds. The precedent has been set tina
American adopted citizens have the sam
rights abroad rs native American citizens
and that the government will protect ther
in these rights The uniform practice c
opposition administrations has been I
"abandon adopted citizens who may b
sojourning in foreign lands, either for til
purposes of business or pleasure, TO tn
tender mercies Of French drill-sergeant
and Austrian jailers."
Great Fire IN Chicago.