New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-21
FROM FLASHING TON.
F,om o.. Own Correspondent.

btlis ". Ofi4 Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July ~, 1883.
Contrasts have already been made Of the various
POSITIONS which the Administration has assumed
concerning the rights of adopted citizens abroad.
BIT since the Attorney General has tried his hand
at tbs business, after the failure Of Others it may
be just IS well to compare las views upon one OF
TIE cases on which the Department of State mas
pronounced judgment with theirs in order that the
public may see how wide is the gulf which sepa-
rates members of the same Administration, and
how pos lively they disagree with each other. IL
will oe remembered that the first letter on tins
subject was addressed to Mr.. LIE Clerc ofMemphis,
native of France, but naturalized citizen OF the
United States. Now, see what the Secretary of
State and tie Attorney General say IN regard to his
case:
Mr. SECRETARY CAss. Mr.. ATToRVEY-GFyERAL
q" | nave to state thatl BLACK.
II is Understood that the I" France has done the
French Government caimsI same (estabi-hed perma-
military service from all nent system OF naturaza-
o France who may tom, and, beside that, has
be found within lta Jurl>dic declared IN the Code Ndp
rop Your Observation-Disclosures Art. Ia that the quai
IN this country will not eXIity OF frenchnan VIII ne
.mp, Won from that caiInllost 10y naturalization in Il
should you voluntarily re'liofegh country
pair thither.'
These Democratic doctors disagree entirely, and
if the position taken by the Attorney General be
well founded then that Of the Secretary OF state
g entirely erroneous. The latter told Mr lie
Clerc plainly his naturalization would not exempt
him from military service, and the former ssys eN-
phctly that the fact OF naturalization dvests nun
of the character OF a Frenchman under French
law, and, therefore, that France could not assert
clam to military service on any PreteXt whatever.
Hence the Ies,rdnt imposed upon Mr.. lie Clerc
wac Illegal. Is IT possible that upOa SO serious d
subject as one involving the personal liberty oil u
citizen abroad the Department oi State Was really
ignorant of the local law applicable t. his case
This presumption is forced By the facts, and exhib-
its the Government In an attitude before foreign
.oations which Is shameful and Illuminating no mat
Ter whether one Department or the other be right.
To our credit, be u sp Jken, such spectacle has
lever oeeu presented before.
Mr.. NcIsne VIII return from Mexico before
long IN disgust. He has fingered there for months
and s mol further advanced to day in the negotla-
ton which he undertook than when lie left the
United States. Juarez is penucd in at Vera Cruz,
lust Ne when our Minister first met him, and the
tactous chiefs under h'm, after fighting MlramOn
always, however, ~ n saving distance, are no
QsarTehng among themselves, thus rendering con.
fusion worse confoundcd. lie can make no suci
treaty is wanted here, for the very suspicion o
II would eXtloguish the last hope and prOspe o
revival for the Liberal Cause. The Admdlstra
lion has no money 10 advance and no credit IL lend
Without the previous authority of Congress, i
could not RAISE dollar, aud with il, the pros
pect would NOT De very fatterng for suchsn object
And, So far AS men are concerned, Jusrez want,
the privilege OF picking them hl Dself. He has the
same horror OF hhUusters that others of the
Spanish. American race have been taught by bitter
experience 10 have, and would rather ste Santa
Anns OF Mramon IN has camp thsn gang q
these desperate adyentUrers, who are supposed (,
combine the high qualifications of pirates and cut
throats. And II is 10y no means an Improbable con
tDgency that he may he calling upon the Goyern
ment here for protection against these pretende,
friends, who are now organizing armed expeditions
in dferent part. Of the nion lie wants troops Il l.
true but not such as have followed the fortunes o
Walker, or who are ready for any other adventure
which promises gain sud excitement. The severa
thousand volunteers who have been enrolling them
selves for tfe past month have not yet starred upor
their Journey, and II is said there Is many slip be-
tween the cup and the lp lt viii be time enough Il
talk of their plans after they have gone. Until then
il might be Improbable, in the present aspect o.
things. JpaIez's Minister of Finance has preceded
his Minister of War, showing that he attaches more
Importance 10 tie money tnan 10 the men. And
perhaps he is night in his preference, since one may
b. easily commanded alter the other has been
secured.