The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1859-07-30

hold that man can voluntarily expatriate
bimself--can assume new rights and obliga-
lions, but in this all Europe and the acknowl-
edged laws of nations are against us. As
political right we can maintain it within our
own sovereignty jurisdictions; but beyond
that we must abide by the law of nations.
until by treaty stpulations and the moral
and physical power we can bring to bear,
those laws can he so amended as to conform
to our doctrines We have said that our
flag upon the high seas nationaizes all that
it covers, and upon this principle we fought
the war of 1912, yet without any concession
of the Justice of our demand, we ultimately
made peace with Great Britain. We have
endeavored to form treaties with European
powers with a concession of our doctrines
upon this subject embraced therein, but thus
far without success.
AS ajudcal principle, taken in contradis-
tncion to a political principle, our law wri-
tiers and courts have been against us. Judge
Kent in the second volume of his Common
taries, pages AZ, 43 and A, in discussing
this subject says:
The allegiance of our citizens is due, not only
to the local government under which they reside
but primarily to the government of the United
Jtates; and the doctrine OF final and absolute ex-
dairat on requires to be defnd with precision
and to be subject to certain established limi ia
tions, before it can be admitted into our juris
prudence MS a safe and practicable principle. or
laid down broadly as a wise and sal .tary rule of
national polich. She question has been frequent
ly discussed in the Courts of the United States
remains to be definitely settled by judicial decis-
ion"
The learned author goes on to cite mum
Der of cases. which have arisen at different
times in the Federal Courts, wherein the doc
trine of perpetual allegiance has been fully
discussed. After detailing the arguments
used in these cases, for and against, he says:
From this historical review of the principal
discussions in the federal courts on this interest
ing subject in American Jurisprudence, the better
opinion would EN- to be, that citizen cannot
reuounce his allegiance to the United States
without the permission OF Government, to be
declared by law; and thlt, as there is existing
legislative regulations on the case. the rule OF
the English common law remains unaltered."
The difference between those who for the
purpose of hoodwinkng fofs. n citizens into
a belief of a new born friendship in their be-
haf and the democracy, is simply this: We
would extend to them the rights of citizen
ship within the United States, and sustain
them with all the power of the government
in the exercise Of that right under every cir
cumstance, and in every country, save the
single exception made by the Secretary OF
State, and they acould not. The Know-Noth
iags might make them citizens after twenty
one yeals residence in this country, but moth
ing less. The Republicans as evinced by
the legislation of Massachusetts, do not con-
slider them on par with negroes.
These are the facts of the case, and we are
willing to trust to the experience and good
sense of our naturalized citizens, not doubt-
ing but they will do entire justice to the par
ty that has maintained their rights intact,
thus far, against the IN ost furious onsets of
the very politicians who are now assuming to
be superior to others, their friends.
1t is most desirable that the political doc
trines in this behalf should be arknow ledeed
by all mankind bat until they do or we have
the power to enforce obedience to them
against the combined world, we must ir our
intercourse with nations be governed some
what by policy. This every foreign born cit
izen knows when he assumes citizenship I'M
der our laws.