The Van Buren press., 1859-07-06
Lsr The following important letter OF
~.,'""'ary CASs, to a. V. WoFER of Gin
'ihna'i' Is "ot''-v Of a careful perusal
WAsHINoroN. June Ia. 1859.


WAsHINoroN, June IA, 1889.
SIR--In answer to your letter of ths 9th
inst, l have To infolm Won that the ib,iet
letter from this Department to wb;cl Won
refer, dated the 7th OF May last, ana alir ire,s-
ed to Mr.. Felix L.ecerc, was in reply to =,
application for Information. and was brinci-
paily intended to recommend cautionto oul
naturalized fellow citizens, natives OF France
in returning to that country, as the Opera
tions OF French conscrpt law were lpt pre-
cisely known here, and might bean injuri-
ousiy upon that class of American dtizens
Most OF the Continental European hations
have system of military organization by
which their citizens are compelled TO scry,
in the army by conscription, as inEFrance
where the duty is designated by lt, or by
draft, as in Prussia, where every berson j.
required to take his turn as a soldier.
The condition of American nuuralized
citizens returning to their native country
where the system of compulsory service
prevails, and who had left before bel form
ing such service. has frequently Icenethe
subject of discussion with some OF the En-
ropean powers. Quite recently it has arisen
between the United States and Prussia. and
the representative of this county at the
Court of Berlin has brought the matter to
The attention OF the Prussian Government
In the instructions which were sent to him
dated May II, 1859, it was explicitly stat
ed that this Government is opposed to the
doctrine of perpetual allegiance, and main
talns the right OF expatration aid the right
to iolm new political ties elsewhere. Up
on thus subject it is observed, that in thi,
age of the wo;;l1 the idea Of controlling the
citizen in the choice Of a hone, and bind
ing him by mere political theory to inhab
II Tor his lifetime n country which he con-
stantly desires to leave, can hardly be en- :
tertalned by any government whatever.
1he position oi the Cnitel States as
conmuni eated to the Ministe, at Berlin for
the information of the Prussiai government
is that native BON Russians haturalized in
the Cmtcd states and return NJ to the conn
Try OF their bnth, are not liatle to any du
ties or penalties, except such as were exist
ing at the period of their emigration. II
al that tim they Were in ths amy or act.,-
any ca INTO 1t. such anig,ation and
na'ui a a,.a'a'i9h 90 not exempt the legal pen
any "hAch tAey incurred bythcir desertion,
p"i 'his penal'y nlsy be en- orced against
'neta Whenever they shall voluntarily p!a e
within The local Jurisdiction -,
'iei' naive country. AMI shat be proceed
- "ess"Ai.s'S accontins 70 las. Gui Nsl,cn ne
present haoilit3es exist against iham ayThe
pe'iod oi their emigration, .ne lnw ot ma.
dohs' IN TIE opinion of this -.oye,Dntnt
gives no 1ght % any country 10 iniaricrs
WIN natuiaiized American citizens. snnd
the attempt to do SO would be considered An
a. az Iillss' IN itsen AMI unl,iendly towards
'ie onitea ftates. This question caunot of
oei"e a,iss III the ease ot u nstulalized
t.'!Nen :. ~ho remains II che United States.
II IS only when he volntarially returns to
MS native country thai its local laws can be
enforced agf inst him. -
am sir, your obedient servant.
E\NlS