Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-21

Citizens.
The whole circle of inconsistency has at length
been travelled BY the Know NOthiDgs, and they APP
pear as the defenders Of these same ns.uraliled
citizens Of whom they thought 50 little four years
ago Lately Mr.. LEcLERc, native of France,
wrote to Gen oAss, Secretary Of State, letter Of
inquiry the subject Of the rights Of nsturalized
citizens, returning to France The reply of Gen
cAss briefly stated The fact of the existence Of
certain Law Of France by which citizens Of tina.
country are held to be liable to military service not
with view to express any opinion TO the propri-
ETY. or improperly Of that law bat with the belevo-
lent purpose Of warning natives Of France who may
have emigrstel to this country before they have
discharged their liability to serve in the French
army, aud have become naturalized citizens of the
United States, that in case they return to France,
and bring themselves within the Jurisdiction of the
municipal laws Of France, they expose themselves
to be required to fulfil the obligations which thsy
had incurred prior 70 their emigration The letter
did not raise the question Of the rights liabilities
Of the nsturalzed citizen. Yet tits from this brief
statement Of the claim of France that Know Meth
ings now express as much spParenr surprise IS
though they hsd always been the friends Of the nat
uTali1ed citizen.
A letter from General 0Ass TO Mr.. HoFER,
of Cincinnati, clearly enunciates the views If
the Government Of the Uuited States both as
to the right of expslristiou and the protection
extended to sll those citizens of foreign nations.
who exercise it BY becoming DaturaIiaed citizens of
this r4public-pretec ION ia sil the privileges of
their adopted domioile BOT only within the limits Of
the United StatOs, bu' in every country in the world
The Secretary (ssys the Washington CcnstitatiOa)
explains, with equal brevity and effect, the position
Of the United States with regard to EaturaliEed cit
liens who may voluntarily return TO tae country Of
their birth, which is, that "thsy got liable 10
any duties or penalties except such as were existing
at the period of their emigration" of which tie
naturslized citizen is always aware, and to..Whch
be can only be subjected by VoluHtartly placing him.
self within the jurisdiction Of the municipal law Of
thu country Of which he is q native Il cannot be
said that there is anything harsh to the nsturslized
citizen in this Interpretation of the law of nations
since the operation of the municipal law of foreign
States fer penalties incurred By natnraized citizens
before they left their native country is not confined
to them.
If native citizen of the United States had COM
mitted a crime, or subjected himself to penalties
under the municipal laws of Prussia France, or
any other foreign country, in the absences of any
treaty stpulstioDs his exradion cannot, Of course
be demanded from this Government, but il he vol
unfairly returns within the limits of those countries
wherein the crime was committed or the penalty
incurred, he would be properly subjected to the
punishment awarded to his offence by the municipal
laws of those States The prinoifa al is that where
crimes have been committed or penalties incurred
by an individual under the munisiple laws of the
State of his bitS, he cannot avoid those penalties
that punishment by natUrals alton il foreign
country in case of his return to the place of his
nativity. The municipal laws of one nation, whether
Of naturalization, exemption, otherwise, have
extra territorial effect by any Retrospective
energy to repeal the laws Of another State which
had been violated by native of that State prior to
his emigration here, in case of his return. He has
the same privileges and protection here and else
where as a native, and no more.
The following is the letter from Gen. CAss above
referred to: