Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-07-23
LIPRESSJfENT or AMERICAN CITIZENS

InPRESSJfENT or AMERICAN CITIZENS.
Mr. Kollach, naturalised Prussian, residing
in Patterson, n j., while on a visit to his ma
tive land was impressed into the Prussian army.
This is the second Pattersonian delivered I'm TO
foreign servitude within few months. BY the
Prussian law every man is a soldier from eiqh-
teen to forty years of age consequently, accord.
ing to the doctrine laid down by Secretary Cass
and sanctioned by the present democratic adj
ministration, if man leaves Prussia between
those ages, comes to the United States, is nat
uralized and returns again to his native coun-
try he is liable to impressment into the Prus.
sian military service, and there is no power in
our government to give him protection.
Under MIR Fillmore's administration a differ
ent rule prevailed, at least so far as France is
concerned. We quote the following precedent
NOM the ave" ioiH isaI"oss against
he koszta case is not the only precedent Here
Is what Mr. Fillnores administration claimed on our
sidc and what Louis Napoleon yielded theirs only
six years ago:
Francis ALBERT, native Of tie Department de
Var IN the south Of France left there during the draw
hgo the CONSUMPTION in 1889, and actually drawn
ana was therefore fChdDe de
ser1phon He arrived ut New Orleans, made the usual
application for citizenship, and duly nnturnlized
IN ls4o lie was successful in business in Louisiana
and III july 1882 after mn absence OF nearly fourteen
years. he returned TO his family in his native village.
and under the vigant police in France he was arres-
ted IN twenty four hours after his return. He mme-
datelv wrote to Mr.. Hodge, the nearest American
Consul. The latter that he mrht the better attend
TO the case Immediately requested that Mr.. ALBERT
might be brought to Marscilles, which request was
promptly acceded to by the generakin-chief COM
manding the military division. He was there brought
before the Tribunal de Gudrre MS an tusofus and con
demned. Mr.. ALBERT was willing to nav four tbous
and francs for substitute, but Mr. Hodge would not
allow lin even to make the offer but obtaining n re-
nearing OF his case, appeared in person before the
Tribunal de Guerre and pleaded tie case; and after
two trials and detention of six months he was ac-
knowedged All American citizen, and orders came
from the Minister of War Paris directing his release
ar hodge gave him a passport which yised
by the police, and with which he remained some
weeks with his family, travelled through France, aud
embarked at Havre on his return the United States
Inc correspondence on file In the Department OF
otate gives the full details of the case, and Mr. Ever
cit, the Secretary Of State under Mr. Fillmore on the
I'D OF March, 1865, 1.-THE last day he was in Office
he says:
1.-The Department gratified to learn that Mr.
Ailibert, whose arrest and Imprisonment as an inso,-
nus, although n natunlized citizen of the United
States as mentioned in your communications has
been released. This is undoubtedly due to the firm
and decided stand maintained throughout the long
controversy in your official correspondence with the
authorities on the subject.
ut is much to be desired that this case NAV be
considered as precedent, you intimate and that
hereafter naturazed citizens of the United States
may visit France without danger Of arrest for military
service In this event hurtu source of irritation
and nniriendly feeling will be avoided,
NOV, II billiard Fillmore, Edward Everett Iouis
Napoleon, and the French Ministry in 1923 decided
that Frenchman actually drawn as conscript was
exempt from service because Of his American natural
izaon, might not the present administration the par
excellence friend of natualzed foreigners have look
ed into these latter, and of more authoritative
precedent' before writing their lie Clerc and Hofer
When the French Government yields her local
laws we ought not force cur citizens into her con-
script serrice."