The Nevada journal., 1859-07-29
Friday Morning, July %, 1859.
Foreigners and the Administration.

-
ministration side relative to the doctrines
set forth in the letters Of General Cass
on naturalization questions, we sum the
argument up in the following two propo-
sitions, one of which involves question
of international law. and the other is a
nero assertion of national policy,
First. il is declared that it would be
ridiculous for our government to claim
the natives of other countries. who, ow-
ing military or other service to those
countries, had come to our shores ard
had taken upon themselves the rights
and duties of American citizenship, be-
cause it would be intermeddling with
the municipal regulations of other ma
tions. which is not sanctioned by any in,
ternational code.
Second, it would be ridiculous as well
as perllous to attempt to carry out the
doctrines laid down by John NJ. Bolts,
because we have not :he power to sup.
port our pretensions, and would bring
upon us the combined ornaments of
Europe.
To these points are the administration
arguments principally directed. We
shall offer few brief remarks on these
'impregnable' points.
As to the allegation that protection
TO an American citizen abroad may he
an interference with the municipal reg
ulations Of other countries, we have to
say that 10 country has right to mu,
nicipal regulations that contravene the
laws of nations. Admit the proposition
that every country can establish munic-
ipal laws of such import, and you deny
The right of a nation to defend its native
b'rn subjects while on a foreign soil
National laws are superior to local or
municipal when the rights of citizenship
come within their scope. as is always the
case. 1t may be urged that the position
taken by John NJ. Bolts, that an adopted
citizen is entitled to every protection due
the native born, is not sanctioned by in
ternational law. Itmay lie true that by
no treaty has the American doctrine of
denationalization been directly admitted
but there are instances where foreign
! governments have acceGea to the Amer
loan doctrine when the United States
have demanded the liberation Of natu-
rallied citizens impressed into service
in the land of their nativity-a service
from which they escaped and which was
claimed TO be still due. These instances
furnish plecedents; they establish suf-
6cient recognition Of the righteousness
of the American doctrine of naturaliza-
'ion for all practical purposes and will
answer instead of actual treaty stipula-
sions on the point. 1t seems clear that
the United States are not bound to know
what obligations foreigner is under
~ thC Couhil VI HIS Blllu tHC
he applies for American citizenship -
The presumption is that he comes to
our shores with the consent of his gov
ornment. He either comes with it s
consent or escapes by its neglect, and
in either case it should not take advan-
taSe of its own errors of omission or
commission.
AS to the second point in the argu-
ment, that it would be ridiculous and
perilous 10 attempt protection of natu-
rallied citizens in certain cases, on the
ground of want of power, we suggest
that the proposition itselfis both ridicu
lous and cowardly. The question only
involved is one of right, and no nation
which aspires to honorable greatness
will take into consideration tho alterna-
tives Of disaster and disgrace. The
United States have the power, and if
her citizens have right to protection
that power should be used in their de-
fense. The time to assert our right is
now. Every consideration of policy SO
Hectares. While the European powers
are exhausing themselvesin bloody wars
is the time for us to obtain clea: rec~
pgnition of the rights of our citizens
The idea that France or Austria will
send fleets and armies to fight us long
bnd determinedly in preference to surrc :
lering a few dozen soldiers out of then
millions in arms is simply absurd. They
have all the wars they can attend to,
bnd would rather surrender ten thous-
nd men on a reasonable demand, than
have war with America.
CABIN BuRyT-The cabin of Rogers,
RUE and Williams, On Christmas Hill
,ear little York cauph fire on TUESDAY