Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-17
Naturalizsd Citizens Explanation.


DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June
II, lS59.-SIg: In answer t. your letter OF
the 9TH instant, have 10 inform You that
the brief letter from this Department, 10
which you refer. dated the lIth OF May last
and addressed To Mr.. Felix lie Clerk. WAS IN
respect To ~ application Tor Ini"rmatio'i' ana
WAS principally intended 10 recommend eau
ton to our naturalized fellow citizens, natives
of France. in returning to that country, n
the operations of the French consumption
law were not precisely known here, and might
bear injuriouSly upon that class OF American
citizens. Most of the continental European
nations have system of military "rsanha
ton by which their citizens are compelled 10
serve in the army, BY CONSUMPTION rs III
France, where the duty is designated by lot'
or by draft rs in Prussia, where every por-
son is required t" take his turn as soldier
The condition of American naturalHed citl-
Gems returning 10 their native country, where
the system of compulsory service prevails,
and who had left before performing such ser
vice, has frequently been the subject Of dis
,.ussou with some OF the European powers.
Quite recently il has arisen between the l nj
ted States and Prussia. aud the represents
tive of this country at the court OF Berlin has
| brought the matter u the attention al tile
Prussian government In the instructions
which were sent to him, dated May II,
1889, it was explicitly stated that this
Government is opposed 10 the doctrine
OF perpetual allegiance and MAINTAINS the
right of repatriation and the right to
form new political ties elsewhere. Upon
this subject it is observed that, I'm tins age
Of the world, the idea of controlling the clti-
zen in the choice Of home. and binding HIM
by mere political theory To mhabit Tor his
lifetime country which ne constantly de
sires to leave, can hardly be entertained hy
any government whatever The position
of the United States, as communicated To the
minister at Berlin for the information ot the
Prussian government, is, that native-born
Prussians, naturalized III the United States
and returning 10 the country OF their birth,
are not liable to any duties or penalties cX-
cept such a. were existing at the period al
their emigration. II at that time they were
in the army, or actually called INTO II, such
emigration and naturalization do not exempt
them from the legal penalty which they IN
Cured by their desertion; but tins penalty
may be enforced against them whenever they
voluntarily place themselves within the local
jurisdiction of their native country, and shall
be proceeded against according to law. But
when no present liabilities exist against
them at the period Of their emigration,
the law of nations, in the opinion OF
this Government, gives no right to any
country to interfere with naturalned Amer
lean citizens and the attempt 10 do so
would he considered an act unjust in itself
and unfriendly towards the United States
This question cannot, of course. arise IN the
case of a naturalized citizen who remains III
the United States 1t is on Y when he vol
UNFAIRLY returns to his native country that its
local laws can be enforced against him.
| am, sir, your obedient servant.
LEWIS CASS.
To a. Y. liofER, Esq, Cincinnati, Ohio.