The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-30
American Citizens Abroad ---The Nat
UraliZatiOn Question.

Gov. WRIGHT, the American Minister at
Berlin, has secured the discharge of CHRIS
TIAN ERNST, an American naturalized citi-
zen, from the army of Hanover. We have
yet to be informed, however, of the terms in
which the concession to the representations
of our government has been made by the
government of Hanover. 1t would be in
teresting to know whether the point was
yielded as one of principle or in Difference to
the comfy of nations, as was done by the
government of France on former occasion.
Mr.. BERNAYs, the editor OF the St. Louis
AnSeiger DIES Westens, one of the numerous
American journalists who have visited Eu-
rope within the last twelve months, writes
from Berlin, urder date of August II,
the following concerning the case of Mr..
ERNST;
"Mr. Wright, the American Minister
here, informs me, and authorizes me to pub
lish the fact, that in this matter the Hano.
verian authorities have not only overstepped
the limits of Justice, but have likewise been
guilty of the most disgraceful and brutal
conduct towards Mr.. Ernst. At the age of
nineteen mot ten, as Mr.. Cass' dispatch has
it,) Mr.. Ernst left Hanover and settled in
Ohio, where he subsequently acquired the
right of an American citizen. Some months
ago he returned to Hanover, on a visit to
some relatives in the town of Peine, in the
district of Norheim, when he was arrested
on charge of owing military service, was
thrown into prison, and obliged for several
DAYS to associate with the meanest criminals
and to share their fare, and after being
robbed by some officials of his passports, one
hundred and sixty dollars in gold and his
clothing, was dressed in the uniform of re-
cruit, and thrust into the ranks of the Han
overian infantry. When he left Hanover
his name had not appeared in the conscrip-
ton and he was clear from debt yet in
spite of this and of his American passport,
upon his return he was treated like the COM
mOnest criminal.
"Mr. Wright has forwarded to Hanover,
accompanied with the documents emanating
from Messrs. Cass and Black regarding this
affair, despatch demanding the immediate
release of Mr.. Ernst from the Hanoverian
service, and naturalization for the treat
ment he has been subjected to, and for his
loss of time. He informed the Hanoverian
government that this demand was not sim
ply to be considered as diplomatic notif-
cation from the President through him, but
that the whole American people felt them
selves aggrieved by the course Hanover had
chosed to take, and required satisfaction for
the insult. believe Hanover has requested
time to take this demand into considera-
ton.
al presume however, that Mr.. Wright
will succeed in his efforts to liberate Mr..
Ernst, without settling the principle, as he
did in the case of Mr.. Hoffman, of the firm
of Hoffman & Gelpcke, of Chicago, whose
property had been confscated here on &C
count Of some supposed services due the
government from Mr.. Hoffman, as Prussian
subject. The Prussian government to avoid
difficulties, or the yielding of principle,
'pardoned Mr.. Hoffman. 1t were pity
if Hanover should now follow that example,
for, as above limited, our government could
easily bring these hop O. y-thumb German
States to their Senses"
The letter of Mr.. BERNAY's was written
previous to the release of Mr.. ERNST. and
therefore does not tell us whether be was
pardoned, or set at liberty in consequence of
Hanover yielding all that was claimed in
the letter of Gen. CAss concerning the rights
of American naturalized citizens while visit
ing Europe.