Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-12
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
TUESDAY. JULY IL, 1859.
Does Gov. Harris Repudfate the Adj
ministration a--And II so, will the
Administration adopt the View OF
Gov. HarrisY


Administration adopt the View OF
GOV. HARRIS
These are pertinent questions. If either
Aahomet shall go to the mountain, or the
mountain to Mahomet, which shall perform
the feat? The letter of Gov HARRIS to GER
tain of our naturalized citizens is charac-
teristic-it is almost as definite and GER
tain as his position on the bank question.
Does it really commit him against the posi-
-tion Of the administration, laid down in
the letters of Gen. CAss to LeClerc and
Hofer2 1t would seem so but for the follow
Ing passage:
~ 81 understand Gen. Cass in his letter to
Hofer. to which you call my attention, as
pudiating this doctrine of perpetual al
legance. and as simply admitting the right
of all governments 10 punish crime. including
the crime of desertion, according the law of
that gov ernment when the party voluntarily
places himself within Its jurisdiction"
Was this intended as saving clause? Ac-
cording to this Interpretation of the Hofer
letter, the failure to perform certain military
service due to the foreign government, before
emigration and expatriation, is placed on the
footing of 1.-THE crime Of desertion." The only
question submitted to Gen. CAss, was, whether
foreign government had the right to exact
and enforce military service on the part of one
who, having been former subject is
now a naturalized citizen Of the United
States, upon his return to that counry.
This question Gen. CAss answered affirmative
ly. Gov. HARRIS constru,s this answer as
simply admitting the right of all govern
ments 10 punish crime, Including The crime Of descr-
ton." Aud in this we understand him to con-
cur. Gov. HARRIS may well hold the doctrine
that 1.-THE rights TO protection and the duties of
theAmerican citizen whether notire or natural
izd, are precisely the same" without con-
hict with the administration so long as he
holds that the failure to perform the military
srvice required by the local law of foreign
country. is equivalent to "the crime of deser-
tion" Is this satisfactory to those who ask
81 him for his views of their ''rights and res
possibilities as naturalzed citizens, visiting
their fatherland?" Do they admit that they
committed 1.-THE crime of desertion," when
they, in the exercise of the natural rights of
man, chose to quit their native country and
transfer their allegiance to this-though the
law of that country required military service
of all is male subjects between certain ages.
Are they willing to place themselves or sui
fer themselves to be placed, in the category
of CRIMINALS" when questions relating to
their citizenship, and their "rights and res
possibilities" as citizens. are passing under
review? II so, then the letter of Gov. HAIR
RIs must prove entirely satisfactory.
But admitting, for the present argument,
that Gov. HARRIS places himself in direct
and unequivocal antagonism to the Admins
tration on this subject, what guarantee has
the naturalzed citizen, that the rights of pro-
lection. thus conceded, will be respected by
che great national democratic party? Will
the letter of Gov. HARRIS cause the adj
ministration to change its avowed policy
Will the mountain come to Mahomet, or will
Mabomet be forced TO go TO the mou ntain
Will Mr.. LECtERC, or Mr.. HoRER, or Mr..
ERNST, or any others of our thousands of
naturalized citizens, who may desire 10 visit
their native land. venture to do so on the
faith that Gov. Harris letter will protect
them, even against the declarations of Gen.
CAss! What could possibly be more ridicu-
lous than for Mr.. BHIAOD or Mr.. METz or any
other natnralized citizen returning to his fa-
therland. aud, upon being arrested and forced
of into the army, pull out copy of Gov.
HARRIs' letter, in vindication of his rights
and TO effect his released Not one OF them
would be silly enough to do So Then, what
does Gov. HARRIS position amount to!
Just precisely nothing at all. The demo-
cratic administration at Washington have
taken its position. and that, for the time
bling and during its existence, will govern
its action, unless il retraces its steps 1t
matters not what Gov. HARMS may say or
do, the democratic party ,as represented by its
head, is committed 10 n grave and startling
error. We suggest that the gentlemen TO
whom Gov. HARRIS addressed his letter, shall
enclose copy oft to Gen. Cxss, and ask him |
lift will have the effect to modify bis opin-
ions. and lift will insure them protection in |
visiting their fatherlandr