The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-08-03
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The Naturalization Question.

II
The Naturalization Question,
Naturalized citizen Of the United States re.
Gently returned to the kingdom of Hanover his
native country and was there impressed into the
army. When he emigrated to America he vas not
enrolled in the Hanovefian army and had not been
drafted for that duty. He having made complaint
to his government the Secretary of State, Gen.
Cass, addressed Oh the Sth inst, a letter to our
Minister at Berlin in which the following passages
occur. 1t will be seen that the views of Gen. Cass
as to the protective nature Of naturalization arc
given more fully than in his former letters:
The right Of expatriatlon cannot at this day be
doubted or denied in the United States The idea
has been repudiated ever since the origin OF our
government, that a man is bound to remain forever
in the country of his BIRTH and that he has no right
to exercise his free will and consult his own hap
piness by selecting new home. The mosteminent
writer's public law recognize the right ofexpat-
lrfation. This can only be contested by those who
in the nineteenth century are still devoted to the
ancient feudal law with all its oppression. The
doctrine of perpetual allegiance is q relic Of bar
barism which has been gradually disappearing from
Christendom during the last century.
The Constitution of the United States recognizes
the natural right Of expatration, by comforting up
on Congress the power" to establish uniform rule
of naturalization" Indeed, it was one of the griev.
ances alleged against the British King in the
Declaration Of Independence, that he had ZEN
deavored to prevent the population of these State:
for that purpose obstructing the laws of natural
ization Of foreigners, refusing to pass Others to
encourage their migration hither." &C., &c. The
Constitution thus clearly recognizes the principle Of
expatriatien in the strongest manner. 1t would
have been inconsistent in itself and unworty OF the
character Of the authors of that instrument, to hold
OH. inducements to foreigners to abandon their ma
tive government and to become citizens OF the
United States, if they had not been convinced o.
the absolute and unconditional right Of expatria
ton Congress have uniformly acted upon this
principle ever since the commencement CT the fed
eral government. They established "a uniform
rule Of naturalization nearly seventy years ago
There has since been no period in our history wher
laws for this purpose did not exist though theil
provisions have undergone successive changes
| The alien, in order to become citizen, must de
clare on oath or affirmation that be will supper
the Constitution ofithe United States; and, at thu
same time, he is required to absolutely and entirely
renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity t
ever foreign prince potentate State, or sovereign
ty whatever, and particularly, by name, the prince
potentate, State or sovereignty whereof he was be
fore citizen.
! The exercise Of the right Of naturalization, an
the consequent recognition of the principle of ex
patriation, are not confined to the government Q
the United States There is not a country j
Europe, believe, at the present moment, whel
the law does not Authorize tile naturalization {
foreigners in one form or other. Indeed, in som
of these countries this law is more liberal than gu
own towards foreigners.
i The question, then, arises, what rights do on
laws confer upon foreigner by granting him ma
uralization? answer, all the rights, privileges
land immunities which belong to natiye-hor
citizens in their full extent, with the single qualif
cation that under the Constitution, no person e,
cept natural born citizenis eligible tothe oifie
Of President" With this exception, the natura
lied citizen from and after the date of his natura
ization, both at home and abroad, is placed upo
the very same footing with the natyecitizens. Il
is neither in a better nor a worse condition. II
native citizen chooses to take up lis residence In
foreign country for the purpose Of advancing h
fortune or promoting his happiness, he is, Will
there, bound TO obey .its municipal laws equal
with those who have lived in it all their lives /
goes abroad with his eyes open; and If these lay
| be arbitrary andnnjust, he has chosen to abide
1.-THE consequences. If they are admn.tered in
equal spirit towards himself and towards nati'
subjects, this government have no right to nterfe
authoritively in his behalf. To do this would be
" violate the right Of an independent nation to leg
late within its own territories.
IftIis government were to undertake such a tas
4 we might soon be involved in trouble With near
the whole world. To protect our citizens AGAR
J, the application of this principle of universal la
in its full extent, we have treaties with seve
= nations securing exemption to American elt'ze
I, when residing abroad from some of the onero
Il duties required from their own subjects. Wht
: no such treaty exists and an American citizen !
committed crime or incurred penalty Tor viol
: ing any municipal Law whatever of the country OF
temporary residence, he Is just as liable to be tr
G. and punished for his offence, as though he had
- cre..n &l,, lay nc hta birth LII this