Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-07-20
The naturalization Question.

The enemies of the Democratic party have
been very active recently in endeavoring to mis-
represent the views of the National AdminisL ra-
ton with regard to the rights of Naturalized
citizens The famous LIE Clerc and Hoffer letters
were doubtless not correctly understood by
many, but at the same time we are confident that
they were wilfully mSconstrued by would-be
sharp politicians, for the purpose of placing the
Democratic party in false position. They
thought that by doing this they could secure the
foreign vote for their candidate for the Presidency
in 1860. We did not take any part in the con-
troversy which followed the publication of the
lie Cerc letter, because we felt confident that Mr.
Cass would take occasion at an early day to
state clearly and distinctly the views of the Ad-
minlstration with regard to the rights of natu
rallied citizens on returning to their native land
and that those views, when published. would
command the appreciation Of all sensible and
conservative men in the country. In this we
were not disappointed. The Washington Con-
stit,io,s, of the 18th inst. contains an extract of
dispatch from Nh. Cass to the g. S. Minister at
Berlin, dated the Sth inst, which plainly sets
forth the views Of the Administration with re-
gard to the Naturalization question.
We have not room to lay the entire extract
before our readers the following, however, is
the most interesting and important portion. Mr..
Cass, after discussing some preliminary points
says:
The question, then arises, what rights do our
laws confer upon q foreigner by granting him
naturalization? I answer all the rights. privi-
leges, and mmunitics which belong to a native
born citizen, in their full extent with the single
hat
person except natural born citizen is eligible to
the Office of President'' With this exception.
the naturalized citizen from and after the date of
his naturalization, both at home and abroad, is
placed upon the very same footing IS the native
citizen. He is neither in a letter nor worse
condition. II native citizen chooses to take
up his residence in a foreign country for the
purpose of advancing his fortune or promoting
bis happiness, he is, while there, bound to obey
Its municipal laws equally with those who have
lived In 1t all their lives. He goes abroad with
his eyes open and if these laws be arbitrary and
unjust, he has chosen to abide by the consequen-
ces, If they are administered in an equal snirit
towards himself and towards native subjects
this government has no right to interfere
authoratiyely in his behalf. To do this would
be to violate the right of an independent nation
to leSlslate within its own territories.
III this government were to undertake sucb =
task, we might soon be involved in trouble with
nearly the whole world. To protect our citizens
against the application of this principle of uni
Versal law, In its full extent, we have treaties
with several nations securing exemption to
American citizens when residing abroad from
Some OF the onerous duties required from their
own SUBJECTS Where no such treaty exists and
an American citizen has committed crime or
incurred penalty for violating any municipal
law Whatever of the country of his temporary
residence, he is just as liable to be tried and
punished for his offence as though he had resid5
in it from the day of his birth If this has moi
been done before his departure and he should
voluntary return under the same jurisdiction. ht
may be tried and punished for the offence unde,
principles of universal law. Under such circur,
stances stances no person would think of contendinf
tnat an intermediate residence in his own coun
try ior years would deprive the government
whose laws he had violated of the mower =
enforce their execution. The very same princi
PIE, ana no other, is applicable to the case of ;
naturalized citizen, should he choose to return f.
his native country. In that case. if he bat
committed an offence against the law before h;
departure he is responsible for it in the sam