Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-01-06
MESSAGE.

MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate aud House Of Rep
reSfn'ativcS in Congress assembled.
The Constitution provides that the EX-
ccutivc shall, from time to time, commit
nicate his views in writing to the Legisln-
i ture of the country, upon the geucTui
condition Of the nation, and upon such
other matters as may hHppcn to present
themselves Tor consideration.
In accordance with this obligation, my
predecessors, beginning with Washington,
/ whom we cannot sufficiently rencrate;
have upon the opening Of each Congress,
had their Messages printed. C"ss says he
thinks this is violation of the Constitu-
tiOn, as that instrument provides that Mes
sagcs shall be in writing this document,
therefore, you will perceive, is in pen and
ink, which Black saysis IA ''writing" under
the Constitution.
1t has been the custom of my predeces-
sors in Office, to preface their Messages
with an appeal to Heaven, and to return
thanks for the blessings that have been so
abundantly shOwcrcd down the country
Cass says nc would have done so, if he had
beaten Taylor in '48, but it seems to me
that asking interference from a Forci gn
Power is direct infringement upon the
doctrine of Popular Sovereignty, which
leaves the people Of every community
perfectly free TO regulate their own in
stitutionS in their own way, subject oniY,
to the Constitution of the United States -
herewith submit the reports from the
various departments of Government; they
are very long, and have not been able to
read them through, but am assured that
they are all right, and present the best
possible views of things, that it is possible
, for the respective officers to take, of the
various departments under their charge.
| desire to call the attention of Con-
gress tn difficult and delicate question,
arising in our foreign relations, which it
was at one time feared would lead to open
rupture with some of the nations OF Eu-
rope.
The facts as laid before mo by Gen
Cass, upon whose integrity place the
most implicit reliance, are as follows:
One Charles Ernst, resident of Gin
cinnati, and CommHEdcr-in-Chie of the
military forces OF the State of Ohio, known
MS the Rover Guards, being desrous Of
obtaining military information and expe-
riencc, which might he available in drill
ling the troops under his command, applied
at the Department of State for & passport
to visit the continental nations.
Being Il native of Badcn-spitzcn Stickeu-
mudcn, but ndturalizcd under tic laws of
this country, it at once became question
how far he was citizen of this Republic,
and how far he still owed allegiance to
Germany; whether he WAS citizen OF the
United States, and entitled 10 its protection
any longer than lac remained within its
limits, or whether upon returning to the
land of his birth, he did not at once be-
come Dutchmau. ana subject to al the
responsibilitie. of that class Of people.
Cass says that the law of the case is, that
we are bound 10 protect our own citizens
against all foreign powers. just so long as
they remain where no foreign power can
get hold of them, and that the executive is
4bound to call ont the army and navy of the
United States, upon the demand of any
citizen within our borders, who may have
been imposed upon by another but when
that citizen leaves our shores, he abandons
all claim of being considered an Amcri-
, can, and consequently, in England becomes
an Englishman, in Sweden q Swiss, and in
Africa Ynhooi and if he should be i'm
pressed in England, he would be bound to
fight for that country, until he was sent to
some other; and if he should be sent to
invade France, the moment he touched her
shores, under our law, he would become q
Frenchman, and would be bound to turn
round and fight England. r.
told Cnss that thought that was mix
ing things up, bur he said it was right, and
he ought to know.
/. replied to Mr.. Ernst, and told him we
couId give him passport for the whole OF
Europe, which would protect him till he
got there, unless he was intercepted on the
ocean, which would present case of ad-
mirOIfv iurisdirtinn '4 j ~ H4