The Placer herald., 1860-11-10
Conscription of Americans in France---A
New Decision Important to Naturaliz-
ed Citizens,

ed Citizens.
A case of very considerable interest to
naturalized citizens of the United States, has
Just been settled by one of the tribunals o.
the Department of the Lower Rhine; proba
bly, under the instructions of the Minister Of
Foreign affairs. A native of the above nam
ed province, Michael Zeiter by name, emf
grated in early youth to America, and sub
seqrently became an adopted citizen Of the
United States. Zeter was inscribed upon
the department register for conscrip'ion, and
when the proper period arr we'd, was condemn
ed by the military authorities for contumacy.
The French law has not, hitherto, recognized
in this particular, the right of French sub
rcts To expatriate themselves, and they have
been held as responsible to military duty,
though long absent, as if no emigration had
taken place, and no new ties of country
formed. Thus, if not present to take part
in the drawing number is selected by one
Of the functonaries Of the recruitment, and
if uniavorable, the conscript is liable to
ieizure the moment he touches French soil
and falls into the clutches of the military
police 1t was so in the case Of Mr.. Zeiter.
He returned to France a short time ago, and
visited his native place. He was recognized,
arrested, and thrown into prison at Weissen-
berg, as a deserter An appeal in his behalf
was made to the Minister of the United
States, who Immediately addressed NJ. Thou
venal, the Emperor's Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and claimed the discharge of Zeiter
on the ground that he had become citizen
of the United States, and, owing no tu ther
allegiance to France, could not he forced to
perform service in the French army. This
conflict for citizenship is not new, but in this
particular instance, the correspondence has
been conducted on principle different from
that previously observed. In past years
numerous demands for protection have been
addressed to successive Ministers Of the Unit
ed States, by French naturaized citizens of
the Great Republic, under circumstances
Identical with those of Zeiter. In no case
has the discharge of the detained individual
been claimed as right, in recognition of the
Hgis extended by the Government of the
United States over the children of their adop
ton, until this position was assumed by Mr.
Faulkner. When there has been fair rea
son for interfering, it has been the usual
practice to request the re ease Of the prisoner
as favor, and demands in that form have
sometimes been granted, not in acknowledg
ment of superior jurisdiction, but as con
cession to the personal influence of the diplo-
matte representative. 1t has not unfrequent
ly occurred that the Minister, unwi ling to
assume the individual responsibility of pac
ing himself in the light Of petitioner, has
refused to interpose. and left the French law
to take its course. 1t is well that such un
dignifed and incompetent modes of negota
ton should he set aside, and the broad basis
of national authority be assumed The de
mand of Mr. Faulkner has been recognized
officially and Michael Zeiter has regained his
liberty, not as an exceptional act Of lenenry,
but as his right in his character of American
citizen. The settlement of this affair will
stand on record as a powerful precedent in
the disposition of similar CONVERSATIONS, of
which many are likely to arise in the future.
Paris Cor. ". Y. Erp:ess