Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-23
" be released from the bonds which bind him to

fully be released from the bonds which bind him to
Prussia"
The Prnssian government having refused any re
lief to Messrs KRAckR and MEYER, their applications
together witt the action Of the Pruzsian government
upon them were transmittedby eur Minister at Ber-
lin to the Secretary of State at Washington for his
consideration. Mr.. EvEEETT, as Secretary Of State
in his reply dated January 18th, 1858. took the fol-
lowing view Of the obligations Of naturaIize citi
zens of the United States to the government Of their
nativity We ask to 1.-THE attention Of the foreign
born. He said;
The question raised in the cases Of Never and
Kracke, and other similar ones, has received the
particular attention Of the President I.
The Prusslan government requires Of all its subjects
a certain amount of military service. However
onerous this requirement may be- it is purely
matter of domestic policy, in which foreign gov
eminent has right to interfere. 1t appears that
there is exemption from the obligation to render
this service in favor Of persons wishing TO leave the
country unless they apply for and receive from the
proper authorities what is termed certificate of
emigratiOn' This emigration certificate seems.
like an ordinary passport, to be granted as
matter Of course on application. When the vast
extent of the Prussial military establishment is con
sdered and its importance IN the monarchy, such
a regulation in reference to persons wishing to emil
CRATE, who, as you are aware, now amount to many
thousands annually, cannot be regarded as otherwise
than liberal But EVENT. different system prevail
ed and if the previous rendition of a certain
amount of military duty were made the condition
sine qua of granting the emigration certificate
however oppressive the rule might be- foreign gov
eminent could have no right to interfere with its
cuton. Without entering INTO any discussion
of the question Of perpetual allegiance the Presi
dent is Of opinion that IF SUBJECT OF PRUSSIA, IL
ING UNDER A LEGAL OBLIGATION IN THAT COUNTRY TO
PERFORM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILITARY DUTY, LEAVES
ms NATIVE LAND, AND WITHOUT PERFORMING THAT DUTY
OR OBTAINING THE PRESCRIBED CERTIFICATE OF EMF
GRAFTON, COMES TO THE UNITED STATES AND is NATU-
RALIZED, AND AFTERWARDS FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATEVER
GOES BACK TO Prussia. IT Is NOT COMPETENT FOR Tue
UNITED STATES TO PROTECT Rim FROM THE OPERATION
OF THE PRUssIAS Law"
This was the doctrine laid down by Mr.. EVERETT
when he was Secretary of State, and upon which
our government acted during his continuance in
Office. The relief applied for by Messrs KRAcKE and
MEYER was denied. Genl. CAss, our present Secre.
rotary of State, has laid down a different doc
trine He says in his instructions to our Minister
at Berlin:
sThe doctrine of perpetual allegiance Is relic of
] barbarism which has been gradually disappearing
] from Christendom during the last century.
The moment foreigner becomes naturalzed his al
legiance to his native country is severed forever
! He is no more responsible for any thing he
raay say or do, or omit to say do after assuming
his new character than if he had been born in the
| United States. Should he return TO his native
country, he returns american citizen and in
other character"
Let those naturalized citizens who prefer the doc
trines of Mr.. BELL and Mr. EVERETT to those of the
Democratic party as laid down by Gen. CAss
vote for BELL and EVERETT or help them to carry
Tennessee by throwing their votes away upon Mr.
DOUGLAS. If they prefer the Democratic doctrine
as enunciated by Gen. CAss let them help to beat
Messrs. BELL and Everett by voting for BRECKNRTDGE
and LANE.