The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-21

and if any subsequent period he is ndscreet enough to
to his native country he complain those laws
are executed to his disadvantage"
But these continued to multiply and government
at last began appreciate the importance of this question
The of Kosza taken from Austrian vessel in the bay
of Smyrna, aroused public attention Secretary Marcys
justification placed the ground that Austria
vioaor of neutral territory and that agitation awoke public
attention to the Importance of this question General Glass;
Secretary of State in 1853 communication addressed
to minister at Berlin encaed the true american doctrine
He says
"The moment foreigner becomes naturalized his aeg-
his native country severed forever He experiences
political birth. broad and impossible line separates
him from his native country. He responsible for
anything he say do omit to do after assum
ing his character than he had been born the United
States Though he returns to his native country he returns
American CITIZEN and in no other character In order
ente his original country opunish him for oense
this have been committed while he subject and
owed allegiance that government The ofense must have
been complete before his exparaon 1t must have been of
such character that he might have been tried and punished
for the of his departure future liability
in the army will not be sufficient because before the
arrive for such service he has changed his allegiance
and has become citizen of the United States 1t would be
quite absurd to contend that boy brought to this country
with his fathers family when but twelve years of age and
naturazed here who should afterwards visit the country of
his birth when he had become man, might then be seized
and compelled to perform military service because he had
remained there throughout the intervening years. and his
life had been spared he would have been bound to perform
military service To submit such principle would be
make odious distinction between naturazed and
native citizens"
Mr. Speaker General Cass enforced this doctrine wherever
and whenever under his observation. The diff
ference between the pure lawyer and the statesman shown
clearly when contrasting the views of Kent and Story with
those of Cass.
After this declaration of the policy of by
General Glass; the government of France, equally military
government with the Others acquesced in that opinion and
in 1860 its decided that by taking oath of aeg
foreign government French subject lost his char
acter citizen of France and that but French
citizens could in the French army This adjudication
in the Zer ended all controversy with that
upon this question Our representative that believed
a
SO, there far-seeing wisdom in it,
The Prussan government still holds the doctrine of
perpetual allegiance and your citizens toreby seized
and compelled to service. Notwithstanding the traditional
friendship between that nation and ours this of irritation
remains and is increasing year. The ties of atherland
will call back the young the land of his birth and
the home OF his father Pussan authority puts these men
by force into its army and that bear honorable
defense of their adopted country to this hum
aton and injustice, Notwithstanding the protest of your
government through its diplomatic representative. The
humiliation of that position have felt the representative
of this government and my opinions of record and will
ask permission of the House read extracts from of
dispatches to the present Secretary of State showing
actions and opinions
"LEGATIoN UNITED STATES,
BERLIN, September 80, 1861.
"SR have the honor call the attention of the govern
the of Jacob Spanau reported in dispatches
Nos. and from this legation final answer has been
received from the government of Prussia, declining to dis
charge him from the Prussan army copy of which hereto
attached, No. l.
GAS the issue is distinctly made by that governments re-
sng release of citizen of the United States from enforced
military service in the Prussian army propose restate
the facts laid before the Department in my previous dis
patches. III
teen obtained leave from the local authorities go Ham
burg for four months relatives and went from
there the United States and remained in the United States
until July of this year. He became citizen of the United
States and in July last returned his native town. Ryczywo
in the province of Posen visit his parents and i'm
medatey notified to report himself at Obornck to be in
corporated into the army and has been compelled seven
the army in spite of his citizenship and the circumstances of
this legation, and is forced to the uniform and fight the
battles of government whose allegiance the government of
the United States required him soemny and under oath
renounce before admitting him to citizenship.
"The laws of Prussia require every Prussan subject who
and all the young of that age must in that present
themselves to the military commission of their circle to be
examined to fitness and be Incorporated into the army
1T is thus apparent that the Prussian has