Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-19

honorable chairman Of the Committee ON Foreign
Affairs Mr. Banks is manly aud firm declara-
ton Of our position; but, sir, the sentence imme-
diately succeeding seems to me TO pa6lyze its
force. The declaration Of the principle Of pub
lie law So would seem TO amount to nothing but
guide to the Executive TO secure by negotiation
what we demand as right Why, sir, the claim
is not a new one. 1t has been a subject Of dpo-
macy with almost every Administration since the
foundation OF our Government No one can have
forgotten the celebrated papers Of Webster aud
Marcy each claiming this to be the true princi-
pie Of public law which the United States could
not Weld And Mr. Seward in his letter to our
minister at Prussia, respecting the arrests of ma
tivcs of Prussia, who had sworn allegiance to our
Government, upon a temporary visit to their native
country on account Of their liability to military
service saws that the nited States have accepted
and established Government upon the principle
Of the rights of men who have committed no crime
TO choose the State in which they will live and to
incorporate themselves as members of that State
and to enjoy hencoforth its privileges and benefits
among which is included protection This princi-
pie is recommended by sentiments of humanity
and abstract justice. IL is principle which we
cannot waive. SO that, Mr.. Speaker, II seems to
me the first section, down to the proyiso amounts
TO nothing definite. It neutralizes itself and
leaves us in regard to this very important question
precisely where now stand.
The second section. which provides that in case
any uaturalzed person is arrested and detained
by any foreign Government in contrayeniion Of
the intent aud purpose Of the act, and whose re-
lease upon demand shall have been unreasonahly
DELAYED OF refused, the President Of the United
States shall arrest any citizen subject OF such
foreign Government, and as as may be re-
port the facts TO Congress, Sc. ! am opposed TO
this provision, sir, upon two grounds. The sys-
TEN Of hostages in time of peace is against mod
ern civilization and modern international law. IL
is at best an unnatural and barbarous system, and
can only bc justified to meet the eXigencies Of
war. Again. the provision commits too much
power 20 the Executive 1t authorizes him to do
that which is ia and of itself cdsUs bclh. In fact,
IL incidentally delegates 20 The President the pow
er vested i'm Congress alone 10y the Constitution.
OF the various propositions which have been SUBJ
mitted TO the House. that Of the gentleman from
Rhode Island Mr. Jenckesl is preferable. It
announces iu the first section the old Roman law
as To- the right Of repatriation. The second Sec
ton is in accordance with the code Napoleon as
to the manner ia which a citizen may lose his ma
tional character. The third section asserts what
a foreigner has thrown of his natural allegiance
to our Government he shall receive 20 bis per-
SON and property every protection which we can
lawfully afford 10 uative-burn citizen. Thus the
question is met fairly and sqnarcy without ad,an-
eng any new claim or doctrine, but giving to
what we nave aWiNs lUslsted upoh the force anu
moral cllcct OF defined ana puhhc law.
me nIi proNueN that Tue Executive shaI NOT
interfere in behalf of certain excepted classes Of
persons. Most of these naturally suggest them
selves upon the ground Of national comfy. The
second excepted class, namely: those who may be
gum! OF any crime against ihe laws oil any Tor
eiEn state committed within its jurisdiction, has a
more drect bearing upon our German ciuzrns ;
but | can hardly see ho.v we can avoid making
Ina tfftff ltsu lao
ana we Would harlly ADMIT mat II an American
citizen bad left our country with crime resting
upon hm and after having been natuahzcd there
should return he would not be ameuablc for the
crime under orr laws. The law Of Prussia making
1t a crime to leave that country before rendering
prescribed term OF military service we certainly
cannot commend or approve. and it Is to be hoped
and expected that the liberal ideas IN regard TO
personal rights and personal liberty, winch are
rapidly attaining in the German States will in
duce more just aud liberal policy. Count Bis
marck IS DESTROYS to settle this veNed question,
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that peace has dawned are checrfully sustaining