New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-19

II
material discount on any description Of
city notes. Messrs. c. E. Girardey & Co.
will sell tomorrow very large amount Of
city property, situated in eligible localities,
and as the terms are reasonable there is no
good reason why full prices should not be
realized. The want of interest manifested
in the sale by Messrs. Walton & Deslonde
yesterday no doubt was partly occasioned
by the fact that the sale for account of the
city was so near at hand. With proper
management the financial troubles through
which we have been struggling for the past
eight months may be avoided for the future.
PROTECTION TO FOREIGN BORN CITIZENS,
The question of protection to foreign
born citizens is assuming an interesting
phase in the English courts 1t is urged by
some that an individual has no natural
right recognized in international law to dis
solve the ties which connect him with the
government under which he was born, ex-
cept with the consent of such government,
and also that no other government can by
naturalization absolve him from obligations
be may owe to the country Of his birth.
The Washington Chronicle urges with much
force that If this theory were correct, it
would follow that the United States could
only guarantee protection to a naturalized
citizen so far as it could be afforded with
out conflicting with the prior claim of his
native country upon his allegiance, and
that no further right of protection could be
acquired save by treaty stipulation.
1t is upon this view that Great Britain
and Prussia base their claim to the perpet-
ual allegiance of their subjects. The re-
cent debates in the house have pretty thor
ougLly presented the arguments on the
other side, and the case made out in favor
of the doctrine favored by our own govern
ment is very strong one.
On Wednesday Mr.. Orth, from the com
mittee en- foreign affairs, rep orted join
resolution requesting the president to inter
cede with her majesty, the queen of Great
Britain, to secure the speedy release of
Rev. John Mcmahon, convicted as Fenian
raider, and now confined at Kingston, Can
ada West In supporting this resolution
Mr.. 0rth examined at some length the doc
trine Of perpetual allegiance, maintaining
with much force the unrestricted aad
inalienable right of every man to migrate
at will from one country to another,
and choose for himself the govern
ment to which he will give his
allegiance. The doctrine of perpetual
allegiance, he commended, is based upon the
feudal law of Europe, under which the
nobility had property interest in the seris
who lived on their estates, and he cited
against it numerous high authorities, an
cient and modern. Hon. Shelby NJ Cullom,
of Illinois, followed him, maintaining the
same positions with a strong array of argu-
ments and authorities. He calls the doc
trine of perpetual allegiance foundation
stone Of tyranny, and argues that if 1t is
admitted and our naturalized citizens may
be arrested and deprived Of life or liberty |
whenever they venture to go beyond the
limits of our own jurisdiction then will our
country cease TO be regarded as refuge
for the oppressed of other lands, and be-
come in future a mere ptison-house. The
Importance to us as people of defending |
the right of selfexpatriation is forcibly |
presented in Che following paragraph from
bis speech:
In 1890 the seventeen states and ter
ritories then comprising this country had |
within their borders but three and g quarter /
millions of people. Taking the recognized |
rate OF Increase Of births over deaths, being /
one and thirty-eight hundredths per cent /
per annum, the population Of the country
to-day, saying nothing about emancipated |
blacks and the people added by the ae-
QUESTION Of territory not then owned, would
number about nine and quarter millions
ofpeOple, 50 that the balance OF the pCpula-
ton Of this country, Qeaving out the eman-
cipated blacks and those added by terrific
rial aequisitiOn,) being about twenty-five
consists either Of emigrants coming
from foreign shores or their progeny.
This Is a startling fact for u shows that
; very large proportion of our entire peo-
pie are theoretically subject to the claims
of one or other Of the European govern
nents If the doctrine Of perpetual allie
glance be admitted. 1t is scarcely likely
hat the American people viii admit prih-
,iple which would place 50 large portion
4 them outside the pale Of the protection
IF their own government should they ven
lure to leave cur shores; and It is not sur
prising that mass meetings are being held
% agitaie the subject in all parts Of the
country.
It is gratifying to note that the English
press Is speaking out on the subject, and is
generally IN favor Of tie acceptance Of our
heoFy--at least % the cable has informed
". Indeed, We do not zee how it could
yell Be otherwise; for nation with aIarea
Iurplns population TO dispose OF annually,
o whom We make The generous offer Of
on conditlen Of renouncIne aI-
eginnce to he land Of their birth, can
earosly afford 70 demand the right to die
Ste Go terms on which they stan be re-
lelred Should We close our doors IL their
zee except upon shs coalition Of tho re-
sunoiatlon ~ England Of all claims upon
heir allegiauce, she would Be only too
lappy 70 accept onr conditions. She may