The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-05-07
Good News for Our German Citt-
ZenS.

We observed recently, says the
Cleveland Herald, that some doubt
existed in Germany. among Ameri-
cans abroad as to the proper inter
probation of the treaty just negotia-
ted between the United States and
the North German Nnion. On Mon
day last the President communicat-
ed to Congress letter from Mr..
under date of Berlin, Ap-
ril 8, 1868, which clears up the sub
ject in part. On the I'd of April the
treaty came up for ratification in the
Imperial Diet Of Berlin. In the
most liberal Interpretation of the
treaty was approved. Count Bis
marck said that the period of five
years during which the German en-
igrant must reside in this country to
constitute him fully an American
citizen, twas to date from tie very
moment when the emigrant should
cross the American line" -
Another very important feature
Of the discussion as reported by Mr..
Bancroft is, that as the liabilities of
our naturalized German citizens on
their return to their mother country
extended only to breaches of the
law committed before emigration,
therefore emigration itself, and the
consequent withdrawal from militia
ry duty, could not be included in
the liabilities. Or, to use the Ian
guage of DIR. Lowe, one ofthe ablest
men in the Diet and formerly citi-
zen of New York, s'the: hateful mill
tary business is now put aside, and
the emigrant on his return IS not IT,
able to arrest for viozotiom ofthe mil
ita,y duty from avhich he had acith-
draae71 By emigration. ......
But not this alone was sufficient.
DIR. Lowe wanted the Chancellor,
Count Won Bismarck, to state his
understanding of the treaty. Ac-
cordingly he did SO in these words
"The gentleman who has last spo-
ken fears that a person who has liv.
ed five years in America, and heen
naturalized there, may yet, on his
return here, be held to military du.
| ty- This impression / can designate
as perfectly and absolutely unfeun
ded. The literal observation of the
treaty includes in itself that those
whom we acknowledge as Amer
ican citizens cannot be held to mill
tary duty in North Germany. Tha
is the main purpose of the treaty
Whosoever emigrates, bona fde, fol
the purpose of residing permanently
in America, shall meet no obstacle
on our part, to his becoming al
i fAmerican citizen, and his bona fideI
will be assumed when he shall hay'
passed five years in that country
and, renouncing his North German
nationally, shall have become al
American citizen"
Count Won Bismarck further stat
ed that mo prosecution for unau
tho1ized emigration can take plac
even if the emigrant shall have ceas
ed to become an American citizen,
and then added, jocosely in form
but seriously in substance, 81 nigh
almost assert that we will treat th
five years absence in America, whel
connected with naturalization as
fulfilment Of the military duty in til
North German Confedracy."
When the fourth article of th
treaty came up for discussion, TIL
question arose "whether the Gel
man, naturalized in America and re
turning to Germany, would, after
two years residence in Germany, b
liable to military duty. Bismarc
again explained "that he could nc
be held to the discharge Of any mil
itary duty as would attach to ever
foreigner emigrating into :. Mort
, Germany and becoming naturalize
there
! On the vote being taken whethe
! the treaty should be ratified, th
5 whole diet with the exceptions {
a several Poles, arose to their fet
y with alacrity. Thus North Germ
. any is the first power in Europe th'
has agreed fully to respect our ma
uralization laws. By the adoptio
of this treaty moreover, the Mort
German Union has placed itself j
the front ranks Of the advocates {
the great modern doctrin that me
> are not born into perpetual polite
servitude. The doctrin of "indefel
' sible allegiance" as stillupheld /
e England has thus received it's fir
: blow, and our German citizens ms
It feel proud Of the fact that their ow
. Toterla7d was the first to assent
q the American doctrin, that evel
: man has the natural right to choo'
: in what country and under VIII
. government he may wish to live.
o A merchant tailor at Clyde, mar
i ed Ungerman, hung himself {
II Monday. The Sandusky Regist
Of the 9th ult. says: He took tt
MEASURE for a coat for q cuStOme