The Van Buren press., 1872-10-15


CLAYTON Hadlcy Baxter Dcmagogues are
in the habit Of telling the people that the
rights ofuaturalizcd citizens of the Uni.
ted States, are better protected and more
respected under the present administra
ton. when travelling abroad, than at any
former period, we insert, without com.
mcnt, the following
AFFIDAVIT OF MR. BrRNsTrlN:
STATE O: ALABAMA,
County Of Barbourl
TO all whom it may concern:
Before me, b B Fields, a notary pub.
tic and iustice of the peace for said com
ty. personally came Bernhard Bernstein,
merchant, late of Chicago, but now re
siding in said county, aud who is known
to me to bc a gentleman of responsibility
in society, who, being first duly sworn,
dcposcs and saith, that in May, \. ID.
lS64-beiug nsturalized citizen of the
United Statcs-he applied and received a
passport from Hon VIM. IL Seward, Sec
rotary Of State, Mt Washington City, to
enable him to visit his aged father. who
then resided in Izbica, Russian Poland :,
that, while en- route to Poland, he passed
through Berlin, in Prussia, and there had
his passport countcrsigncd by both the
Prussian and Russian Ministers that on
his arrival in Izbica in June, he report
ed himsclfto the Provost Marshal, Nae
zclnic Erthman, who received his pass
port on deposit, saying he would return
it at any time called for, that few weeks
afterwards he obtained his passport,
countcrsigncd hy Erthman, and visited
some relatives in the country. On his
return TO Iabica he conducted himself as
law-abiding and peaceful man until the
2jth Of October, at which time be was ar
rested by Erthman, when he had commit
ted no oncnsc, his passport forcihly Ia
ken from him, and he himself placed un
der guard for two days, and then sent t.
the county jail under charge Of Russian
cossacks and imprisoned there amid
thieves and malcfactors, until he was bail
ed out by his friends, who pledged their
property and lives for his appearance TO
answer any lawful charges that might he
brought against him Alliant further
states that he was detained under said
bond and arrest until about the lst of
May, 1865, TO his great personal incon-
veniencc and pecuniary damage that in
said month Of May his passport was re
stored TO him and he allowed to return
to the United States that no charge, or
prctensc of charge, was ever made against
l. =. Ii, a. L.. 4.
the soil Of Poland, and had expatriated
himself and become an American citizen
ho filed full statement of his case in
writing, together with his original pass
port, with the Secretary Of state at Wash
ington city, and demanded indemnity
from the Russian Government for the
outrage practiccd upon him, that Mr
Seward promised to see that justice was
done him, but no action was taken before
Gen. Grant was nauguartqd rs President,
that during the past three years and n
half Of his administration alllant has ma
nv times, through his attorneys and the
Hon Charles ". Buckley. Vi. c. from
this district sent full and complete
statement Of the facts herein set forth to
the present Secretary OF State ut Wash
iugton, and urged and implored him to
take action in his behalf and demand in
dcmnty for him for said injuries, and sat
isfaction for the insult thus offered to the
United States; that alliant was never
able TO induce Gen. Grants administra-
ton to protect his rights as an American
citizen, or even to condcsecnd to reply
to any or atlantis petitions; that, de-
spairing Of all hope Of ever getting his
case acted upon by Gen. Grants Secreta
ry of State, aillant sent memorial to
Congress on the subject in March last,
which was presented in the Senate by
Hon. Charles Sumner, Of Massachusetts.
and referred to the Committee on For
cign Relations that said committee ncv
er made any report on the case and Con
gress adjourned without any action there
on Afllant is informed and believes that
a majority OF the members Of said com
mttee are supporters Of Gen Grants ad-
mnistration and advocates Of his re elec-
ton.
Upon the facts herein set forth, adiant
saith that he charges Gen Grants admin
istration with willfut and persistent
neglect, to protect the rights OF natur.
allied citizen when travelling abroad un-
der the protection Of an American pass
port BERSnARD BERNSTEIN
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
the 2Sth day Of August, A ID. 1872, as
witness my hand and seal.
b. b. FIELDS, y y.