Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-08

DR.. . HoUARD.
Is HE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN OR NOT?

Is HE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN OR NOT?
The Secretary OF State has written to
Vice-President Colfax in reply to an anon
ymous letter which Mr. COlfax had trans
mltted to the State Department for its in
formation. letter, from which we extract
the most important portions:
There is no doubt that John Emile
Houard was born in the United
States. His father, Louis Houard, was
French subject by birth and citizen Of the
United States by naturalization. John
Emile Houard went to Cuba at very early
age in company with his father, who be-
came resident Of that Island. The young
Houard was sent to Philadelphia to be ed
ucated. but returned to Cuba and he hss
actually resided in Cuba the greater part
OF his life, practicing his professionally
siclan and surgeon. He or his father en-
Joyed what were supposed to be certain
privileges, to which was attached the right
10 become Spanish subjects, but DIR. HOu.
ard declares that he never formally &C.
cepted such nationality and never re.
nounced his nationality as a citizen Of the
Nnited States. Two married sisters of
DIR. Houard, with their families, have al.
ways been residents of Cuba, and three Of
his nephews were officers of the patriot or
insurrectionary army.
1t can scarcely be denied that these cir.
cumstances in some degree Justify the
Spanish authorities in regarding Dr. Hou.
ard as subject to their Jurisdiction, since
on the other hand nothing whatever Is
| brought forward in his behalf to illustrate
or prove his assertion at any time Of Amer
lean citizenship. For instance. it does not
appear that he interested himself, as did o
many citizens at home and abroad, in be-
half OF the Union cause during our own
war; that he offered his services as sur
geon in our volunteer army; that he SUBJ
scribed to any OF the war charities, or that
he paid at any time income tax or other
tax to the United States, or ever did any
particular thing tending to show the Span
ish authorities that he did not consider
himself Spanish subject, or to show thi.
Government that he did not regard him.
self citizen of the United States, until
this recent misfortune occurred.
But these considerations, of course. are
not conclusive, because the real question
whether DIR. Houard has actually given
just cause of offence to the Spanish au-
thorities, and here, unfortunately, the ev-
idence is conflicting, or to speak more ex-
actly the Department has not been sup
plied.with any evidence to be urged in his
behalf. The unfortunate circumstance
that medicine chest that formerly be-
longed to him, and marked, 1t is believed,
with his name, was found in camp cap
tured from the insurgents, is mentioned
! in the paper submitted to you. From 9TH
er evidence it appears that this was not
the only instance, but that another medi-
cal chest also marked with his name, and
admitted to have once belonged to him.
was found in another camp of the insur-
gents.
You will readily admit that had SINH
lar circumstance occurred during our own
war it would not have been regarded as
disposed OF by simple declaration that
the medical chest had been parted with
previous to the outbreak of hOstilities.
The strong point which prevents the in
tervention OF this Government in behalf
of DR.. Houard from becoming eficacious
for his relief is that he has been regularly
tried and found guilty by duly cOnstitu-
ted tribunal in the Island of Cuba. If it
were in the power OF DR.. Houard or his
riends to put this Department In the pos
session of facts that would impugn the in
tegrity of the proceedings of that tribunal
or deny its competency to act in the pre-
misses, such facts would be urged to the
best advantage. But none such are Offer
ed with the exception of the e1 parte de-
claration of single untrustworthy wit
ness who now declares that he gave tes-
need not remind you that the Govern
the principle Of expatriation, and that a
Of do 10 sSv II 80
effect the remuneration Of the nationality
of birth. If DR.. Houard had desired to
renounce the country of his birth it was
not necessary for him to do more than he
actually did In quitting the United States,
establishing himself permanently in Cuba
and making that Island his residence,
without any declared or fixed intention to
return to the United States, and without
discharging during his long residence
there anv duty as a citizen of the United
States and appearing as Spanish subject.
| If there be circumstances 10 contradict
this apparent throwing off of American
citizenship they have not yet been fully
presented.
The remark that other governments are
more solicitiouS than that of the United
State to protect their citizens abroad ia
not supported by any facts relating to the
present troubles in Cuba, and might be
disproved by abundant evidence to be
found in the published archives and cor
respondence and in the debates of the
public assemblies of different nations.
The United States Government Is gen.
orally mentioned as the most exacting in
this respect of any in the world, and moth
ing whatever has been done by the pres
ent Administration to change its character
in this regard. No other Power has been
more successful than ourselves in dealing
with the authorities of the island Of Cuba.
1t is, however, very common thing tor
people of any nationality in moments Of
disappointment and excitement to imagine
that if their nationality were different
these cases would receive more careful u
tention. You may be sure. Mr.. Vice
President, that the painful case Of DR.
Houard, and all similar cases. will con
tinue to receive the most careful c0nsider
atiOn bv this GOyernmeut and sh<,s,lA I;