Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-10
sEcREARY BLAINE's REPLY
To Hartmann's Consul in kesare "
His Extraditi0n.

w,su,xcrox. August 9. Henry While,
counsel of Leo Hartmann, has addressed let-
tor 10 Secretary Blaine asking whether IN
event of demand by the Russian govern,
ment he could be arrested and surrendered
to that government He says he advised
Hartmann that he could not be extradlfeo
and acting upon his counsel the latter openly
proclaimed his arrival in this country anu
asked the sympathy of the American people
for his countrymen. While then aliudes ~
the reports of the contrary decision by AS
sistant Secretary OF State and asks Blaine II
he proposes TO disavow the statement OF this
''garrulous officer"
Mr.. Blaine replies as follows: ''You ask
me as Secretary of State, to declare in effect
that YOUR client. Leo Hartmann, shall have
the protection of the government of the
United States in case his extradition should
be requested BY Russia. | received by the
same mail letter from an eminent citizen
of PENNSYLVANIA, urging that this government
should make known its willingness to sur
render Hartmann in the event of his being
demanded by Russia. In both OF these com
munications have been asked TO violate the
official propriety and disregard the traditions
of the Department of State by declaring IN
advance what would be the action IN hypo-
thetical case. involving grave and legal prln-
cipes and important TO personal rights lou
might with equal propriety address COM
munication to the Chief Justice of the L. 3,
nterrogatng him as TO the decision he would
render if the case of Hartmann should come
before him on writ of habeas corpus. You
suggest it is the duty Of the Department OF
State TO deliver its conclusion on this case
because one of its assistants is reported with
out authority to have expressed his own per-
sonal views to a casual conversation on the
subject Would you regard it as good ground
for demanding that the Supreme Court should
make an important ruling on hypothetical
case, because the reporter of decisions OF the
United States Marshal was said to have de-
clared certain views on the pricipal involved:
There is no citizen ofthe United States, native
born or naturalized. who has a right TO de-
mand from anv national tribunal its opinion
in a hypothetical case on the plea that
it involves the principle which might affect
personal rights. Can you assign any reason
why Hartmann, who is not citizen OF the
United States, should the moment he sets his
foot on American soil have the right to de-
mand the ruling from one of the executive
departments of the National government upon
the question of international jurisprudence
that may effect his personal liberty when
there is no case pending before the depart
ment involving the issue? \ half million
immigrants from Europe will probably arrive
in the United States during the current year,
and can you indicate to me any reasonable
ground on which Hartmann should be ex-
copied from out that vast number and special
protection of the government vOuchsated and
voluntarily guaranteed 20 him in advance
of any case arising in which his
name may have been mentioned? 1t may,
perhaps be unnecessary to advise you that
the conclusions and decisions of the Depart
ment of State on important legal and diplo-
matte questions are not made public through
the medium of newspaper interviews, nor to
the attorney of the interested parties"