National Republican., 1883-07-16
Perpetual Allegiance.


Tho doctrine Of perpetual allegiance being
at total variance with tho structure aud opera
tions of this government, has always boon
rejected by our statesmen as remnant Of
tho barbarsm aud dcspotism Of past centuries.
The government OF Great Britain has long
since discarded it, aud articles in treaties
made by the United States with various Euro.
pcau governments discard it as for us this
country is concerned. A citizen Of u foreign
country desiring to become "a nuturlli2cd eli.
zen OF the United States, after complying with
tho statutory provisions on tho subject, takes
an oath TO support tho constitution of the
United States, and rcnouncesu ull allegiance To
every foreign prince, potontato, and power
whatever, particularly naming The govern.
mcnt to which ho had Lcioro owed hi.
allegiance, Thcicupon decree is
entered OF record declaring him
- naturalizcd citiayu Of the United States cr
America and entitled to all of the rights, priv
ilcgcs. aud immuntics of such. llo has
found by reading the laws of tho United
state what these rights privileges, aad i'm
mun'Iics are. lie has found provision ia
tito laws that all uaturllizGd citizens while
~ foreign countries arc entitled to and aro
promised from tho government the Same pro-
lection Of person and property which is nc
curdcd to native born citizens 1t will not
be seriously doubted that native born cti
zen of the United States, bearing proper
passport, hasa right to ontUr the douinions Of
any fore gn country which has not laws for.
bidding it, aud that when in that country he
is entitled "to DO spared the annoyance Of
arrest aud detention" Nor can it be
questioned that if the government Of
Russia, or any other government should
insist upon arrcsting and imprisoning
such pursonsit would bc considered by thisgov.
crmmcnt Il cdSUS jciH. Thoru being no distinc.
tion made by our government between the
rights tsofnaturaiizeda and native citizens,o s,oXccpt
in the matter of eligibility to the presidential
and vice presidential Offices, why should our
naturaii2cd citizens who choose 10 90 abroad
be subjected to arrest and detention, and
only offered tho slow aud uncertain remedy
of relief by correspondence with such dip
lomatic agents Of this government as may
American doctrine on this subject was an
nounccd by Mr. Marcy in the Kosata case
This man had boon an Austrian subject, aud
had declared his intention 20 become Il
citizen OF the United States Ho WAS seized
by u Turkish vessel at the instance OF the
Austrian consul general in u Turkish port,
French consul. 4 captain of an American
mun.ofwar whpkndW bildAmericau doctrine
and how to enforce it, demanded his release,
with an intimlti0n that IL his demand WIS
not complied with he would pour out broad
side, and he was released and returned TO tho
United Sta tcs Mr.. Webster, as secretary of
state wrote TO Lord Ashburton, the British
minister, IL war should break out between
England aud Il European power, cananything
be moro uniust,anYthingmo rroc0ncilablo to
the general sentiments of mankind, than that
Euglaud should seek out these persons ENG
lish subjects naturplizId In tho United Statos),
compelled by their own condition
to leave their native hnmcs, tear them away
from thcir new omploymcnts their new po-
liticul relations and their domestic conucc-
tons, aud force thom tn undergo tho dangers
aud hardships of military service for coun-
try which has ceased to be their own2 .
They should leave them not to tho ombroil-
mcnt of II double and contradictory alle-
glance, hut 10 their own voluntary choice TO
form such relations, political or social, rs they
SEQ fit"
Tho government of Great Britain no longor
holds this doctrine, and i6 is only held by
such GGspotsns n3 Russia Either treaty
cmh0dying the rcnOunccnGnt OF this doctrine
by Russia should bc made by this govern
mcnt or, failing in that, such rctaliatory laws
should bo passed ~ would force the conccs-
8i0u This government cannot afford 10 have
her ci,izcns imprisoned who arc charged with
no crime aud it is pledged TO thoir protection
Wn hold that the American doctrine is that
tho raturaliaed citizen is entitled to all the
protection from this government whom in L
foreign government that is accorded to tho
native horn; that when such person is ar
rested by q foreign government charged with
no crimei except that Of .cSpatriation, it
is the solemn duty Of this government TO de-
mand his immediate rclea5oaud full compou.
sation for all damage he has suffered, and
that if this bo refused to enforce it, ii nood DO,
with extreme measures,