Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-07
W2e>xenS- Str $Rto0N.
AMERICANS ~ CUBA.
General johnson on Their hishts
Mt Our Hands.

Mt Our Hands.
bradley r Johnson in New YORK jour
nal)
HABANA. July cit seems 10 an OBJ
server from this point Of view that some
thing Is left to be desired in the ruling Oh
the State Department as to the rights
of adopted citizens Of the United states.
Tho case OF Pelaez, concerning whom tne
following letter 10 Secretary Olney mas
been addressed by me, IL nara one
lie has renowned his Spanish ci'l%'n.
shin. and the American Government, %
which no has sworn allegiance, refuses
10 recognize him, his wife, or his h'ue
children. "a,
II is the fashion Of some consular ON
GERS here TO depreciate the rights OF ma
turaiized citizens, because they I'VE III
cuba. but | sympathize deeply with TINS
class OF citizens. They are, as RUE cur
tured and educated people. They are ue,
,,ote5 citizens OF the United states, ana
nrize their citizenship as their most pre-
cious right. My letter follows;
ON BEHALF OF AN AMERICAN.
Habana. July t. 1885.
To the Hon. Richard Olney, Secretary oi
State L. 5. a.: 49,.
SRI have the honor TO state 10 the
dcnartment that Mr.. Manuel Alonzo re.
laez was naturaliZed In the Ohl'eu
states. city OF Troy, n. " on
the 4th day OF December o'i
ana has never since that date ovY"
naturalized in any other country. re
was graduated as civil engineer AT nn7
Polytechnic Institute Of Troy IN 30 Dc.
ing unable. on account OF ms heaI.n' ~
reside and labor nj his professioh 'neie' 10
returned 10 Cuba in 100 ,..,-
In 1876 ne was registered az an IN. IN,
can citizen ia the Committeeman -, -
in Uahana. and in 1886 he was marrleu'
a,d has now five children, whom ne
y,snts brought up and educated as Ameri-
can citizens. Preparatory 10 tha'' ne
y,fshes them registered as American clpi-
zons in the records OF the American con
.,1ote in Habana. Mr.. Pelaez mas al
wavs been registered on the municipai
records of Habana as an American anu
has thus been excluded from pubic en-
nIovment because, under the Spanish ia"'
none but Spanish subjects can De en-
ployed. 49,. ,onsr-
ON application at the American consul
late this morning 10 register the VIE
ond children of this American citizen, !
,yas referred to a letter from your ue'
nartment. being instruction No. lsSz TO
Ramon o. Williams. Consul-Genefai al
Habana. dated November l6, 1870.
This paper evidently could never nave
been issued with your knowledge, anu
IL doubtless the work OF some supoiui-
nate ill-versed in the Constitution anu
history OF the United States, for you are
a great lawyer. and you never could NV
said as this paper issued III your 80,
savs that Mr.. Peaez, having oeen
absent from the United States twenty
years Is not entitled TO a passport anu
his wife and children are not to be recog-
nized as American citizens by registry III
an American consulate.
CONTRARY TO OUR CONSTITUTION
Won mayer could have taken the position
that I'm American citizen loses MS cltl-
1ensbin by twenty years absence. ana IL
il still more impossible that yon ever IN
timated that visits 10 the United States
AT Intervals. not exceeding two years are
necessary to perpetuate citizenship 1
saw sir that you never could have coun-
tenanced such propositions, Tor they
are absurdities, contrary 10 right ana
reason and 10 the Constitution or the
United States They are evidently the
work Of some ignorant employee or tho
DEPARTMENT, and l ask that they be at
once oyerruled and reversed as improY-
IDENTIFY issued.
The Constitution OF the United state
makes every person born and naturalized
I'm the United States a citizen thereof,
and no mower short OF an amendment
to the Constitution can deprive ciu-
zen Of his franchise. II Is by his Con-
stitution. and II descends 10 his heirs
forever unless they, by their own volun-
tsrv act. renounce Il. and protracted or
lifelong absence viii never be construed
an remuneration Of citizenship. legally ac-
nuired. And there can BE- no degrees In
citizenship. Born or natur9lized are
words i'm the Constitution. They stand
ON exactly the same footing, equal before
tine laws. and equal everywhere and
forever.
In clear and open violation OF the right
OF citizenship. this citizens wife and chill
dren have been denied registration. II
may be competent FOR the department 70
refuse 10 issue passports to any citizen.
or 10 permit cOnsuls 10 register any citi-
zen. his wife or children, but l utterly
deny the power OF the department to
make any distinction IN the rights OF an
American. native or naturalized, white,
black. or yellow. Not the President and
the Cabinet. nor the Congress, and the
President. can make this distinction.
|. therefore. respectfully ask that the
wife and children Of Pelaez be forthwith
registered in the records OF the Consul
General at Habana as American citizens.
| am your obedient servant,