Speech #440064933

There is a precedent which we can follow and which will relieve us of all difficulty in this matter. In 1868. 1 think it was. there was a statute passed in relation to tre arrest of natnralized citizens of this country while in foreign countries. They arrested our naturalized citizens and refused to release them or to consider their ease at all as naturalized citizens of this country. For lifty years we had demanded a hearing and discussion of that question. ain it had been refused. The House of Representatives by a very decided vote passed a bill authorizing the President of the United States ou the arrest of a naturalized citizen in a foreign country anti a refusal to release him on demand of this Governmeet. to nake a reprisal by arresting any subject of that government who should be found within the jurisdiction of the United States. Upon a discussion of the question. the Senate thought that this reprisal would arriorrut to an act of war. But that is not so.