On the 27th day of July. 1868. alaw went into effect. having been passed by the two Houses of Congress and approved by the President. asserting our position concerningthe doctrine of the right of expatriation. The declaration was pointed. brief. and effective. It may be found in section 1999 of the Revised Statutes. and reads as follows: Whereas the right of expatriation is a natural and inherent right of all people. indispensable to the enjoymentof the rights of life. liberty. and the pursuit of happincss. and whereas in the recognition of this principle this Government has freely received emigrants from all nations. and invested them with the rights of citizenship. and whereas it is claimed that such American citizens. with their descendants. are subjects of foreign states. owing allegiance to the governments thereof. and whereas it is necessary to the maintenance of publie peace that this claim of foreign allegiance should be promptly and finally disavowed: Therefore. anydeelaration. instruction. opinion. order. or decision of any officer of the United States which denies. restricts. impairs. or questions the right of expatriation. is declared inconsistent with the fundamental principles of the Republic. That declaration passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 107 yeas to 4 nays. it passed the Senate of the United States by a vote of 39 yeas to 5 nays. so that by almost a unanimous vote of both Houses of Congress we have a definite declaration of the doctrine of this Republic in respect of the right of expatriation. After that was done. what happened next?
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emigrants