IRISH AMERICANS AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 925, 14 March 1868, Page 3

IRISH AMERICANS AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN.

(Prom the ' Law Times.') The trial and conviction of Wan-en at Dublin, under the Treason-Felony Act, may raise an embarrassing question of international law. The convict is what is too wellknown to us as an Irish-American — that is to say, he was an Irishman born, but emigrated, and became a naturalised citizen of the United States. In this character he came to Ireland as a Fenian officer, in a ship laden with arms intended for the purpose of rebellion. He claimed to be tried as a foreigner by a mixed jury, on the plea that he was not a subject of the Queen, but of the United States. The question thus raised is iindoubtedly important. Has he, by becoming an American citizen, thrown off his allegiance to his own country ? Can a person denationalise himself without the consent of the authorities of his native country ? Upon his claiming to be an American citizen, the plea was summarily rejected by the presiding Judge, and the Fenian journals are already threatening war with America as the consequence. But there can be no doubt about it. By the law of this country, and we believe by the law of all other civilised countries, including the United States, a man cannot put off his allegiance at will, and transfer that allegiance to another State whenever it pleases him to do so. Once a citizen, always a citizen, unless the mother countiy, j by its appointed authorities, releases the obligation. True it is that the United States have admitted the emigrant Irish to citizens] iip within their own territory, and thereby they, have become subject to the duties and rights of citizens -within that territoiy. But the new obligation has not discharged the old one. Tho Fenian journals are extremely wrath at tins enunciationof the law, for, as they say truly, some millions of Irish immigrants are Irishmen still, and cannot return to, Ireland without being subjected to the law, and without losing the protection of their adopted country. But if they choose to return, in the character of American" citizens, looking for the protection of their adopted country while filibustering here, they will soon discover their mistake.