A Dane named Boie Smidt,4 who had visited the United States and declared his intention of naturalizing, having, on his return to Copenhagen in September, 1859, been arrested and impressed into the Danish navy, the United States minister demanded his release.
The Danish government replied,5 that “if it should turn out, upon an investigation, that the said Mr. Smidt, when he signified his intention to be naturalized in the United States, was, under the laws of the country, bound afterwards to perform his military service in his native country,” the laws then in force would not admit of his release.
The United States minister rejoined6 that “it is a settled doctrine of the Government which I have the honor here to represent, as I understand it, that a naturalized citizen of the United States, from and after the date of his naturalization, both at home and abroad, is placed on the very same footing with a native citizen, with the exception that none but a native citizen can occupy the office of President or Vice-President of the United States; and the Government will be disposed to extend to the one class of citizens the same protection which justly belongs to the other, at all times and in all places.”
Mr. Smidt got tired of performing military duty in a fortress while his case was being discussed, and procured a substitute.
The United States minister then asked either for the discharge of the substitute, or the refund of money paid by Mr. Smidt for engaging him.
It does not appear how the matter ended.