young Tenipleton in his first case. It was in an examining court in Tarrant County, Texas; James Grimley, justice. The old practice of "taking" cattle was fast playing out. Defendant owned no cattle but had collected and sold several small herds; was arrested in possession of some forty head, to which he could show no bill of sale. It was a hot spring day. The examination was held in a grove, was largely attended, and nearly every man had his shotgun. It looked squally for the defendant, who paid me all his money, except a twenty dollar gold piece, and gave me a written promise for a set of house logs. The State proved adverse ownership as to only one animal, a crumpled horn work steer, worth ten dollars, and the defendant was held to answer for the theft of that ani mal,—a felony charge. The question was
as to the amount of bail. I contended with simulated gravity that the court should fix the bond at double the amount of the value of that steer; read from the Federal and State Constitutions as to "excessive bail," and from the Statute laws on amounts of bonds in attachment and sequestration cases—double the value in litigation. Un cle Jimmy declared that he once had an attachment case before him and that he would hear evidence as to the value of the steer. All hands adjourned to the yard, where "Aunt Jane" had prepared a good dinner of jerked beef, bread and buttermilk. Court resumed business and fixed the amount of the bond at twenty dollars. The house logs were delivered, and made me a smoke house. The defendant was finally ac quitted.
FOOT NOTES ON AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. Bv WILLIAM L. SCRUGGS. "right of expatriation." It does not go be I. W H EX and under what circumstances yond this and say what acts or formalities may a citizen of the United States be are necessary to a conversion of this "right" deemed to have expatriated himself? When into a fact. It does not say how expatria and under what circumstances may a natur tion may be effected, or what shall be the alized citizen of the United States be deemed evidence of its accomplishment. And al to have absolved himself from all obligations though the old feudal doctrine of indelible or penalties incurred under a former alle allegiance has been generally abandoned, there still remain many diverse theories of ex giance? patriation, some of which are conflicting. These questions are constantly coming up for discussion, but with the exception of a There are also as many as four general sys tems of naturalization, besides various excep few special Treaties, and one or two general tional methods in different countries, some of principles bearing upon the subject, we have nothing to guide us to a satisfactory, solution., .which are likewise- conflicting. But our so-called "Expatriation Act" is of them. Curiously enough, we have no law providing for the expatriation of American something more than a superfluous declara tion of an abstract "right"—a right inherent citizens. Our so-called "Expatriation Act" in every free American citizen. It goes be of July 27, 1868, merely affirms the abstract
