190 THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON. 



regulations and to the tenor of treaties. Total exemp 

 tion from the local law is maintained only by the 

 subjects of Christian States in countries outside of 

 Christendom. 



In most of the countries of Christendom foreigners 

 are protected in their personal rights equally with 

 the inhabitants, and, if wronged, have access to the 

 tribunals for redress, even against injuries by the lo 

 cal Government itself. 



Generally, indeed, it may be said, with truth, that 

 the rights of a foreigner are better protected than 

 those of the inhabitants of the country itself; for, in 

 addition to the tribunals of the country where he so 

 journs, the foreigner has the benefit of the Minister 

 and Consuls of his own country. 



Of this favor the foreigner has occasional need, it 

 is true; but it is a privilege susceptible of great 

 abuse, by reason of the extravagant pretensions occa 

 sionally made by persons who may suffer any real or 

 apparent wrong, and who are prone to elevate trivial 

 grievances into international questions, to the annoy 

 ance of all Governments, and to the peril of the pub 

 lic peace. Most of such subjects of complaint are 

 capable of being settled by the local tribunals, and 

 ought to be. The laws of Rome lie at the founda 

 tion of the jurisprudence of all Europe and America 

 alike; the forms of judicial administration are sub 

 stantially similar in all the States of both Continents; 

 and in many of the cases of alleged wrong to foreign 

 ers, and of call for diplomatic intervention, the affair 

 is one which, if at home in his own country, the party 



