190 THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON. 
regulations and to the tenor of treaties. Total exemp- 
tion from the local Jaw 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 
