Allegiance

The tie which binds the citizen to the government, in return for the protection which the government affords him.

It is natural, acquired, or local. Natural allegiance is such as is due from all men born within the United States; acquired allegiance is that which is due by a naturalized citizen. It has never been decided whether a citizen can, by expatriation, divest himself absolutely of that character. Infants cannot assume allegiance, although they enlist in the army of the United States.

It seems, however, that he cannot renounce his allegiance to the United States without the permission of the government, to be declared by law. But for commercial purposes he may acquire the rights of a citizen of another country, and the place of his domicil determines the character of a party as to trade.

Local allegiance is that which is due from an alien, while resident in the United States, for the protection which the government affords him.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.