The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-21 00:00:00

AMERICAN NATURALISA TION.

Tat Naturalisation Bill passed by the House of
Representatives yesterday, on the motion of Mr.
Beim, apparently goes out of its way to make
difficulties in the discussion of a question for the
settlement of which nothing is required but a little
moderation, a little patience, and a little common
sense. Englishmen are not at all in love with
their law of citizenship as it at present stands;
and, since the law of the United States on the
subject is identical with our own, it is very
reasonable that its revision should be under-
taken by the two Governments in concert.
There is no desire in this country to defend the
doctrine of indefeasible allegiance. All that we
are concerned to maintain is, that it is for the
country to which an emigrant originally belongs,
not for that in which he settles, to determine at
what time and under what conditions the transfer
of allegiance shall take place. The United States
has a perfect right to invest naturalisation
with any consequences it thinks fit, so far
as it is in the power of its own officials
to give them effect. It has a perfect right to sug-
gest corresponding alterations in the law of Eng-
land to the British Government ; and the obvious
convenience of having similar regulations on the
subject in force in both countries would of
itself be sufficient to induce Lord STANLZY to meet
such a proposal half way. Instead of this, Mr.
BANTUS'S bill seems to make it impossible for the
Government to move in the matter. It enacts, if
the telegraphic report may be trusted, that all
naturalised citizens of the United States, while in
foreign countries, shall be entitled to the same
protection as is now accorded to native-born citi-
zens. In other words it proposes to alter a settled
principle of English law by a simple vote
of the United States Congress, and this not
after every attempt to effect the change by more
ordinary methods has failed, but before any such
attempts have been made. How is it possible,
after so high-handed an act of discourtesy, for
the British cabinet to proffer those comes-
'ions which it -is willing and eager to make.
To see the full significance of this clause it should
be read in the light of the one which follows. By
this the PEILIUDENT is empowered, when any
citizen of the United States is arrested by any
foreign Government, and his release delayed or
refused upon the allegation that naturalisation does
not dissolve his allegiance to his native Save-
reign, to order the arrest of any subject
of such foreign government who may be found with-
in the jurisdiction of the United States. In
so far as this provision is anything more than an
empty threat, it strikes directly at the con-
tinuance of friendly relations between the
two countries. What the position amounts to
is simply this. The United States Govern-
ment wish to see certain modifications in-
troduced into the law of England. The
British Government is itself convinced of the
necessity of some change, and is consequently
prepared to discuss the matter fairly. At this point
the House of Representatives steps in, at the in-
stance of Mr. BANS.; said says, "We will have no
discussion upon the question ; we intend to alter
your law for you ; and if, when it is altered,
you refuse to obey it, we shall virtually
treat you as enemies." It is not wonderful that
a politician who displays so little consideration for
the courtesy due to a foreign Government, for the
settlement of an important question, and for the
pre'ervation of peace, should treat with equal