Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-11-10

AID iSs G1'n'fr o. proper hhfos "hich ar
ournan TO all the four countries, give coior
of pIausibiity to this superstition. But it
could not be pretended, if the person i'm
pressed presented an extract in legal torn
from the register, showing the birth of one.
with the same name, OF such state. county.
or township. born OF such a father aud mo-
ther, with the baptismal name Of each.
The certificates heretofore used tor this
purpose, are very imperfect substitute tor
an authentic register. Faith cannot be al
lowed them. We know that neighbor sell
dom refuses TO sign such certificate. Any
hears,y, or common report, is enough to sat
i,ty their consciences on the subject; but this
is not sufficient 10 govern the Intercourse be.
tween nations.
There are many states which for want OF
such register, can certify only the nation
atty of adopted citizens, because the act
of naturalization is public record. But
these are precisely the records which neither
Great Britain nor any other sovereign will
respect; all concurring in the principle that
the newly contracted allegiance has the ct.
fec, ascribed to it, only ain the territory
OF the adopted country, and does moi des-
troy the original allegiance derived from
birth.
Registers Of marriages are of use, to dis
tinguish legitimate from natural children,
who differ in the rights Of succession, in
nearly every country.
Registers of deaths are necessary TO de-
eide with exactne.s the inheritance Of es-
tatss.
In most countries of Europe, the ecclesias.
tics preserve these registers. But it has
been found i'm perfect, because they embrace
only those of their communion, and there
are many conmunions and very religious
ones who have no clergy. In France 1t has
been found to he advantageous 10 assign this
duty to the Mayors of municipalities, and
their assistants, whose jurisdiction embra-
ces not only citizens, but all inhabitants OF
every denomination. The law OF France
requires that the sex OF The child should be
noted; because legacies are often given to
OF particular sex, which may induce pa
rents to conceal the actual fact, as happened
to the famous Chevaier Madam D'Eon.
There should be duplicates Of The register
to prevent destruction by FIRE, and other &C
cidenls; copy should be ceposIei among
the archives OF state. There as an instance
in France, when the Curalss were permitted
to make entries as ocg as the register re
manned With them, OF return very PreJudi-
cal to the rights OF the parties: 1t WAS how
ever corrected by the copy al the Office OF
the department, to which alone implicit cre-
dit was given. IL incorporated towns, II is
ns,urt! 10 leave tie registration 10 the off,
GERS Of police, who have many facilities Tor
the purpose.
IL this country perhaps, the jurisdiction Of
Juice OF the peace would be convenient.
There should not lie citizen OF the y. ).
WHOM. its gov ernment could no! at once idcn-
,ity, when oppressed by foreign power.
There should be no Que whose mother, and
birth place al least could not be proved.
know many uaturslizet American ctl-
gems whose children born in Europe, could
prove their Citation and legitimacy; but
whose numerous progeny born in the U. s.
could not clgim their inheritance in any
country Of Europe, il their brothers and un-
cles born there, should refuse it.
This is detect in civilized sociely;
chasm in the perfection CT the social system,
and Ia political scandal"
Had the distinguished author been aware
Of the crying injustice resulting from our
present. mode o! taking the census, be could
not have omitted that circumstance, in the
euume ration OF evils resulting IRON the want
OF a register. Such documents are the base
OF all calculations in political economy, and
it II IS matter OF serious reproach TO Virginia,
tina, it should have been So long without
them.
NAPLES-(Continusd)
The 'beautiiui, semicircuiar little BAY
which encroaches upon the land on the
eastern side Of the Cape, is the ancient
harbor of Bae. Its shores are formed
by high curved hill which descends with
much regularity to the beach; broken, in
deed may almost say formed, into terra
ces; by the half covered walls OF ancient
houses: which, together with the shape of