The native American., 1838-09-08

clerk secures one-lalf of this item, he puts in his
pocket $5,S97,s besides his other profitable fees.
Now, It is well known that particular court does
manufacture by far the largest portion OF these
American treemen; so that a valuable perqulsite
is secured, which it is very important to the for
tunate to retain or add to- In this spirit of COM
petition the court has endeavored to monopolize
this profitable kind of business, and, indeed, did
so Tor many years; but when other courts succeed
ed III obtaining share of the trade, as have un-
derstood, by cutting down the price of fees, the
price OF the former was regulated according to
the common expression ''as they could light on
chaps In some instances 1t was three dollars,
IN others two, in others one, and IN others no.
thing. Some, who engaged to bring all they
wished to naturalize to that market, were accom-
modated by the slump" and ION time One
OF these customers, who dealt very largely In
this way, distinguished partisan and municipal
oflcer had run up to certain score al TINS court,
but retused at length, to pay more than hall the
bill; and he has not, understand, yet PAID
even that. These are serious facts, however Jo-
cosely treated.
Such, then, being the manner and proceedings
OF some OF our courts III reference 10 the naturall-
zatlon OF foreigners, it will be seen that they are
not suitable tribunals from which to dispense the
uniform opinion of all parties that it is trilng
with the rights OF our countrymen, and sporting
with the very liberties of our country.
The petitions which have been heretofore for
warded to Congress have prayed that the power
to grant certificates of naturalization may be limit
ed to the Supreme courts of the United and OF the
several States. For my own part, think such
powers should be restricted to the Legislatures of
the several States or if it conld be, to the cor
porate authorities OF the cities Or towns, where the
applicants reside, and where they are to vote-
The great advantage of this is that the merits or
qualifications of the applicants are all popular
assemblages of the peoples representatives. open
for examination and discussion; whereas. now, no
inquiries are made, or examinations instituted, or
discussions had, as to the legal rights and quail
6cations ofthe applicants. There is now neither
time Tor examination, nor the least knowledge OF
the individuals applying for certificates, unless it
happen to be personal or political acquaintance
with the person bringing forward the foreigner to
obtain those papers. All is passed over i'll ignor-
ance or i'll confusion
Now the name of each and every individual in
tending to become citizen of the United States,
should be required to be advertised in the public
papers, for definite period, previous to his
becoming naturalized His former occupation and
residence in Europe, together with his age, might
also be required, with signal advantage to citi-
zens; inasmuch as the fact, so common here, OF
naturalizing foreign criminals and refugees from
the penalties of law, might be made known before
admitting such into the great family Of American
brethren. After this, he should be propounded
at least one meeting Gf the power referred to be
granted to local representative authority previous
to his being voted for; and then be required to
take his oath of allegiance before the United States
court, pay his fee, and receive his papers duly at
tested, &c.
This simple and open course Of procedure would
in the first place, present the name and character
of the individual before the public; and should he
not have been resident of the United States dur
ing the time required by law, there would be
those among our citizens who, knowing the facts,
would be able to demonstrate against the violations
of our laws, now SO commonly practised, and to
state the facts so as to from such fearful
evils. This will apply also to those who. being
felons or fugitives from justice, may attempt to
impose upon us by securing the hallowed rights
of suffrage, as the truth would be known by the
same public means; and, should his qualifications
be unexceptionable, he can be made citizen in
this way with as little difficulty as any other. We
would know who are to be made citizens, and tc
be received into the American family, before the
act is Observation-Disclosures criminals, paupers
&C., are forced upon us by thousands, simply te
serve the base and heartless purposes Of few
crazy and irresponsible politicians, and to fill the
pockets of a less number of greedy office-holder:
by the accumulated pittances of the ignorant ane
vicious. This appears simple and as honest a
way to effect salutary reform of existing evils as
any which presents tselfa the moment. IT is o.
very great importance that the character of for
egners should be known, for numerous reasons
but, the laws now are, they may be admitted
to all the rights of citizenship, reeking with crimes
while native countryman cannot become a free
man under such circumstances, on his own soil.
The publication of names, above proposed,
would very essentially aid the ends of Justice, to
say nothing which it would oppose in committing
to the hands of foreign criminals the institutions
and liberties of our country
1t also appears to me, as it has to thousands OF
our fellow-ctzens, that person, before becoming
citizen, should be required, at least, to speak
our language so as to be understood; instead of
which, great numbers now allowed to WELD
the rights Of American suffrage without the abi-
ty to communicate the most simple idea in the
English language. The case herewith sent you
is one of the thousands Of similar ones, showing
the importance of this requisition. In addition to