American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-05


MoRE APPOINTMENTS Oar Annapolis col
respondent furnishes se'e'a. more important
appointments
NAruRALIzATIoN Laws. We are indebted
TO the polite attention Of the ion. John Wcth-
cred for copy of the bill introduced by the
Chairman OF the Committee on the Judiciary
Of the Senate, and have read it with attention.
If passed into law 1t will no doubt prevent
many frauds which are now practised, though
we should prefer to lave a change made in
some of its provisions. We do not consider a
residence Of five years long enough to enutle {,
foreigner to the rights of citizenship, for il is
obviously Impossible for a man who does not
understand word OF the EngIls language on
his arrival in this country, to make himself
sufficiently conversant with the nature and
principles OF our government, within the time
specified in this bill, to exercise the rights Of
citizen with intelligence and Judgment lie
swears to support Il constitution which he has
never read, and which he probably does not
know has existence From eight to ten years
residence should be required before admitting
to the right of citizenship; and we think that it
would be well, when the applicant is sworn to
support the constitution to require him also TO
make oath that he has read it.
The second condition of the third section
requires that the court shall be satisfied, among
other things that the petitioner has resided five
years in the United States, and one year IN the
district or State where the court is held, imme-
diately preceding the time OF his naturalization.
This condition will be liable to the same abuse
as the somewhat similar provision in the exist
ing law. There will be no difficulty III procdr-
ing testimony to such facts, although it would
be a difficult matter to prove that man has
not been out of the country Tor five ycars.-
Witnesses in such cases too frequently give
their Impressions, and these are taken iii the
place of facts. Men who swear TO their knowl-
edge of others for given period Of time, if
they swear truly, can always state some fixed
fact by which they ale enabled to remember
The duration Of such knowledge, and this should
be required or their evidence be rejected
There should be no scope left for witnesses
who have convenient memories Nor would
we permit man who has just been admitted
to citizenship to be witness Immediately for
The naturalization Of another. lie should be
required to have beea citizen for at least six
or twelve months.
We consider the fees demanded by the bill
too low. One dollar in every case where fifty
cents are required in the bill would not be too
much as 1t would make emgrants feel that we
considered citizenship Of some value.
The policy of the sixth section is, to our
mind, doubtful The enlistment of aliens in
the army and navy of the United States dur
ing period of war, might prove hazardous
experiment.
We would guard against impostions under
the eleventh section OF the Dill, by requiring
the testimony OF at least two citizens OF the
United States as to residence
Ii none OF the suggestions winch we have
offered be adopted, we shall still be glad to see