The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-19

i speaking Otherwise. would have corrected the gen
Mr. DAWSON. How long will il require for for.
egner g take out his NATURALIZATION papers
IT, pp3HS NTa- From two TO i've years. i sY.
,ht m' DENioN' y requires five years 10 complete
Mr.; DAWSON. From the time he signifies his inten.
Ion. suppose ne may 60 on and occupy the land and
ne can go on and hold until the time comes when his
naturalization is complete. tsa4 gl83sl9
Mr.. MASON. As that section OF the bill stands with
me proposed amendment all persons who citizens
Of the United States may pariake Of the bounty land,
but they must be citizens OF the United States 10 en-
able them 70 do IT, The. senator from Indiana, Mr..
the provision Of the law excludes in any manner
those who are foreign born l. will admit all who
ment is not adopted. one who is not citizen OF
the United States may upon the public lands and re
ceiye donation Of i, and enjoy il as his own. Now the
2, He @ not only this
not become citizen Jill five years after. But after five
years have when he and asks that his
raizaton shall be completed he must bring evidence that
he has behaved himself like good and orderly citizen
he must bring good evidence Of character The policy
OF the naturalization laws will not admit those to become
citizens who, after residence of five years, have not
acquired such general reputation for good character
will enable their neighbors 10 give them ecommenda
ton And yet in the face Of that the bin proposes to
lei the foreigner the next day after he declares his inten
tion--by which he is not bound-have the same benefit
that is extended to the American citizen Sir have no
nOSUuty 10 udtuIdlLeu cluZtnS. L recognise them all
alike alter they have complied with the law They then
stand on equal footing with other citizens; and lei
Them say enjoy the lands they to be given away
equally with the rest but until they do become citizens,
can see no propriety IN giving them these lands
Mr. FETCH merely wish 10 call the attention Of
the Senate 10 provision contained in the fourth section, in
the thirty fourth line, which refers TO this matter tits
there provided that no person shalt be entitled patent
OF land donated by this act until he shall have produced
ip the surveyor general Of Oregon The required evidence
course covers the very provided for in the section
intended TO be stricken out The title to the land
cannot be perfected until the naturalization is CON-
Mr.. BERRIEN rise 10 make an inquiry OF the gen.
tlemen who are familiar with the details of this bill !
understand that after the individuals declaring his in
tenon to become citizen, he is entitled TO 800 Of
andtha he may enter upon the land, and take posses
sion Of and enjoy but he cannot get patent for il
any time limited in the bill within which he is required
to execute his intention which he has declared OF becom
ing citzenl II not he is possessor, whether he gets
patent or not ask for information and if that ques-
ton cannot be answered to remove the objection
which necessarily results from statement of facts, then
the amendment proposed by the senator from Virginia
ought presume, TO receive the of the SEN
ate
Mr.. FELCH | will answer the gentemans inquiry.
do not see, upon casting my eye the bill, that
there is any limitation as to time. believe there is
none, The two portions of the bill OF course, to be
construed together one having limitation upon the other
Il is manifest think that the title would not be per-
eced until the patent issued because the issuing Of
the patent is provided for restriction upon the full
and Perfect ga o. tns person Occupying the
the premises during that time, yet he could exercise
the usual benefits Of ownership until he had perfected
his title and obtained patent iaa
Mr.. BERRlEN II there be- as the senator says, no
limitation in point OF time within which this declared in
tenton TO become citizen must be carried into execu
ton but il he be permitted upon mere declaration OF
that Intention TO be put In possession OF the land he
has possessory title which, under the law, you cannot
dirurb; and whatever right OF possession he has. as
there Limitation TO the transfer, he may transfer II
TO another had supposed that when the motion was
fret made there specification OF time within
which the naturalization should be perfected But sup
pose that these five years should out and the party
should apply to court and should decide against his
application because he had not afforded competent EVIL
dence OF his title, and was not worthy OF naturalization,
il would still be within his power to his appca
ton So that il seems to me one OF two things ought
to either the motion o the senator from Virginia
ought to prevail, there ought to be prescribed limit
within which the original declaration of intention should
be carried into execution.
Mr. DODGE, Of Iowa do not think the amendment
OF the senator from Virginia ought 10 prevail under any
circumstance made the assertion when was up be-
FORE that the language Of this bill precisely that OF
divide the proceeds OF the sales Of the public lands
the States, passed December, lsIi Ii will be borne in
mind that there never was requirement made oil q
foreigner coming here, making this country his home. and
settling upon the public land. that he should file dec
laraiion OF his intention 10 become citizen as pre-
requisite TO pre- empon, until the enactment OF this law
in 1871. The tenth section oil that law enacts
"That from passage Of this act any person
being at the head OF family or widow, or single man
the age twenty years. and being citizen OF the
United Sntes having filed his declaration Of intention to
become cdAen, required by the naturalization laws
who, the first day OF June, lSt0 has made shall
hereafter make settlement In person" &c.
That the 0st time in the history Of legislation in
this country that there was any such requirement that
the settler occupant should have filed his intention 10
become citizen OF the United States.
Well now, sir, know something OF the operation oil
that law myself As register OF the land Office granted
hundreds OF pfeemplon certificates to foreigners who
settled upon the public domain in Iowa anterior 10 the
passage OF that law OF lsil and who had even
filed their intention TO become citizens of the United
the United States as any who settled there Moreover
know that there in Wisconsin, from the year 1877
to 1884, Irshmen and Germans who, long before they
had filed intentions TO become citizens, had aitened the
soil with their blood. They good citizens any
Others. They paid their taxes worked the roads, and
did everything else thai any required 10 do.
hope, therefore, that this and anomalous amendment
| will not prevail
Mr.. CASS merely wish 10 observe that | see no
objection TO the limitation OF time; but really, pracu
cal measure, appears TO OF the most useless
egner 10 make his declaration He upon the land
having made III he gets possession OF H. and begins %
improve IT, Now, ask the gentleman from Georgiaif
he supposes ia ten thousand would arise where
1.-THE dvidual would not take his PATENT Why, he
would do it TO perfect his title. Every in the West
knows that the first anxiety OF the settler is 10 get
good patent We all know that. He does not rely
upon the possession for the te but he wants his
patent before he IN satisfied There moi in the
western country who does not know that He is actuaed
by the motive TO get his aienl which, led him TO make
Declaration OF his intention 10 become citizen How.
ever IL limitation is desired, l. for one, will make nc
IN N