The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-09-04
The Republican, on Law.

Tlaiieus Of The otavaRepubiiedn ia certainly
a mau Of profound legal acumen for 10 one be-
sides himself could ever have cakcj oa, Il our
present naturalization law the surprising fact ,ha,
it provided fuy seme half dozen different ways BY
which foreigners can he na,ura..led Yet, not,
w,ihstonding this depth of penetration !!'hadleps
is not "psrfec, in the law
We thEk tina. il lie will give the law another
perassl be will find that the numerous forms Of
naturalization, which he supposes lie has disco
y"reJ, are mere provisions only ei.ec.ing such
persons as had resided 10 the United States prsyi-
ously to ISIS, when the present law WAS adopted
These Provisions were necessary to protect those
persons in the ghi. which they had acquired IN,
der the laws which were in force hen they set.
led IN thin country; the same as in this state,
where all foreigners who had resided here preyi-
ou,ly to the adoption Of the Few constitution were
allowed to vote after six months residence in the
state, though most Of that time was spent here
after the constitution was adopted, while those
who cane here since its adoption are required TO
ne na'uraEed citizens of the United States. and
to have resided in the state one year before they
can vote.
1t would be incorrcc. to say that cur state
constitution recognises two modes Of qualifying
alien voters, although it does make this distinction
because those who came here uader the old con.
-tl'Giion bad guaranteed to them certain rights
and privileges which no subsequent law could de
priye them of--they acquired this right under
tue old and not the new constitution
1t is the same with the naturalization laws Of
the United States and when the act Of 1915
was passed, congress was obliged to respcc, the
rights which aliens enjoyed under previous en-
aeimen's.-The law, therefore merely recognz
those rights, but substitutes new rule for those
who came here after that law went into effect
All foreigners then, who have cone to the Uni.
ted States since 1915, have been confined to one
uniform rule, aud no more, by which to obtain
citizenship. Minors Of course are excepted, a.
they are not properly tho subjects Of any govern
$3.50 NN'N - '"'NSo' .'Ht' iAICHsa Ut slaINt-At'
That this Is the true meaning OF the law :. ey
dent from the last section, which We copy:
Sec. is. No person who shall arrive in tho
United States, after February the seventeenth
1918, shall be admitted to become 4 citizen If The
United States, who shall not, for the continued
term Of i've years next preceding bis admission,
have reside within the United States, wlLou,
Oemg At any time during the said five years, out
ol the territory Of the United States
We are not a little a4t;ered a, having our argu.
mcnis accredited to Mr Douglas, rs We have a
very exaltsdoPiniou Of his knowledge Of the law.
Bot much as We may respect the eflsiou of our
neishbor Ihaddeus, yet, We must say bis attack,
upon Mr. Douglas speeches cannot hut remind Us
OF a certain little dog that wasted great deal
Of iia time barking at the moon. We have 10
doubt that Mr. Douglas will apologize to our pro
found neighbors for the many plumbers be ha,
made IN h' recent speeches and VIC hops they
will have the kindness to forgive him.