The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-15

ity to State adoptions Of citizens just as the
existence Of uniform system of bankruptcy has led
to State insolvent laws; and it is evident that TWEEN
ty six State rules, without, perhaps uniformity be-
tween any two, would increase the evils to DO dimi-
| nished, Independent Of extreme embarrassment in
courts and at the polls, under the provision. "the
citizens of each State shall be entitled to all priyi
leges and immunities of citizens in tho several
States. "-(Constitution, Article w.. Section 2,
clause
2.-Nct to extend the period of residence before
admission to citizenship as this would be impolito
nationally, and unjust to Aliens in respect to tho
acquisition and transmission of real estate in many
parts of the Union also in respect to other civ
rights Besides, extension Of previous residence
would not diminish the alleged peruries and frauds
at the polls; but,
3-Leave the basis of the naturalization system
as it is, and superinduce the following modi6ca-
tons -
an Act supplementary to the Acts s,op IN force,
on the SUBJECT Of unifmm rule of naturalization.
SEC l. BE ii epacted, &c, That any alien being
free white person, and who shall come into the
United States six months or later, after the passage
thereof after residence therein Of at least three
% years and one year (2) at least after declaring
his bona fde intention Of becoming Citizen in the
manner and form, and upon the other conditions,
not herein altered, prescribed by the act entitled
An act to establish uniform rule Of naturaliza-
on and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that
subject which was approved April IA, 1902: Pro-
r.ded, That no alien arriving in the United States
after sr months from the passage of this act, shall
ers acquire the right to cote, except in the manner
heren0 ftT prescribed, for ann ector of President or
pice President Of the United STATES for any member
fhe House Of Representatives of the same for any
Gouermor, Lieutenant Goce'nor; member Of he Lsgis
tat1e, Judge OF any Court OF Record, or Sheriff, in
anv State on Territory of the United States, or for
any Mayer, Intendant, President, alderman, As
sistant aldermen, or Common Councilman of any
city, borough, OF Incorporated torn or ydge, in
any of the said States or their Territories
| or athin The District of Columbia; but ali
aliens admitted to naturalization under the forego-
ing provisions and Limitations, shall enjoy every
ether right and privilege Of native born citizens
which is not expressly limited or withheld by tho
Constitution of the United States
Sec. z: And be 1t further enacted, That every ma
turallzed citizen, aforesaid, shall be wholly ex
empted or excused from involuntary service in the
militia, army, and navy Of the United States
Sec 3: And be it further enacted, That every FREQ
white alien, being an able bodied male Of at least
engage to the United States against their enc
mics, for at least two years. or during the war; or
who, in time Of actual war, shall serve the said
States faithfully two years. to the end Of the war;
in any company vessel of war, in the army or
navy the said States, shall, obtaining the GER
tifcate or certificates of faithful SERVICE signed by
| the commanding officer officers of such company
or companies vessel or vessels Of war; and counter
| signed by the next higher officer in the army or
navy, under whom, If any, such alien has served,
shall be admitted, on presenting such evidence to
| any court designated in the act herein be-
! fore recited, to all the rights and privileges
of citizenship at any time conferred by the act, on
simply taking the oath Of allegiance to the United
| States, and making the renunciations cnjoned in
| the said act
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act
shall take effect and after six months from it's
massage, when all provisions Of former acts ncon-
slstent with this act shall be taken and hed.to be
repealed IN respect only to all aliens arriving in tho
| United States after that date.
Should some bill like this become law, it would
not in the slightest degree affect any alien already
in the United States, or who might arrive within
six months after its date Of course, the rights Of
naturalised citizens would be little touched by
the act as those of native born citizens. What TO-
reigners abroad would be affected by the law Pro
badly but few; possibly not who, at the time Of
its passage, would have a mind made up to migrate
to the United States. As to all female foreigners
arriving after the passage Of the act and the add
tonal six months, they would be the sooner, by two
years, admitted to all the crI rights of citizenship
and no others have ever been conferred on females
Sooner, also, by two years, would their male rea-
tives and friends be admitted to that large class OF
rights, besides eligibility to all but four Offices State
and federal.
As to other foreigners abroad and in existence or
who may hereafter be born abroad, what right
would they have or in future to complain of such
law! We, already in the United States, whether
natives, naturalized citizens, Aliens have great
question Of national policy to settle for ourselves
and our o,cn posterty, and may settle it for the
benefit of both, without looking to speculative phi
lanthropy or liberty beyond such posterity. w
think zee are liberal enough nhcn in providing 70,
America, nee karc the door of admission ope,, to III,
children of foreigners, abroad, tcho may hereat,
be born here, pithom allocing their fathers to com,
| and help to gorern us. We, tcho alone hare ana
right to think on the subject, claim that ne can best
goram ourselres, and the better such government, in
The meantime, so much the better for the foreigners
who may hereafter come among us, and for hei,
| american born children.
1t will be observed that the bill proposes to leave
future naturalized citizens as eligible to all offices and
trusts those who have heretofore been naturazed
Many of them, doubt, will be appointed and elected
to high places, heretofore, and be found worthy
Of confidence as a Montgomery, or a Morris, a Gal
latin, Findlay, or Smiley. We, now in Ame-
rica mean only that, after given time, electors
pon vi 1he SUI sudn alohe seiect natSes OF auOpt-
ed citizens to make laws for America, or to admi-
mister those laws
But, without syllable on tho subject of electors
(yoters) for electors Of President and Vice Presi
dent because, perhaps, it intended they should
be chosen by the State Legislatures, as at present
in South Carolina, the constitution has declared
THE House Of Representatives shall be composed Of
members chosen every second year the people of the
several States and the electors in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors Of the most
merous branch of the State Legislature (ff J. sec
clause
Not another word is said in any other part Of the
instrument on the qualifications of voters.
In view of that clause, it may be asked, and to
the confusion Of some mnds:-Has Congress the
power to limit the political franchise Of future