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

ty to State adoptions Of citizens just as the nom
existence Of uniform system Of bankruptcy has led
to State nsolvent laws and it is evident that twen-
ty six State rules, without, perhaps uniformity be-
tween any two, would increase the evils to be dmi
nished, Independent of extreme embarrassment, in
courts and at the polls, under the provision, "the
citizens Of each State shall be entitled to all pryi
leges and immunites of citizens in tho several
States. CONSTITUTION, Article w.. Section 2,
clause Il
2.-Not to extend the period Of residence before
admission to citizenship, as this would be impotio
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 cra
rights. Besides, extension Of previous residence
would not diminish the alleged perjures and frauds
at the polls; but,
3-l.eave the basis of the naturalization system
as it is. and superinduce the following modi6ca-
tions:-
IN Act supplementary to the Acts nom IN force,
on the SUBJECT Of uniform rule of naturalization.
SEC. l. BE e,iacted, &c, That any alien, being
Tree white person, and who shall como into the
United States six months later, after the passage
Of this act, may be admitted to become citizen
thereof after residence therein Of at least three
ID years and one year (2) at least after declaring
his bon de 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 naturaza-
ton and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that
subject which was approved April IA, 1902: Pro-
Uded, That no alien arriring in the United States
after sir months from the passage Of this act, shall
ero acquire the "a GIT to cote, except in the manner
hereinafter prescribed, for any eector of President o.,
p.ce President ofhe United STATES for any member
Of the House Of Representatives Of the same for any
Governor, Lieutenant Governor. member of tie Legis-
latve, Judge Of any Court OF Record, or Sheriff, in
anv State on Territory of the United States, or for
any Moym, Intendant, President, alderman, as
sistant aldermen, or Common Councilman of any
any Of the SAID States or their Territories,
or uithin The District of Columbia; but all
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 the
Constitution Of the United States
Sec. 2 And be at further enacted, That every ma
empted or excused from involuntary service in the
militia. army. and navy of the United States
Sec. B. -And be it further enacted, That every FREQ
white alien, being an able bodied male Of at least
engage to serve the United States against their enc
miles, 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;
navy Of the said States, SHALL on obtaining the GER
tifcate or certificates of faithful SERVICE signed by
the commanding officer or officers Of such company
or companies, vessel 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. T. A,d be it further enacted, That this act
fact n,d of o:x lis,
passage, when all provisions Of former acts ncon-
sistent with this act, shall be taken and hedto be
repealed, in respect only to all aliens arriving in the
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
naturalizod citizens would be as 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 mind made up to migrate
to the United States. As to all female foreigners
arriving after the passage of the act and the addi-
tioDal six months, they would be the sooner, by two
years. admitted to all the cir rights of citizenship
and no others have ever been conferred on females
Sooner, also, by two years, would their male rea-
tves and friends be admitted to that large class of
rights, besides eligibility to 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 now in future to complain of such
law! We, already in the United States, whether
natives, naturalzed citizens, Aliens have great
question Of national policy to settle for ourselves
and our ocn posterity, and may settle it for the
benefit of both, without looking to speculative phi.
lanthropy or liberty beyond such posterity. we
think zee are liberal enough ,chen, in providing for
America, zoe tearc the door of admission open to the
children of foreigners moc abroad pho may hereafter
be born here, ,cithom allowing their fathers to come
and help to gorern us. We, Who alone haze any
right to think the subject, claim that zee can best
gorem onrselves, and the better such government, in
the meantime, SO much the better for the foreigners
nilo may hereafter come among us, and for their
american born children.
1t will be observed that the bill proposes to leave
future naturazed 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 as worthy
Of confidence Montgomery, or a Morris, Gal
latin, Findlay, or Smiley. We, now in Anne
RIGA, mean only that, after a given time, electors
born the soil shall alone select natives or adopt.
ed citizens to make laws for America or to adm-
mister those laws.
But, without syllable on tho subject of electors
(yoters) for electors of President and Vice Pres-
dent, BECAUSE perhaps, it was 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 by the people of the
several States and the electors each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors Of the most
merous branch Of the State Legislature 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 minds-Has Congress the
power to limit the political franchise Of future
adnnfcd cifizens In the first snction nf Tho hill