Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-29

w u punt OF INTEREST III coiihoouou WIN Jul
naturalization laws:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, March Is, 1854.
SIR: Your letter Of the It'll inst. has been
received. The cases which it mentions are not
embraced in any law Of the United States upon
the subject Of naturalization and it is be-
lieved, have not been decided by any court Of
this country Although, in general, it is not
the dnty of tho Secretary Of State to express
opinions Of law, and doubts may be entertain
cd Of the expediency Of making an answer to
your inquiries an exception to this rule, yet
am under the impressnn that every person
born in the United States must be considered
citizen Of the United States, notwithstanding
one or both of his parents may have been alien
at the time Of his birth. This is in conformity
with the English common law, which law is
generally acknowledged in this country. And
. person born of alien parents it is presumed
would b considered a natural born citizen of
the United States, in the language of the Con-
stiturion, 30 rs TO make him eligible to tho
Presidency.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, W. L. MARCY.
Joseph b. Nones, Esq,
Neso York City
Our colored citizens should unite in test-
monial to Secretary Marcy, for this emphatic
recognition Of their citizenship II am under
the impression" he says, that every person
born in the United States must be considered
citizen of HE United States, notwithstanding one
or both Of has parents mag have been aliens at
the time Of has birth" Of course, the Secretary
must regard the South Carolina law, under
which oolored citizens of other States are in
carcerated for no offence, as fragrant viola
ton Of the Federal Constitution
PROPOSED AMENDMENT 70 THE RULES
The amendment to the Rules, proposed a. few
days since by Mr.. Mills6n, from the Select
Committee on Rules, was as follows
Any member entitled to the floor may, in
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, pending the consideration of any bill or
joint resolution under the rule allowing FIVE
minute speeches, call for the question on any
section, paragraph, or amendment, then under
discussion and such call shall suspend debate
on the same, and, if seconded by majority Of
the members present, shall bring the Commit
tee to a vote on the particular section, para
graph, or amendment indicated, without fur
Their amendment or discussion but if the call
is not so seconded, the section, paragraph, or
amendment, shall be open to amendment and
debate as before
The report of the committee, we are glad to
say, was promptly laid upon the table. By
various devices, freedom of debate in the
House has been greatly circumscribed. A
majority at any time may stop oil discussion
by the previous question. Efforts have been
repeatedly made to bring about similar state
of things in Committee of the Whole on the
state Of the Union. Again and again has the
Chairman been called upon to restrict men,
bers in their remarks to- the particular ques-
ton under consideration but whenever he has
attempted this, he has been overruled; tho
members generally being determined to secure,
in Committee at least tho largest latitude of
debate.
The movement of Mr. Millson was the first
attempt made to introduce the previous ques-
ton in Committee Of the Whole on the state of
the Union Its effect would be to empower a
majority to suppress all debate, by compelling
an instant vote on every particular section or
paragraph Of bill. The privilege Of offering
amendments pro forma, and making fvc-min.
ute speeches, as now secured by the Rules, is
doubtless liable 10 abuse but better this than
rule which would enable majority to sup
press all discussion.