Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-03-29
From he M;ssissigqinn.
The Naturalization Laws.

No 0Qtol0tth ttUu AMvca
! According to the opinion Of Judge
Dean, the administration Of our nat.
uralization laws has heretofore been
exceedingly loose. The law itselfas
it would seem, is but imperfectly nm
derstood, owing to the fact that al.
though some Of its provisions are
plainenough, it has been so frequent
ly altered and amended, from 1870
along down to l84S. that not lit
tie labor is required to enable one to
know what its requirements now are.
One radical error is pointed out
The. Law explicitly provides that APP
plication shall be made to, and de-
cided upon, by certain courts Of rec
ord; but it has been the common
practice for the clerks Of the courts to
examine the cases Of applicants, adj
minister the required oath, and give
the necessary papers. Tbs mode Of
doing the business is condemned in
toto. And it is clearly demonstra-
ted that the Court, and not the clerk
of the Court is to admit the alien to
the rights and benefits Of citizenship.
In relation to the administration of
this law, and concerning its require
1ments, Judge Dean remarks:
"There are probably no laws Of "a
public character SO imperfectly un-
derstood and so badly administered
as those for the naturalization Of for
eigners. Among the powers which
were by the States delegated to Con.
gress, was the one TO establish uni
form rule of naturalization" This
power was exercised the year after
the formation Of the government, by
an act approved by Washington,
March 18th, 100. Again in 1895,
and in 1913, 10 an act approved by
President Adams. All these acts
we're repealed in. 1902, during The
presidency of Jefferson, when the act
was passed, which, though it has off,
en- been modified in important partic-
ulars, and in a few instances materi-t
ally changed, is the one now in force,
and under which the courts derive
their jurisdiction to act in the prem
ises."
The essential provisions of the law
are the following, and from perusal
of them it will be seen that naturali-
cation has been regarded as matter
Of the gravest character. The liber.
ties and institutions of this country
we're considered of foo much impor-
lance, to be placed in the keeping Of
any others than men of good charac-
ter, and devoted attachment, to the
great principles on which our govern
ment distinguished from all others
under heaven is founded.
"Any alien, being awhile person, |
may be admitted to become citizen
II the United States or any of them, I
N the following conditions, and not
otherwise:
"1st. That he shall have declar.
ID, on oath or affirmation, before the
upreme, superior, district or circuit
curt Of some of the States, or off
be Territorial districts of the United
states, OF a circuit district court of
be United States, three Ethis by the
mendment is now "two" years at
east, before bis admission, thatit was
ona fde his intention to become a !,
itizen Of the United States, and to
forever all allegiance and )
deity to any foreign prince, poten. .
tie, state or sovereignty whereof
,ch alien may at the time be a citi.
IN or subject. e
"2dly. That he shall, at the time II
his application to be admitted, sde- g
are on oath or affirmation, before II
me one Of the courts aforesaid, that II
wiU support the constitution of the u
aited States, and that he doth alb. II
lutely reuou,ace and ALLURE all ale 81
ance and fidelity to erery foreign u
anee, Potentate, state or souersignty ie
lattper, and particularly by name, u
prince, potentate, state, or sover- !"
mtg seherecf he mas before a citizen g
subject; which proceedings shall o.
recordedby the clerk Of the court. 10
"3dly. That the court admitting ad
,h alien shall be satisfied that be Sc
) resided within the United States OF