The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-27
Jeferson's view. about Citizenship.


shows what he thought OF the righ, of expariatinl
| and the consequent right Of naturalization. The
new party in policies have profaned he name ul
Jefferson and sIandered his memory BY impu ing
their hereses TO him, when he was the antagonist
of their creed end ot-cis.
EARLY ia the session OF May, 1879, prepa red
and obtained leave bring in bill declaring who
should be deemed citizens, asserting tie natural
right at expatrialon, and prescribing the mode OF
exercising it. THIS, when withdraw from the
House on the first of June following, left in re
hands Of Grorge Mason, and it was passed on The
2h6 0i that month.
JcTtrson's Works, Vol. l. p. so, Aulobipgra.
pny.
The following is the Act of Virginia here des.
crbpd:
lFrom Revised ails of 1919. chapter 4, p. All
An Act drcarIng who shall he deemed ci:izrns
Of this Commonwealth. BE IL enuctrd 6y the
General assembly. That all white persons born
within The territory Of this Commonweat and all
who have resided therein two years next br(ore
the passing of this act and all who shall here.
after mi graf" into the some, other than alien enc.
mics, and shall, before any Cour, Of Record. give
Satisfactory PROOF, by their oath affrmatIon that
they intend 10 reside therein and moreover, shalt
give assurance OF fidelity to the Commonwealth !;
and all infants, whenever barn, whose father if
living, or otherwise, " h mother wns citiz-n
at tn time of their birth, or who migrate hr her
without father mother, shall DC deemed ctz..n
of This Commonwealth until they relinquish that
character, IN manner as herein after expressed;
and all Others not being cniz"ns Of any of the
United States OF America, shall be- deemed aliens.
hS clerk Of the shall enier such oath OF re-
cord. and i've the person taking the same crrti-
fca;c thereof, for which hrshall the fee Of
one dollar. And, in nrder 10 preserve To the citi.
Zrns Of This Commonwealth that natural right
which all men have OF relinquishing the country
i'll which birth or other accident may have thrown
them, and seeking subsistence and happiness
wheresorver they may be able hope to find them
And TO d"cIare unrquivocaiy what circumstances
shall be derm'd evidence Of an intention in any
ciIiz~n 10 exerci>e that right 1t is enacted and
declared. Raj whatsoever any citIzrn of this Com.
mouweallh shall, by word of mouth, i'll .he pre-
SeHce Of the court Of The county wherein he re-
sides or of The general court, or by deed in writ
ing under his hand and sea- executed in the pre-.
sence Of three witnesses, and by them proved, IN
either OF the said courts, openly declare TO the
same court that he reinquI> he's The character Of
The ciizrns and shall depart the C"mmonweath,
such persons shall be considered as having rxer-
ciSed his natural right OF expatrla'ing himself and
shall b" deemed no citizen of this CODmnnwea?h
from the tim" Of his departure. The free white
inhabitants OF every OF the States, parties TO the
American fed"ration-paupers, vagabonds and
tugIIves from Justice excrptrd-shall be enlrd
10 all the rights, privileges and lmmunes Of free
riIiz"ns in this Commonwealth. and shall have
free egr. SIS and reoress to and from the same. aud
shall enjoy therein all ihe privileges OF trade and
subject to the same duties, imp"s,o Us
and restrc:ions the citizens OF the Common.
weulth.- HcnmanS Statute at Large, Vol. K, p.
l29-, Nay, 1879, Mird Of Communicable.
The laws of Pennsylvania on This subject, as
approved by Franklin, similar 10 this draft
0f J.. ffrrson.