Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
] eaerson's Views about Citizenship.

The following, from the history of Jeffer-
son, shows what he thought of the right Of
expatriation, and the consequent right of nat
uralization. The new party in politics have
profaned the name of Jefferson, and SANDER
ed his memory, by imputing their heresies
to him, when he was the antagonist of their
creed and objects:
Early in the session of May, lI79, prepared and OBJ
tanned leave to bring in bill, declaring who should he
deemed citizens, asserting the natural right Of eXpalra-
ton. and prescribing the mode of exercising H. ms,
when Sithdrew from the House on the first Of June
following, left IN the hands oil George Mason. and u
was passed on the Goth Of that month.
.j.Ferson's Works. yoI. 1, p. 80, Autobiography
The following is the act Of Virginia here
described:
From Revised Bills Of l779, chapter ", p. Al
An Act
Declaring who shall be deemed citizens this Common
wealth.
BE IL enacted Bg the Ceaeral Assembly, That all white
persons born wlhR the territory Of this COMMONWEALTH
and all who have resided therein two years next before
the passing OF this act; and all who shall hereafter mi
CRATE into the same other than alien enemies and shall
before any court Of record, give satisfactory proof y!
their oath or affirmation. that they intend 10 reside mere
In: and moreover shall give assurance Of fidelity TO the
Commonwealth; and all infants whenever born, whose
father IL living or otherwise whose mother was eiii-
the time Of their birth, or who migrate miner,
their father, if living otherwise their mother 0eeo-
ing citizens who migrate hither without father or
mother shall be deemed citizens OF this commonwealth
until they renqush thst character, In manner as mere
nafter expressed: ami all others not being citizens OF
any the United States OF America shall be deemed
aliens The clerk OF the shall enter such oath OF
record and give the person taking the same aeennae
thereof for which he shall receive tue lee oil one dollar
And order preserve the citizens OF this Tom
monwealth that right which all men have 81
nauishng the country in which birth or other accident
NAV have thrown them, and seeking subsistence and
happiness wheresOeyer they may be able or nope 10 mo
ces shall he deemed evidence Of intention in any eth
zen to exercise that right. 1t IL enacted and declared
that whatsoever any citizen OF this Commonwealth snail
word Of mouth, in the presence OF ihe court OF ie
county wherein he resides OF the general cou or ~
deed in writing under his hand and SEAL eXeeuedn the
presence Of three witnesses, and by them proved, IN
either the said courts, openly declare 10 me same
and shall depart the Commonwealth, such peron shall
considered having exercised his natural right OF
expatrailng himself, and shall he deemed no citizen Ol
this from the time OF his departure ne
free white inhabitants OF every one OF the SIaes parties
To The American OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, vagahcnds,
and uxlIiyes from Justice eXcepted-sal he entitled 10
all the rights privileges and immunifies OF Tree c<ehs
in this Common ealih, and shall have Tree egress ann
reyress 10 and from the same and shall enjoy therein all
the privileges Of trade and commerce, subject 10 the
duties mpositlOns and restrictions "a the cuZehs
Of the Commonwealth. -HrHHfa'S statute az large,
YoL ~, p. I29.--Hay, I719, third 81 Commonwealth.
The laws of Pennsylvania on this subject,
as approved by FRANKLIN, were similar to
this draft of JEFFERSON.