Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-02-09
The Naturalization Question.
THE OTHER SIDE.
FEBRUARY 4th, 1856.

| FEBRUARY 4th, 1856.
lNessrs Editors: have read in your papers
the 9th and 26th Of January, and I'd inst, three
letters from my friend Mr.. B. J. Sage, in reply t.
two communications of mine published in YOU
paper some molths since, arguing the question o
the rights of natura!ized citizens, ETC.
| I will not undertake to discuss the subject il
the logical manner my friend has done He is
well trained lawyer, accustomed to analyze ane
investigate knotty questions, and discuss then
logically. Ny training has been of different sort
l have been accustomed to arrive at conclusion:
by the shortest possible method, and to take (se
far as am capable) the plain common sense view
Of things.
l will therefore state briefly, that in my opinion
the Constitution of the United States gives to Con
gress the power to confer, to withhold, to limit Oh
qualify, the right of citizenship to aliens. That
Congress having passed laws admitting aliens to
the right of citizenship without any limit or quaf.
cation, aliens, when so admitted, possess all the
rights political as well civil, which may be en-
joyed by native born citizens
Mr.. Sage says, naturalization" was term Of
purely English origin, and meant "to invest an
alien with the right of native subject or citizen"
Then he says, "What were those in England p
clearly not political rights not the right of gov
eminent, or in other words sovereignty, for a
citizen or subject of England never held them !;
being in the crown and Parliament" and then he
assprta that C M additional meaning oreos fron,
the use of the term in the Constitution of the
United States, for it was used by the trainers as
technical one, with an already fixed meaning"
Now l cannot agree with my friend Mr. Sage in
defining the meaning of the term naturalization"
when used by a convention of american citizens,
to mean precisely the same as if used by British
Parliament; or that naturalization laws passed bv
the American Congress- in conformity with pro-
vision OF the Constitution Of the United States
admitting aliens to the rights of citizenship limit
those rights to those which might be granted in
England, or France, or any other country, where
the political rights Of citizens are limited or do
not exist at all. Clearly the trainers of the Consti-
tuition meant by naturalization" to admit aliens
to the rights of citizenship, such as was at the
time enjoyed by native born citizens of the United
States.
What were these rights? The right of sover-
eighty, or voting and holding Office, under such
restrictions or regulations as might be adapted to
the several States. Then the alien became
citizen in whatever State he conformed to the re-
luirements Of the law; acquired right to vote
equal with that of any native citizen of such State
Ind If ne passed from that to any other State,
carried with him all the rights native born citizen
Of the State in which he was naturaized would
larry; and has right to be recognised as citizen
lnder that provision of the Constitution which |
ays, The citizens Of each State shall be entitled
o all the privileges and immunities of citizens in |
he several States"
The discussions which arose in the Convention |
which formed the Constitution of the United States
would no doubt throw light on this subject: but
having no means Of examining them, must take
for granted, the meaning Of the term "natural-
cation " was clearly understood by the legislative
bodies and the courts of that period and immedi.
tely succeeding, and as aliens were admitted to-
Ill the rights possessed by native born citizen
by reason of this naturalization" political as we'll
s civil, unquestioned up to the present time, I
must conclude my friend is entirely mistaken in the
lew he takes of the subject. The courts which
rst admitted aliens to the rights of citizenship
nder the law of Congress, and the State legisla-
ures which first passed laws regulating the quail
cations OF voters, certainly knew what was meant
y the term naturalization" as used in the Con-
titution of the United States.
Mr.. sage's arguments are very plausible and
'gically set FORTH bat the foundation on which the
hole structure is built: that is to sav-defnine
ne meaning of the term naturalization" to be
nat which might be given to it in England or any
Their country, being "a falacy," to use his own
ords, the whole structure must fall to the ground.
he despotisms and monarches of Europe make
u9jects of aliens-the Republic of the United
tates makes them citizens
Respectfully,
NArURAL1zED CITIZEN, &c.