New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-11-23
I Judre could on Nat,ualzation.

The Hon. George Gould, of Troy, while holding 9
crcuIt Of the Supreme Court in the Third District
was applied to by stout Hbernian for his papers,
in The following manner, to wit:
The clerk informed the Judge that the man wished
to be naturazed and he (he clerk) proposed to CON
duct the matter, as usual, at his own desk without
interrupting the business Of the Court. The Judge
replied that he knew no business more important than
giving man the full rights Of an American citizen
and that he would himself conduct the proceedings
in open Court,
The applicant thereupon produced his certificate OF
intention and his witnesses as to residence, good
character, etc. After which the following colloquy
ensued: ~ .-Ss3 &
Judge You say you prefer living in this country
to returning to ireland; win you tell me why?
Pat.-This Is land cf liberty, yer Honor.
Judge.-You show that you are attached to our
institutions; what are they ,s5.s
Pat.-(N0 answer.)
Jndge.-Who governs the country s8lS
Pat-The President, sure. gss6j j5s9 icg& <
Judge.-Who makes the iawss 5ss q All f
Pat-Sich as yer Honor
JudQe.--No; L only administer the laws. Who
governs this State 5es35
,Judue.NMr. Clerk, hand me the blank form Of the
naturalization oath. This being handed to the Court
he addressed the applicant againl There is in this
oath clause by which yo are TO swear that you will
support the Constitution Of the United States
Pat.-Oh yes, yer Honor I'm ready to swear to
that ss 3@
Judge-Did you ever read that Constitution?
Pat.-No, yer Honor. taE sA4tA6
Judge-Or word Of it? ag 5e'@s.
iPat--No, yer Honor. sae s;tA .s5slJ t47
4 Judge-Did you ever hear a word of it read? y
Pat.-No, yer Honor. - q
Judge.-Can you read and write? .'Ss&H9 z
Pat.-Yes, sir. 81 sSa a'G Hsj NEgi y
4 Judge-Do you know one word that is in the Con-
stitution of the United States2 r9eEtss ...
1 Pat.-Indeed and ] do not, yer Honor.
Judge.-You have lived in this country nearly six
H.,
all this time intending to become citizen here, yet
fyou have never taken the trouble to learn or know
word Of the instrument you now ready to take
a solemn oath to support. An American born here,
learns more OF less of the Constitution under which
he lives, as well as Of the rights and duties OF citizen
ship At any rate whether he does this or not he is
presumed to have done it, and therefore the laws Of
the land give him the right to vote without the form
ality of an oath-it is his birthright. To those not
born the SOIL the law applies different rule, and
requires from them the oath under consideration
in your case hold that the due, even the decent,
administration Of that oath depends in part the
condition that the applicant should at least under
stand t andI will never allow such abuse of the
law as would be committed by your taking that oath
in your present circumstances eYoucannot be natur
allied by this court. i sIsil 3S8
The above, which is exact relation of an actual
occurrence touches the very root of this matter of
naturalization and Of course applies to all natona
ties as well that of the subject of the story. The
evils OF which the American party profess to seek the
cure are the consequences Of the abuse of the Natur
aization Laws not their proper administration. Had
those laws been always, and were they now, admin
istered with the integrity Of purpose and common
view of their requirements exhibited by Judge
Could there would be little ground of objection if any,
to tie effect their operation The scattered remnants
Of the Known Nothing party may make themselves
consistently useful in their day and generation by
deavorng to secure the universal application Of the
sound and simple principles of which this case is an
exponent. New York Courier