The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-11-26

home. e.-Detr0U FREE ffeSS.
From the New York Courier q Enquirer
Judge Gould on Natural ization.
The Hon. Geo. Gould, Of Troy, while
holding a circuit of the Supreme Court in
the Third District, was appliod to by a
stout Hibernian for 'his papers, in the
manner following, to-wit:
The Clerk informed the Judge that the
man wished to be naturalized, and he
(the Clerk) proposed to conduct the
matter, at usual, at his own desk, without
nterruptiug the Court. The Judge
replied that he knew of no business more
important than giving a 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, &c. At
ter which the following coloquy ensued:
Judge-You say you prefer living in
this country TO returning to Ireland, can
you tell me why?
Pat-This is land Of liberty, yer
Honor.
Judge-You show that you are attach
ed to our institutions, what are they?
Pat-( No answer)
Judge-Who governs the country?
Pat-The President, sure.
Judge-Wbo makes the laws?
Pat-Sich as yer Honor.
Judge-No; / only administer the
laws.
Who covers this State?
No answer.
Judge-Mr. Clerk hand me the blank
form Of the Naturalization Oath. This
being handed to the Court, he addressed
the applicant again There is in this
oath clause by which you are to swear
that you will support the Constitution of
the United States.
Pat--Ob! yes. yer honor. I'm ready
to swear to that.
Judge--Did you ever read the C"nsti-
tuition?
Pat--No yer honor.
Judge--Or word of it!
Pat-No yer honor.
Judge-Did you ever hear word of
ii read?
Pat--No yer honor.
Judge-Can yor read and write. j.
Pat--Yes, sir.
Judge-Do you know one word that is
in the Constitution of the United States?
Pat--Indeed, and do not, yer hon
or. 9.
Judge--You have lived in this country
nearly six years; you can Ieyd and write
and you have been all this time intending
to become citizen here, yet You have
never taken the trouble to learn or know
one word of the instrument you are now
readysto take solemn oath TO support.
An American born here, and living here
until heis2 years Of age, learns more
or less Of the Constitution under which he
lives, as well as of the rights and duties
of citizenship. AT an! rate, whether be
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 formality of an oath; it is his birth
right. To those not born on the soil, the
law applies different rule, and requires
from the oath now under consideration in
your case l hold that the due, even the
decent administration of that oath de-
pends in part on the condition that the ap.
plicant should at least understand it; and
| will never allow such an abuse of the
law as would be committed by your Ia.
king that oath in your present circum-
stances. You cannot be nataralized by
this court. s
The above, which is an exact relation
Of an actual occurrence, touches the very
root OF this matter OF naturalization.
cEA panther was killed recently near
Ellotsyille. Monroe County. Indiana. lie
| aE.4 49, 49,