The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-23
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1858.

Notwithstanding the advanced period of the ses-
sion and the press of public business the House of
Delegates of Maryland has not been deferred from
engaging in protracted debate upon a Bill pro-
posing to forbid all the Courts of the State to grant
certificates of Naturalization as they have done,
time out of mind, under the Acts of Congress. The
Constitution Of the United States has conferred
upon Congress the power ''to establish a uniform
rule of naturalization, - and under this provision
the right to grant certificates of naturalization has
been conferred as well upon the courts of record
and of law established by the States, as upon the
Federal COurts-and for long course of years this
power has been exercised by them concurrently.
1t Is now proposed to pass a law declaring that
the Courts in Maryland shall no longer aid any
foreigner in his efforts TO become a citizen Of the
United States-which is the same thing as declaring
to the whole alien world that if Maryland had ex-
elusive control the subject no foreigner should
ever be allowed to acquire the rights of citizen of
the State. No matter how worthy, how patriotic
how devoted TO the support of our institutions
man may be, by the law he is informed that if he
exercises the rights Of a citizen within the bounds
of this State, he does so because the will of Mary
land is, in the matter overborne by the will of a
superior authority to which she reluctantly Yields.
and which she will not countenance by lending to
it the aid of her own tribunals
Or this question. question Of power merely
we do not propose to speak. 1t may he that the
General Government is uot competent to compel
the State courts to assume and exercise these nc-
tonS. Much less do we intend to advert 10 the
measure as an expedient which it NAV be supposed
Is Designed TO promote some partisan object. The
interest which our readers have in it depends upon
much more comprehensive considerations. In the
complex system under which we live the preserva-
ton of relations not only respectful and harmon
ious, but friendly and intimate between the State
and Federal Governments is of the utmost import
ance. We are dependent upon the pleasure of the
Federal government for many important privileges
which, although we may class them under the
head Of rights, may easily he denied us if we place
ourselves in a condition of hostility or GOODNESS
towards it. In all the .other States of the Union
the domestic tribunals cheerfuy lend their aid in
carrying out the uniform rule of naturalization
which the Federal Government has chosen TO pre-
scribe
Shall Maryland be the only one to mark her dis
approval of laws ordained by the will of the con-
tederacy, in a manner so discourteous yet expect
that the congress which holds these laws to be
wholesome and necessary, will be so impartial as
not 10 be governed by the motives which uniformly
control the actions of men, and practice no sort Of
retaliation? Under the government of Kings and
Emperors contumacious cities and parishes have
been made to feel the royal dispeasure, often, no
doubt, with oppressive injustice-and we all know
that even under Republic, the same passions and
resentments may, under various guises, be made to
nfct similar penalties. But if ii shall be thought
unworthy the legislature of a sovereign State to
listen TO such sordid considerations, we trust that
they will at least pause when they reflect how i'm
potent after ALL their utmost efforts must prove in
countervaing the legislation of congress by which
foreigners are admitted to citizenship To say
nothing of the facilities which the federal courts
will continue 10 afford, can it be doubted that the
passage Of law banshing pro taa,to, the uniform
rule of naturalization from our counties will be
followed at once, by an enactment Of congress, 10
remedy the inconvenience? How long, think you.
will it be before commissioners authorized 10 grant
certificates of naturalization will be appointed to
assume the cast off and repudiaed jurisdiction of
cur county tribunals? Nothing, in short. will be
left of the proposed measure, except the odum it
will raise against its authors--the resentment it
viii breed in the minds of foreigners against the
State and her people-and the determination in
congress to render it the most gnoble and senseless
trutum ttl,nen which reckless partisanshp ever
launched at It's adversary.