The Placer herald., 1867-05-18
Land Office Naturalization Papers.

The Naturalization Law requires the pro-
duction in Court Of the "declaration Of in,
tentions," etc. Our State Registry Act re'
quires each naturalized citizen to produce
before the Clerk for Endorsement the origi'
nal. or a certified copy, Of bis naturalization
papers," before he can be registered. The
rule, or, as it now seems, the custom of the
Land Office has been to keep whichever of
these papers was presented by any person
who attempted TO pre-empt public lands.
In this connection the following correspon-
dence speaks for itself:
SACRAMENTO, February, 20, 1867.
DEAR CoLE:-I wish to call your attention
to small but very serious evil in the u. S.
Land Office. In proving up pre-emptious
the department requires the original decar'
alton of intention to become citizen, and
wiH not return 1t. When the man makes
application to be na,uraiized, the Courts
won't hear any bat the highest testimony, j.
Q. the original certificate, which is at Wash
ington. TO be sure a certified copy may be
used, but in at least one half the instances,
men Who declared their intent tions in the
Atlantic States have forgotten in what Court.
Consequently the Land Departments action
puts our people to very unnecessary expense,
and generally delays them two years. Also,
under our Registry Law the original certfi-
1t is at Washington.
I suggest that the Department take
memorandum of lhese things and return the
original. Your friend and ob't servt.,
DANIEL J. Thomas.
Hon. C. Cole.
Mr.. W1LsoN-Sir: 1t appears to me there
is much force in the remarks found in the
foregoing letter Of Mr.. Thomas. Cannot
the last suggestion be complied with?
Yours, ETC., G. Cole, of California.
April S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
WAsHINGroN %. CO., April s, 1867,
Hon. c. Cole, Senator, Uuited States Sem
ate, Washington, d. C.-Sir: Referring to
the letter addressed to you by Daniel j.
Thomas Of Sacramento, California, of the
date of February 20, 1867, which had the
honor of receiving to-day, under your re
ference, have the honor TO state that it is
not rule of this office to require the or;gi,
udi uoCioioIiou VI AutousiOu " Oc IOI WdIu'
ed with the proof in pre-emption cases. II
is sufficient for the Register and Receiver to
transmit certified copy, alter having ex'
alniped the original and found it correct; and
when the original has been sent, certified
copy will be furnished on application, and
the payment of the small sum which the
law requires to be paid into the Treasury as
the cost in such cases.
Very respectfully your obedient servant.
Jos. S. WILSON, Commissioner.
P. S.-We enclose Mr. Thomas note.
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Wilson did
not say "nalurallzation papers," as well as
"Declaration Of Intentions" but we have no
doubt that the necison covers both.
We understand that the United States
fees for official copies are SO small that
fifty cent greenback sent TO the Land Office
will bring back certified copy of either
"declaralion" or Standardization paper"
There is abundant time between now and
the election for persons whose papers have
been transmitted to send and obtain evidence
of their right to be naturalized or placed on
the Register as the case may be.-Sacra.
mento Bee.