The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1868-12-18
NATURALIZATION LAWS.


The monstrous frauds that were perpe-
!rated in naturalization papers in New
York and elsewhere at the last election
will be the basis of radical changes by
this Congress in the laws governing natura,
iizatiou. Several bills have already been in.
troduced, and others are to follow. Senator
Williams who has devoted much time to
the consideration Of the subject aud con.
suited some of the best lawyers of the
country, will present to the Seuate on Mon.
day, bill 20 amend the existing laws.
The following are the essential features Of
the bill, which is intended hot only to pre-,
vent the forgery of papers, but also frauds
upon the Courts and by the Courts.
L. That any alien as described in the
previous ac,s may at any time after he be.
comes a resident of the United States take
and subscribe an oath or affirmation before
any office authorized to administer oaths,
having seal of Office to the effect, that he
is bona ide resident OF the United States,
and that it is his intention to become
citizen thereof, and to renounce forever all
allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Gov.
ernment wherefore such alien may at the
time be citizen or subject, which oath or
affirmation, so subscribed and certified by
the otfcer before whom it is taken, under
his seal, shall within six months from it,
date be filed in the Clerks Office of the
United States District Court of the district
in which said alien resides, and the said
clerk shall keep an alphabetical index show.
ing the name of the affiant, the date of
the oath or affirmation, and the time of its
filing.
2. Any such alien, after the expiration
OF five years from the date of the oath or
affirmation filed as aforesaid, may take an
oath or affirmation before an officer, as 10
the previous section, in effect that he does
renounce all allegiance to the foreign gov
ernment whereof he was before citizen,
that he will support the Constitution Of the
United States, and to the best of his abli
ties protect the Government thereof
against all its enemies, foreign and domes.
tic, which oath or affirmation, subscribed
Ind certified as aforesaid, shall be fled in
The office of said clerk, who shall keep an
alphabetical index thereof, which, 10 addi.
ion to showing the name and dates as
'foresald, shall show when any certificate
u naturalization is issued as hereafter pro.
'lded, and upon filing such oath or afirma
ION or at any time thereafter upon appi
'ation OF such alien or any one authorized
y him, and upon the presentation of said
wo oaths or afirmations subscribed certi>
led, and filed as aforesaid, and without re-. ,
ewing or requiring any other or further
vldenLe, said court shall admit said alien
be citizen of the United States, by an
rider to be recorded by said clerk in |,
ook to be kept for that purpose, and a
opy OF such order, certified by said clerk,
nder the seal of said court and attested
y the Judge thereof, shall be conclusive
nd.'he OILY proof of the naturalization of
he person therein named.
.. Suitable provision is made in cases Of
smoval during the process of or subse.
ucnt to naturalization. All aliens who
lay hereafter become citizens of the r.
nlted States are required to be naturalized p
herein prescribed but any alien who h
as heretorore declared his intention to d
ecome such citizen may be admitted to t,
tlzenship as herein prescribed after the p
ipiration OF two years from the time Of fl
ing said declaration or a duly certified Il
'py thereof in the office OF the Clerk OF 81
le United States Court of tho District in a
hich he resides.