The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-30

Proceedings in the Supreme
Court This Morning.
The Records of the Court Ordered
to be Thrown Open to
the Public.
ETC, Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc.

Supreme Court at Nisi Prius-Ohief Jus.
tice Thorn pson and Justice Sharswood.-
morning the process of naturalization In the
Supreme Court was interrupted for tue purpose
requiring j. Ross Snowden, the Prothono lary
to permit the reporters Of THE EVENING TELE-
Court, for the purpose OF giving to the public the
names, residences, and vouchers of the persons
OF foreign birth who have been and are now
matter was called up, Colonel Snowden ad-
dressed the Court as tollows:-
May II please your Honors:-I wish to call
the attention of the Court TO the allegations
made In various newspapers and elsewhere
conducted in the matter OF naturalization or
aliens and to ask the opinion of the Court in
this matter, whether the same mas not been
with the uniform practice of this Court aud,
also. whether l have not as its officer acted In
accordance with the directions of the Court in
all matters pertaining TO this business?"
Judge Sharswood said in response TO Colonel
SnOwden that the issue OF naturalization papers
had been in the presence of the Court, aud had
been conducted in precisely the same manner
known it to be done. Aud Chief Justice Thomp-
son added that so particular had Colonel Snow
denis assistants been in the administration of
the oath that several times they had stopped
the proce edings TO ask the advice of the Court
upon the sufficiency of proofs offered by the
applicants. This same Prothonotary had done
the business of naturalization before four of the
Judges of this Court, and always Just as he was
proceeding at The present time.
Judge Sharswood here further said that this
was an occurrence OF every four years whiah
he had witnessed twenty-five years In the Dis
trtct Court; once, in 1885, on a much larger
scale than this year. and the course pursued
here seemed to be the same as had been adopted
there
Mr.Wm, McMichae,o one Of the counsel for petit.
TONERS OF yesterday, said; that without criti-
he considered beyond his province, he would
make q statement, and no application. A
bad Was Yeserda9 % t or hs
Court for permission to examine the records of
% they were not entitled to that permission; and
also. whether members of the bar had not the
right of access to them personally, or through
their clerks.
Colonel Snowden here remarked that he was
always ready and willing to grant this free
access to gentlemen when it could be done
without discommoding the business of his
office. On the first day after these proceedings
had been commenced gentleman, represent
ing himself to be memoer of he bar. had
asked 10 be allowed to examine the certificates
ofnaiuralization as they We're made out, and
| he gave that gentleman seat beside him,
the the. nsmes and addresses of those
| applying for naturatzstion; and he proceeded
TO do this, leaving his place without any inti-
nation fIom him to do SO; 80 far as he was
the business progressed; but as to those persons
| heretofore naturallzed, the recolds were not
Seur to MAKE up this record after adouTn
| ment, for 1t was impossible to do 1t sooner. He
was perfectly willing that 1t should be seen. for
he had nothing whatever to conceal
Mr.. Lewis VAIN Smith, also counsel for the
petitioners, assured the Court that there was
| nothing in the petition intended to tmpute
irregularity in the course of Colonel Snowden
| ana such an inference was not desired
to be drawe. But in such large naturaliza-
| tion as was going on here, he conceived
IL to he almost Impossible that some instances
of fraud s b ould not have occurred; and, there
fore, in behalf of the gentlemen for whom
he appeared, he would respectfully ask the
Court TO grant access to these papers to the
reporters and others who should have proper
reasons for seeking it. Ii the Court should
direct. these gentlemen would be willing to
obtain the inform alton they desired, In time
Tor the Presidential election.
Judge Sharswood replied that he could not
say further than he had already said; the Pro
records, and he could not order him to let them
90 out OF his hands and commit them to stran-
gers who might, possibly, carry them of. But
he could see no objection to allowing these gen
temen to examine these papers In the presence
OF one of the Prot honotarv's clerks.
Colonel Snowden remarked that he had not
yet put his signature to the jurats; that it was
the custom for the vouchers to appear. the
jurats to be presented, and the oath adminis'
tered before the Court, and then for him to pu
his signature to them afterwards In the Off
But this being understood, he would readily
assent TO any respectable person eXami min.
the bundles OF papers In the presence OF hi
clerk, who was at the present time In his littl'
office at work upon the record.
Mr.. Smith said that this was all that was de
sired.
The Chief Justice observed that this was
most unuk ual application. He had never know
another such, made for the purpose OF taktn
the records from the hands OF the Prothonotary
IL should be remembered that the Constitution
provided for the appointment of a Prothono
tary, and made II hisduty to keep strict custod
. Of the records; and IL wss greatly to the credi
of such offjc to refuse to allow them TO go ou
| kpeD1DQ,