The New York herald., 1869-04-21
ENGLAND.
Naturalization and Allegiance Imprisonme Il,
for Debt-Sireet Raiiroad--Proba5ie Ex:ra-
dition Case.


Naturalization and Allegiance g nj,
for Debi--sireet Rniiroad--Proba5ie Extra
dition Case.
LONDON April 5, 1869.
The royal commission appointed to inquire into
the laws OF naturalization and allegiance as they
now exist and TO consider the proprlety OF their
modification and amendment have recently made
their report Ir OF the high old boys OF "nerrie
Engandr who now lie mouldering in westmnste
Abbey St. Paul's and repositories great mems
dust could rise from their tombs and listen to the
reading OF this remarkable British document we can
imagine the horror and dsgust that would be depicted
on thernrstocratc counelances and the involuntary
elevation that would be impaired to their venera-
BILE pigtails at the cavalier manner in which that
sacred feuda article OF faith, "once subject always
subject" treated In these degenerate days. The
commissioners united In their aband onm ent OF
the last vestige OF the doctrine OF the ndebii;y OF
national character and agree that 1t Is as unjust as
II would be mpracticable TO attempt any longer to
enforce a compulsory allegiance upon all men who
are born British subjects, even though they shall
have emlgrated and tasen voluntarily upon them.
selves allegiance to another government OF course
the real victory this relic Of slavery and bar
barism was won in 1872, when England was taught
that there was O broader humanity than her states
men had ever compreheuded, and that the divine
right Of monarch could no longer nuliify
Dlt " IS hcveitheess CURIOUS Illustration OF the
progress or the age 10 find q royal Commission I'm
England unanimous In the concession that indelble
allegiance IN neither reasonable nor convenient and
In tine recommendation that II be totally eradcated
from the common law. The Commissioners propose
such radical change Of the law thai every British
subject saa cease tO be such soon as he has been
naiurliNed legally In a foreign state and under
taken the duty TO tnat state as subject or ciIzen
thereof; that The benefit the new nationality sla
extend to the wife and minor children OF the emit
Frant; aud that a woman who is a British subject
acquire the nationality Of ner husband,
that the commission found it impossible 10 agree
upon The question as 10 what should constitute the
character Of natural born Brl''sa suo.eet, other
than birth within the British domnons anu OF Br-
tisb parentage Some Of the commits. toner's propose
that the common law as IL now exists, making the
place OF birth The test, SHAH be entirely rJgatel
ana lhal tnc nau0nality OF chd shall follow that
OF It's ather. The majority In favor or retaining
Tue present law, with some modification, making
birth upon British soil tae test OF Nationality. ex-
cept when, In tue case OF children OF
foreign parentagc, foreign nationality lhsa
be formally enc en- by Registration, either
by their parents during the minority VI the children
or by the children themselves after attaining thcr
majority aud before exercising or Claiming any
right or privilege % Bridsl subjects. The oo'nms-
siOners Oner wise and proper suggestion In re1ard
10 the alteration OF the common Jaw which af nres.
elt makes aliens absolutely incapable OF holding or
inheriting any portion Of British soil. They recon.
mend the entire abolition OF thli disability sensDly
arguing that any danger that might arise In tie OF
war from the possession Of land by aliens could be
easily guarded against by special legislation. Thus
CTu4nDlcS away duOtucT VI tue IOlllCs anu errors
OF bvgone age. Catholic disability aud
Jewish disability have disappeared. The Irish
Church and indeiible allegiance win soon be
among the things Of the past Who shall
say how soon other abuses VIII follow or how long
II will bo before England stands forth as great aud
powerful as ever. but with better appreciation OF
the true foundation Of human happlnessf
An onR the reforms now IN progress not the least
interesting Is that which promises the abolition OF
lhe DarbatOus law OF imprisonment for deDt The
ihhulnanliy OF tins law has already been illustrated
~ the graphic pen OF Dickens and other writers.
~ absurdlty s SHOWN IN the fact that 1t prevents
lhe unfortunate debtor from ever earning the money
70 satisfy hls creditors. ~ this moment men are
IOtung as paupers IN tue debtors prisons who but
IOI tnls aJDmnabie law, would long since have been
1ree lioin dcDt aud In the possession of comfort-
abie nocpehdence. IL has been usefu only
hs measure OF revenge and should long since have
been DiOtted from the ntatate book Of every cyiized
nation. 1he present bill does not reach to ieIts
under twenty pounds, for which udgments sre on.
aincd In county or district courts, aud which ARC
IN fact the worst cases under the present iaw I'm
these courts the Judge makes order for the nav
ment OF the debt In instruments. aud N the debtor
should fall TO obey he Is imprisoned for term moi
exceeding forty days. But this sentence can be re-
peaied again and again. term OF imprisonment
freeing the debtor OF his liability This portion of
that after Imprisonment Tor debts OF over twenty
pounds has been abolished the whole system of
locking up dctior like fc'on viii be speedily
swept away.
An experimental street railroad is 70 be lald down