The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-03-03
An Unrighteous Device.

citizenship. That being its undcniable effect,
it cannot be supposed that men who were in
genious enough to frame such a statute did not
fully understand their own aim. The bill pro-
yides in reference to the process Of naturaliza.
ton as follows: Applicants for the rights Of
citizenship must present themselves before
either the United States Circuit or District
Courts, or before the United States Court of
highest Jurisdiction in the State where the
former Courts hold not more than two terms a
year. \ notice Of intention must be lodged
with the clerk, the full particulars of birth,
parcnt1gc residence, arrival in the country,
etc, being stated, and the whole supported by
the names Of two citizens who know the appli-
cant personally. This notice is to be filed and
kept open for inspection or transcribing. Then
the applicant must continre residence in the
county for four years, at the expiration Of
which time he may demand to be clothed with
full citizenship. Buthc must make this request
at least twenty days previous to the session Of
the Court-must have lived in the State for six
months prey.ous-aud in the district, county
or parish in which hcmakes his application for
thirty days.
Still morcl he is to b. compelled to produce
one or more credible citizens whose testimony
will support the foregoing, and who will give
their word for his moral character and general
fitness to be made citizen. Besides this cau-
ton, any citizen is at liberty to bring forward
testimony in opposition to his final claim. If,
after all, the Court is satisfied to grant the ap-
plicants request, it is authorized to give him
certificate of naturalization, but not to become
lucrative until sig months afterwards.
A single glance at the time speciGed as the
limit far efTcctin, naturalization shows that the
calculation has been so nicely made Ms 10 keen
AWAY from ,hc mills cvcry e,ni,ropt vb, !.
likely IN land ON our shore, bet,yccp mi, and
tho d,v of the neyt Presidential cleetio,
Worse still-tbe law will opero,e so as tn put
back those who have already filed uoticc, a.
intention. on the same ground Of di,adyant,g,
as those who nrc vet 10 come ovcr. Tins II il
intended practically Ia deny r,rcicn-borp NOR
sonsriqbt. which ,hey were solemplv promised.
besides erecting barriers against new corners
which will almost wholly DISCOURAGE their do
sire to attain citizenship at ALL 1t must be
known that tbi, boon 1, by no means III, small.
est or the ;nducement, +, immi,rntion. and II
follows. that when we cut off that. we inst So
far diminish Iii, value which attaches To the
invitation extended by US to European emf
grants. If this nerlrious partisan device,
springing from a malignant sclG,huess, shall
become the law of the land it will operate as
a visible discouragem to white emigration,
and hindcr to the same extent the development
Of the untry's resources.
Nothing onc-half so Infamous in intent has
been sprung upon the country bya Congress
whose leaders study to rival their most odious,
corrupt and tyrannical revolutionary exem-
plars. We have seen how such measure will
shut the ball0t-box at the next Presidential
election to all immigrants arriving between
this time and that; and we understand how,
by It's permitted rctroaetion, the proposed law
trcacherously, and for purely partisan reasons,
denies all foreign-born persons in the country,
who have not applied for citizenship four years
ago, chance to vote until they shall have
made new application and waited four years
and six months after that. Now let US consider
its glaring injustice generally, which il requred
diabolical intention to compass.
SA'l cAiNuh HAateo NuuttS TtNslNt up
plicatiOns and grant naturalization certificates,
The State Courts are prohibited from meddline
in the matter at all. The former Courts as
every one knows. are held rarely. only al cen,
trail points in any State, and are potoriously
deficient in the numerical force requisite TO
the demands of naturaliziug process that
free government like ours should generously
prescribe. Applicants must therefore travel
scores and even hundred. of mie. IN frat dc.
clare and file their intention. besides being
hindered in hunting around for two name,
which they feel sure the Court viii at opce Le
satisfied with. Then when tho fonr v.or.hovo
expired tbev nrc IN bc comnallod ~ maLo
iournev In tbe d;.tan, nI,c. or ho,d;n, ,h.
Court perbans 10 bs kcnt waiting far d,vsI
FIRE tbeir turn comcs IN snb,;s, on ov,oY,, i,
the interim. TO lose their wage, for tho s,mo
time. and 10 nav the travelling ovn.nso, ,ho
board, and the wares of their supportinr viii.
nesses, besides making them proper compensa-
ton for their friendly trouble. Further sill.
If any citizen chooses IN presep. eyidenco in
opposition to their claims after this four ve,rs,
DELAY. n trial must suhs,antiaIlv Looono ,hro,..L
-. IT,. !. 49,,
''''s W 'oS', "e expense Is 10 DC
diseouragingly increased, other witnesses are
to be procured and remunerated as we'll as
maintained and Tho ,I,,lo -. :. ~,
-. 1'A'so' 20 '"ea n"ae
just as oau As u eau DC oy the utter inability Of
any one Judge to go through the mas of labor
thus dcyolyed IN him bv such ,nmh,.
M, - 'u0u "ul'sr VI cases.
inat Is Tue 100 paiPaole intent, however, Of
the Trainers Of this bill. Their sole object il TO
DENY citizenship to wbite em,gran,, cso,, ~,