The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-21
THE NATURALIZATION BILL.

from the N. 4. tribune.
State election is to be held in Connec-
ticut on the first Monday in April; and that
State enjoys the unenviable distinction of
being alone infested by journal which can
compress more deliberate, wilful, wicked,
villainous lies into square inch than any
other that is or ever was printed. We need
not name it, since Connecticut people will
know it by the above description, and others
will wisely choose to remain unconscious of
its existence. This journal, in the hope of
thereby swelling the Democratic minority at
the pending election, keeps calling on the
aliens residing in that State to hurry up their
naturalization, because a bill is before Con-
gress, and certain to pass, which will oblige
those who have already declared their inten-
tions to begin 6resh and wait five years
before they can be admitted to citizenship.
The reference Is of course to Judge Davis
bill (H. r.. 1899, as reported by him March
2, 1870 from the Judiciary Committee to
the House, and, being read twice, recon-
mitted by the House to that committee. Now
let u.s. with the bill before us, state exactly
what it does propose with regard to the con-
ditions of naturalization:
Section l. Any alien, who shall, with intent
to become citizen, have resided three gears
within the Union, and six months within a
State, and thirty days within the county or
parish, may apply for admission to citizen
ship to the Federal Circuit or District Court
of his district, for naturalization.
Section 3. If no such court be held in his
county or parish, then he may apply to sang
court of competent jurisdiction in each State,
Territory, or District, having clerk and seal
thereof, which holds stated or regular court
for the trial of civil causes in such county or
parish.
Section 3. Upon due proof that he is en-
titled to citizenship as aforesaid, ''the said
Court shall thereupon adjudge that he be ad-
mitted to all the privileges of citizenship at
the expiration of six months from the date of
such judgment"
The above are all the provisions of the
bill which affect the probation required of
each alien before he can be admitted to citi-
zenship, and, instead of extending his term
| of probation, this bill actually reduces it.
| Now, man who first applies for admission
| to citizenship must wait two years before he
can receive it; this bill reduces that probation
| to six months. Let us suppose that an alien
| resident declared his intentions last Novem
| ber, he must then have resided three years in
| this country; yet he cannot, unless the law be
| changed, be admitted to citizenship till one
year from next fall; but if Judge Davis bill
| passes, he may perfect his naturalization a
| the next term of the court, and be O lega
voter at the Connecticut State election which
is to be held on the first Monday in April
1871; whereas, if this bill should not pass, h,
will be denied the privilege of voting fol
Representative in the next Congress, which it
passage will secure to him.
We might pursue the exposure; but need
we? We do not know that Judge Davis bill
will pass; we do not advocate its passage
but the aim and purpose of this bill are emf
nently just and righteous, beng the protec
ton of the rights of American citizens
whether native or naturalized, from the infa
nous frauds, both wholesale and retail
whereby our State was shingled over, in Oc
tober, 1868, with bogus naturalization certif
Gates, fabricated by the ream, and dealt ou
at So singly or $1Sp per dozen, to whomsoeve
gave satisfactory assurances that they shoul
be so used as to help swindle General Gran
out of the votes of New York and New Jer
sey. Is there an honest man of any part
who does not consider it high time that sue
frauds were somehow arrested?