The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-18
The Question OF Naturalization IN Con-
grcss---Remarks OF MIR. Eldridgc,

grcss--Remarks OF MIR. Eldridgc,
(Dem.,) OF wisconsin.
We make the following extract from
the proceedings of the United States
House of Representatives:
Mr.. Davis, (rad., N. Y, from the Ju-
dietary Committee, reported for discus
sion and action, bill to establish uni
form system of naturalization and to
regulate proceedings under the same.
The bill makes the following conditions
of citizenship: Three years residence in
the United States, with the intention to
become a citizen, and six months resi-
dence in the State, and thirty days. in
the County or Parish, before application
is made; the application to be filed twen-
ty days in Court; the proceedings for
naturalization to be had before the United
States Circuit and District Courts In
Counties or Parishes where there are not
more than two stated terms of these
Courts, proceedings may be had in any
State Court of general Jurisdiction, hav.
ing clerk and seal. The naturalized
citizen is not to exercise all the privi-
leges of citizenship till after the end Of
six months from the date of the iudg-
ment. Aliens enlisted in the United
States army or navy, and honorably dis
charged therefrom, may become citizens
upon one years actual residence. The
bill consists of seventeen sections, con-
tanning detailed provision for carrying it
out and penalties for fraudulent actions
under it,
MIR. Eldridge, (Dem., Wis, a member
of the Judiciary Committee, addressed
the House in opposition to the bill. 1t
might not properly be called q war mea-
sure, but it had its origin and life in the
spirit of revolution evoked by tho war;
it was in all its main features ut war with
the well-established order aud long -set-
tied policy of the Government on the
subject of naturalization aud immigra-
ton. It was one of the waves of the
revolution that had, during the Inst years,
been surging and beating with almost
resistless force against the Constitution
of the several coordinate departments
Of the Government, against the Union
and the States, and against all the laws
and barriers set up by the fathers of the
Republic for the preservation and pro-
lection of the rights and liberties Of the
people. 1t was party measure for the
perpetuation of party power. In his
judgment, the title of the bill would be
improved, and its character much more
clearly indicated, by styling it Il bill to
establish Il most intricate and difficult
system Of naturalization, and to hinder,
delay, and, rs far as possible, prevent
naturalization, and to discourage iutclli-
gent foreigners from cmigrating to the
United States And yet the bill was IL
very great improvement on all the bills
introduced on the subject. But there
was nothing in it that commended it to
his Judgment. He was opposed to
every form and feature Of it, The peo-
pie had not demanded any such lcgiSla-
ton. 1t was the work of the schcning
politician. Its pretence and title were
untrue. 1t was not intended or designed
to establish uniform system Of natu
ralization. That system had been cs
tablished long ago by statesmen in the
interest OF the country, and not by poll.
ticians aud demagogues in the interest of
party. The injury to result from such
sweeping and radical change could
scarcely be comprehended. Next to good
laws, the most important thing to any
country was to have tho laws fixed and
stable, anil it was of the greatest impor-
tance that the naturalization laws should
be comprehended by the people of the
countries from which the American
poPulhtiou HAS 81 ldISelS COlno. LIE
intelligent foreigner, considering the
question of becoming IN American citi-
zen, would be largely influenced in his
action by the facility or difficulty which
would attend tho act. The present natu-
ralization law was ms we'll understood in
Ireland, Great Britain, and Germany as
in the United States. This knowledge
has been disseminated through period
of nearly seventy years, with great ef-
forts and expense, and the proposed radi-
cal and sweeping change would be made
ut the cost of much time, money and
labor, to make it understood either Mt
home or abroad. It seemed to him that
no one could doubt that tho scheme was
invented to keep aliens from applying
for and obtaining naturalization. 1t
could have no other object. There was
not provision in it friendly or inviting
to the foreigner. It was disingenuous
and hostile to the alien and unfriendly
to his naturalization. After criticising
the various provisions of the bill. he went
on to say that the cry Of fraud was pre-
text merely. The bill was inspired by
hate and hostility to the Irish and Ger
mans md tO tho Catholic ,>o,,,Jo&;on