, 1882-12-01
General Land Decisions
un,ricon settlers Gniiel
CITIZEN

As aliens cannot acquire valid titles
To real estate under the preemption
homestead. and other laws, the prlyi'
lrgcs of which are restricted to cltl
zens, or those who have declared
their intention to become such. 1t Is
important that foreigners seeking
Identification with the American
community should be advised of the
legal steps necessary to acquire cltl-
2enship. Any free white alien, over
the age of twenty-one years, may at
any time after arrival declare before
any court of record having common
law jurisdiction with clerk or pro-
thonotary and seaD his intention to
become citizen, and to renounse for
ever all foreign allegiance. The de
claration must be made at least two
years before application for citizen
ship. At the expiration OF two years
after the declaration, and at any time
after five years residence, the party
desiring naturalization, if then not Il
citizen, denizen or subject of any
country at war with the United
States, should appear in court OF
record, and there be sworn to support
the Constitution of the United States,
and renounce foreign allegiance. Ii
he possessed any hereditary title or
or order of nobility such also must be
announced, and satisfactory proof
produced to the court by the testi
mony of witnesses, citizens OF the
United States, of the five years resi-
dence in the country one year OF
which must be within the State or
Territory where the court is held, and
that during the fve-year period he
was man of good moral character
and attached to the principles of the
Constitution; whereupon he will be
admitted to citizenship, and thereby
his children under twenty one years
OF age, if dwelling in the United
States, will also be regarded as citi-
zens
Where the alien has made his de-
claration and dies before being ac-
tually naturalized, the widow and
children become citizens of the Unit
ed States, and entitled to all rights
and privileges as such, upon taking
the prescribed oaths.
Any free white alien, being minor
and under the age of twenty-one
years at the time Of arrival, who has
resided in the country three years
next preceding his majority of TWEEN
ty-one years, may, after reaching
snch period and on five years resi-
dence, including the three years Of
his minority, be adNitted to citizen
ship without preliminary declara-
tion of intentions, provided he then
makes the same, averring also on
oath and proving to the court that
for the past three years it has been
his intention to become a citizen; also
showing the fact of his residence and
good character.
Children of citizens of the United
States born out of the country are
deemed citizens, the right not de
scending, however, to persons whose
fathers never resided in the country !;
and any woman who might legally be
naturalized, married, or who shall be
married to citizen of the United
States, is held to possess citizenship.
An alien, twenty one years and
over, who enlists in the volunteer or
regular army, and is honorably dis
charged therefrom, may be admitted
to citizenship upon his simple petit
tion and satisfactory proof of one
years residence prior to his applica-
ton, accompanying the same with
proof of good moral character and
honorable discharge.
Proof of his citizenship NAV be
procured from court of record hav-
ing common law jurisdiction, with a
clerk and prothonotary seal. 1t will
be perceived that service alone does
not secure citizenship. The petition
and proof to the satisfaction to the
court are essential, and citizenship
thus obtained is necessary before
homestead entry can be perfected
PRESENTATION OF APPEALS.
Any person making application to
hle upon or enter tract of public
land, having complied with the law
aud regulations touch the presenta-
ton OF such application, and feeling
aggrieved by the refusal of the Regis >
ter and Receiver to recognize his
claim, or by any order, direction, or
condition affecting the same, may ap-
cal from the act on of those Officers
TO the Commissioner of the General
Lana Office, who is by law invested
with the supervision and control of
all matters relating to the disposal of
the public land, subject to the direc-
ton of the Secretary of the interior
The decision of the local officers is
final If not anpaalad fro,,, - -