Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-10-10
NArURALrzED Citizens.
Recognition OF Their isiRhts-what
the Republican Party has done
In that Bchnlf-rhc Dcmo-
cratic Part in Opposition.
WAsurNoroN. u. O.. Semi. 10, s

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Sept. 49, S4.
Capt. j. +. Oglevee, Columbus, o.
DEAR SIR have your letter Of the I'LL,
asking tor the facts as TO the conventions
made with sundry European powers touch.
ing naturalization.
II you will turn to a volume published
in 1871, being the treaties und conventions
made by the United States government
since July A, 1776, you win fnd arranged
alphabetically the various conventions to
which you refer. They are eight in num-
Der, aud included in the order in which
they were negotiated, the North German
Union, Bavaria, Csdcn, Wurtemburg, Bel
gium, Sweden aud Norway, Ureat Britain
aud Austria. These conventions are sub
stantially alike. As being Of chief inter
est, quote the first article of the conven-
tion between the United States and Great
Britain, which was proclaimed Sept. l6,
1870.
"Citizens of the Uuited States of Amer
lea who have become, or shall become, aud
are nnturalized according 10 law within
the British dominions as British subjects,
shall, subject TO the provisions OF article
2. he held by the United States to be in all
respects and for all purposes British sub
jecis, aud shall be treated as such by the
United States.
"Reciprocally, British subjects who have
become, or shall become, and are natural
ized according to law, within the United
States oil America, I'M citizens thereof, shall,
subject TO the provisions oi article 2, he
held by Great Biiain To be in nll respects
and for all purposes, citizens Of the United
States. aud shall be treated as such by
Great Britain"
The second article which is alluded Ia
III the first relates to the method Of either
class rsuming the citizenship OF their or.
igimal county.
1t is interesting to note that this nd.
, , mission by European poweis, oi the val
! idiiy Of our naturalization laws, and OF I'll,
; rights which thereby attach TO the natur
. alized citizen, was made after cuntruv,r
!; sy uf nearly Sky wars. The question
which was one oi the issues of the war o
y 1912, was not mentioned in the treaty u
1 peace, Great Britain still maintaining th
I doctrine oi "once British subject alway
2 II British subject" Neither of the oil,
, parties in this country proved able to sci
tie this dispute.
= 1t remained for the Republican part.
instinct with love Of liberty, To wrest iron
The overs oi Europe this just concession
, to the dignity OF American citizenship
which had received in lS66,at their hand
its crown in the fourteenth amendment I
e the Constitution.
That amendment, as you may remem
G her, in its fr.t section declared that cal
n persons born or naturalized within th
y United States, and subject To the juris,ilc
II ton thereof, are citizens ot the Unite
n States and OF the stale wherein they r.
W side" 1t was natural that the Republica
y party, having thus first defined America
7 citizenship and declared It's protection
duiy of the government al the UNI,
States, s. ould proceed TO make good til
pledge by requiring of all the powers II
acknowledgement Of those rights who
placed npon an equality everywhere
those jurisdictions, native born and OF
n. natnralized citizens. 1t is the misforln'
:, of the Democratic party that IL resis''
=" unanimously, and to the end, the adoptit
at of that amendment and thereby sought
ry defeat the great declaration from wh,t
ty have logically proceeded all these resnl
Prior To this era no naturalizcd citiz
e' could have sense OF personal security
on revisiting le land Of his origin. Sin
lie that time his rights have been as clear
,I those of the native born American snjorI
ing within that Jurisdiction. Explain I
NC " fact rs one may, it yet remains lrne Y,
III this great boon to the naturalized citiz
rn was the gift OF Repnblicanisnl, and that
maintenance will he point OF honor II
~ duty with il thenceforward.
las Very respectfully yours,
me EDWARD McPHERsoN, Scc'y