Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-11
the full power of the State be invoked, and
the sooner the better.
THE CITIZENSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN
HENLEY

The citizenship of Congressman Barclay
Henley has been much-disputed ques-
ton. That gentleman has holly and
steadily denied that he ever denationalized
himself or in any way foreswore allegiance
to the United States Government But it
now appears, by certified official records,
that in December, 1864, Henley applied
for naturalization as a Mexican citizen.
His petition is published in full, in which
he declares that
He has become convinced that under the au-
spices of her new Government Mexico is the
country of America that offers the greatest ad-
vantages and most guarantees to an enterpris-
ing and harii-working cOlonist. But the under
signed having all his property in California, is
under the necessity of returning there in order
to bring his family and to turn into cash his
movable and 1mmovable property, and then,
owing TO strong animosities which have been
occasioned by the civil war between the parti-
| sans of the North and of the SOUTH, he Tears,
on account of his Southern opinions tnat as an
! American citizen he will meet, on the part OF
| the authorities of California, with more or less
| obstacles to his emigration, while his character
as n Mexican subject will place hlm beyond
their prosecutions. The undersigned, therefore,
| takes the liberty of very respectfully Solcltlng
! from your Imperial Majesty to grant him natu-
ralization papers by virtue Of the power vested
| in your Majesty, and as you have delgned to
do with other foreigners
Thereupon the naturalization papers
we're issued by order of Maximilian then
de facto Emperor of Mexico. The neces-
sary papers were ordered to be signed and
forwarded to Mr.. Henley, but, prior to re-
ceiving them, he had left the country. 1t
is not believed that these papers would
have issued until he complied with the
requisites Of the law for it appears that
a prior order was issued for him to appear
before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
comply with the requisites of the law"
The Ministry, indeed, appears to have
been solicitous to have the papers delivered
to Henley, and sent them to San Bias, with
orders to forward to him wherever he
may be- 1t is reasonable to believe after
this showing that, whatever the "requi-
sites of the law" Mr.. Henley complied
with them, and it is mere bubble for him
to now declare that he never took an oath
of allegiance, since it does not appear that
such an oath was required. But now
comes Mr.. Congressman Henley and points
to the existing treaty between the United
States and Mexico, by which it is agreed
that
If citizen of the United States, naturalized
in Mexico, renews his residence i'll the United
States without intent to return TO Mexico, he
shall be held to have renounced his naturaliZa-
ton in Mexico. NOn-iBtent to return may be
held to exist where the person naturalized in
one country resides in another country more
than two years
But we doubt very much the power of
any such treaty stipulation to override the
naturalization laws of this country, which
require showing that the applicant is
sincerely attached to the principles of a
republican form of government, and disa-
VOWS all allegiance to foreign princes, po-
tentates and powers whatsoever. We are
convinced that Mr.. Henley needs to be
naturalized his birth again as an Ameri-
can citizen will not occasion him much
unrest. He must by this time have be
come convinced that while in 1864 he sol
/ emily ayerred that Mexico under the
empire offered the greater advantages
and most guarantees to a Woodworking
colonist," the United States under Cleve-
land is the better country, and gives greater
guarantees for q Woodworking office
seeker. The one error that appears to
have led Mr.. Barclay Henley into all this
trouble was the entertainment of the IN
/ warranted fear that on his return to Cali
fornia in 1864 his redeparture for Mexico
would have been opposed by the California
authorities. If we recollect the times
Alright about the year 1864 California in
| terposed no obstacles to the departure of
| any one for Mexico who went there with
honest intent. Nor did the California au-
thorities seek to stop the exodus Of men of
Mr.. Henley's stripe, except when they
sought to make Mexico convenient half
way house on the road to that section of
the continent then dominated to a consid-
cradle extent by his excellency" Jefer-
son Davis.