The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-07-20
TITLES I
IN AMERICA
Massachusetts Member Lost Seat
In Congress Over Contest
Back in 1895
SLAVERY QUESTION INTRODUCED
Law Permits Native Citizens to Ac.
cept Nobility from Potentates But
Forelaners Must Renounce Distinc.
tIons Before Naturalization.

An inconsistency in American law
lies In the fact that while native citi-
zens may accept titles, of nobility from
foreign potentates, foreigners must
renounce their hereditary titles before
becoming naturalized citizens of the
United States. That provision OF the
Federal naturalization laws goes back
115 years, and the subject led TO a
curious parliamentary fight in Con-
gress. 1t also resulted in the tenn
porary retirement of a conspicuous
Massachusetts Federalist from public
life and stirred up lively discussion
on the slavery question.
immigration was exciting good
deal Of talk in 1894, when French no.
bles were still fleeing from the reign
Of terror which ceased in the summer
Of that very year and when other
French refugees hao recently fled
from the black terror OF Hayti. So
late in the year Congress began to
revise the naturalization laws.
The residence period necessary for
naturalization was raised from two
years, at which 1t had been fixed in
1890, to five, where 1t has since re-
mained, except for a short time in
John Adams's administration. when 1t
was made fourteen years. While the
matter was under debate Giles of Vir-
ginia proposed that foreigners seek
ing naturalization should be required
to give up any title of nobility that
they might hold.
II was at this point that Samuel
Dexter of Massachusetts, Federalist,
brought the slavery question into the
matter. He made speech ridiculing
Giles's amendment as childish. He
proposed an amendment requiring for
eigners wishing to be naturalized TO
give up any slaves of which they
might be possessed.
Dexter's amendment stirred the
Southern members, for they we're a
bit uneasy In view of recent massa-
cres Of whites by the insurgent slaves
OF Hayti, and they protested that the
Massachusetts Federalist was melting
Southern slaves to insurrection and
endangering the social system Of the
South. Dexter, nevertheless, stuck
by his amendment, though some OF his
fellow Federalists were trifle un-
easy at the storm he had raised, es-
pecially as they well knew that Giles's
amendment would be popular in New
England.
Giles on January /. 1895, did q
thing that scared DeXter's friends
even more, for he called for the yeas
and nays on both motions. Under
this call Dexter's amendment was de-
feated. and that OF Giles was carried.
Dexter. although he knew he was do
ing what would be unpopular at home,
voted against the amendment requir-
ing naturalized foreigners to give up
their titles of nobility, and he failed
TO return to the next Congress, though
he lived to enter the Cabinet Of John
Adams.
The requirement was so popular
that It was not repealed, when in
1898 the naturalization laws were ma
terially amended, and II was left un-
ad hAV L. Inffnrgnnfc fret ah.
ministration the residence period re-
quired OF foreigners seeking naturali-
zation was reduced from fourteen
years to FIVE years. The five year
period had prevailed in Virginia in
late colonial days. Oddly enough the
first man known to have been natur-
allied in this country. Augustine Herr
man, one OF New York and later of
Maryland, received from Lord Balti-
more about 1866 the title of Lord OF
Bohemia Manor.
Some naturalized foreigners have
been known socially in this country
by the titles which they adjured on
giving notice Of their intention to seek
naturalization, though In all public
relations they have figured under sim
pie surname and Christian name. OF
the few native Americans who wear
titles of nobility most perhaps owe
them to the Pope.
American hankering after titles
which fell into general disrepute dur
ing the French Revolution, revived
early In the nineteenth century, and
It is said that one thing to attract
some men to Burr's expedition was
the hope held out that his Spanish
American State would have orders o.
nobility. Young men making ready
to Join him bantered one another as
to the titles that they should bear
and clever woman In the confidence
of Burr was said to have gone so fal
rs to draw up rules for court cere
mony and make sketches for ceremon
ial costumes.
Within a few years young Vir
ginian shocked some Of his kinsfoll
by expatriating himself in order t
claim an English title long in abey
ance in his family. 1t is said. OF
the other hand, that although the d.
Courseys of Maryland have an en-
tirely clear and legitimate claim t
an English title, the rightful heir de
| clinaa To give up his American citi