Year: 1878

Reform.


Now that Tammany Hall has taken up the
subject OF reforming our NATURALIZATION
laws, and has demanded an inquiry by Con-
gress, it is to be hoped that the reform will
not be long delayed The enemies Of Tam
many assert that it is the democratic party
in this city and State which is chiefly bene-
flied by fraudulent naturalizations. But
1t is the democracy which now demands the
AID OF Congress to protect itself. Here
tofore. when the President or the Depart
ment of State has urged the action OF the
legislative power, republican members and
Senators have begged to be excused. on the
plea that, in some election in the possible
future. their democratic opponent will, 'in
the pinch of the game" use republican
vote for honest naturalization as a vote
against the rights Of naturalized citizens
Such is the bad and immoral logic which
pervades our political methods. But now
Tammany has acted by the following resolu-
ton, and republicans need not fear:-


Resolved That this committee. behalf Of the
democratic voters of this city and behalf Of all
naturazed citizens. without distinction of party do
petition the Congress of the United States to direct
investigation into these outrages thus committed and
70 enact law by which their repetition hereafter may
be prevented and those who have been guilty OF them
be deprived OF the power which they have shown
themselves unit to be intrusted with And further.
that the laws every country provide for period
after the eapse Of which feIons exempt from
prosecution that IL b also enacted that the exercise
OF the rights Of citizenship by natnralzed citizen for
ten years in pursuance Of certircate Of court OF
record shall be conclusive to his rights. and shall
De bar to all proceedings against him by reason or
any technically TO the form of the order by which
he was natnralized or for any cause whatever.


1t may be found, after all the inquiries
possible have been instituted, that there is
now no feasible method of separating the
true from the false naturaliz itions, and
therefore statute of limitations is the only
remedy. The reports TO the State Depart
ment from our different diplomatic agents,
and the confessions Of those holding GER
tifcates Of naturalizations, leave no doubt
of extensive frauds. How much and what
quality of evidence Mr.. Davenport may
have we know not; but if he has much that
is apparently conclusive then the law
should require proper federal officer to
present it to the court issuing the fraudu-
lent judgment aud ask that it be set aside
Of record. One thing is certain, and
that is that the public cannot much





longer endure on each recurring an
nual election this disturbance and
turmoil about fraudulent naturalizations
in 1868 or in any other year. The State of
New York has an interest in the matter, and
possibly might move before the proper
court to annul the judgment, but the right
Of New York is not quite clear. II is citi-
zenship Of the Union which is in contro-
versy, and the United States government
should step to the front in respect to the
past and the future. As the law now is no
judge can admit an alien to be citizen
until after he has inquired, and is ''satis-
fed, that during fveyea the applicant has
been a resident in this country; has borne
a good moral character and has been true to
our government But the inquiry is noto-
riously farce. Never, or next to never, is
more than one witness examined and he is
generally a person unknown to the Judge
and ignorant Of the legal definition of res
idence." The applicant may have been con-
victed Of an infamous offence during the
five years, or guilty of treason. He may
have been, during all that time, the most
colossal scoundrel ever vomited from the
slums Of London, and the witness he pro-
duces no less o scoundrel.


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