Year: 1870

to confne these proceedings as fa as posi-


lble to the Federal courts. These courts


have been revolutionized almost as thor


oughly and completely as the State them>


selves in the interest of party. TIE judges
therefore, must be looked upon as political
and partisan judges owing allegiance to the
party that placed them in Office, aud ready
in general to do its bidding. And, sir, how
easy will it be, With the immense and un>
restrained power placed ia their hands un>
der this bill in times of high party excite


ment, to so delay and hinder, by adjourn
ment or otherwise, the proceedings as T.
give great advantage to the party to which
they belong. But, sir, the honest and just
judge, under this bill, disposed to act i'm
partially and upright, may not will not be
able IN many instances TO so conduct the
proceedings in these cases as not to do IN
justice, as not to hinder andeven prevent good
men from becoming naturaIlzed. Tie cases
and proceedings authorized will q them>
selves fill and clog the courts. Every ap
pication may become case ln cou't, a reg
ular trial.


On the hearing of such application any citi-
zen of the United States shall be allowed to ap-
pear snd oppose the naturalization Of such
alien, and to introduce any legal evidence
tending to lisprovG the right Of such allen, to
become "a citizen of the United States.


Suppose the application to be made at a
time when if speedily heard, and is decid
ed without delay, the applicant would be-
come citizen IN time to vote at die next
general election. and the delay of week
or month might defeat him; suppose the
precinct close one between the contend
ing parties, and suppose that Numerous
cases were pending; what better system
than this bill provides could be devised tor
delaying and preventing naturalization p
even, the time during which naturalization
might not be put off.


Good character is one of the facts that
must be established by the applicant on the
hearing, and Of course one that may be put
in issue aud disproved by any one " no may
choose, or be hired to opposed the appica
ton. This issue suggested the court is res
quired to let any one in to dispute the
good character and to disprove it if he can.
He comes in without previous notice, He
comes without cost or expense, or any 9th
er liability to be incurred whatever may
be the result, aud the unsuspecting appli-
cant finds himself suddenly and unexpect
edly involved in a lawsuit the end Of which
he may never know.


The charge of bad character is easily
made. We all know how rapidly one party
changes the other with bad character -
There is scarcely DUemocrat in all the land
high or low, but what has, during the past
eight years, been charged by his polit-
ical opponents with bad chara cter.-
ment, when party split runs 'Tfnltf, figf,
reckless men can be found to make this
charge gainst the purest and best of men.
1t is sufficient, oftentlmes, In the minds OF
some men to brand others as traitors and
criminals that they differ in mere party
politics-that they do not entertain the
same opinions Of governmental policy
Yet this issue is one that may be made
and whom ,nado the uUurt is bound to try
it. And, sir, under this pr oyision Of this
bill, by adjournments and postponements
and the crowdng of the courts with such
cases. and the interminabIe trials that may
be had naturalization may be delayed after
the application has been made for years
And with the prospect of such an ordeal
before them, how many good and deserving
men, men who would make good and de-
sirable citizens, will be kept from making
the application at all ? The prudent, eau
tlons, and frugal German and Irishman,
naturally timid and fearful, and especially
awed by the form and proceedings Of courts,
will hesitate long before involving them
selves in the labyrinths Of such trial


But the character Of the application is
not the only question over which a contest
ha haa 1 Ia 70 ko,
faction of the court all the facts required to
be stated in his notice of application +;
among the rest that he is attached to the
principles of the Constitution of the Unit
ed States, and we'll disposed to the good
order and happiness of the country" Upon
this may be raised controversial and pollt-
ical questions, questions upon which, to
some extent, the two great parties are di-
vidcd. Some rapid and unprincipled dem
agogues profess to believe that no Democrat
or person holding the views of the Demo
cracy is ''well disposed to the good order
and happiness of the country" 1t would
not, | suppose, in tunes of great political
excitement, in times such as we have jus,
been passing through be very difficult to get
some dishonest partisan judge so to decide.
Especially are we warned Of this danger
when we reflect that this is one Of a sys-
tenn OF party measures devised b. unscrup-
ulous partlsans to perpetuate party power.
The vice of the bill is that it admits of
such things being done that it pats this
great interest of the country into the head
aud control of party, and makes it possible
for the proceedings to be thus protracted
and delayed, if not altogether prevented.


No man can doubt it, it seems to me tha at
this scheme was invented to keep aliens
from applying for and obtaining naturaliza-
ton. 1t can have had no object. There
is not provision in it friendly or inviting
to the foreigner to become citizen. 1t is
dis,ngenuous and hostile to the alien, and
unfriendly to his naturalization from the


frs. to the last section. After the appli-
cant shall have passed through the trial
and butfeting to which have only partially
alluded, if he shall be fortunate and hap
py enough to live so long after he shall
have satisfied the court that be has fulfilled
every requirement of the law and estab-
lished every fact necessary to be establish
ed in his favor; after he shell put down
every one who saw fit to oppose his appli-
cation after he shall have procured the
judgement of a hostile court in his favor,
sdjudging him of a good character, attached
to the principles of the Constitution, and
vel! disposed to the good order and hap
plness of the country, and entitled to all