Speech #430045342

Their recommendation was subseqiently approved and confirmed by Parliamet inl tme passirge of thonaturalization act of 1870. the sixth section of wich reads: Any British subject wiso has at any time hefore. or many it trv tits after the m.siheg of this act. when in any foreign stats and not risfor any rlisability. vom tatly become naturalizeli in omh slate. siall from and after the time of his Ho havIg corme iintralized in such foreign state be deied to have ceased o bo a British subjectand be regarded as aie alien. Mr. Speakcer. you will observc from this that it is precisely the grouidtacn by SeretaryCass andAttorneyGencral Black. tossit.that naturalization invests the foreigiuer vith complete citizen ship the same as birth. and that as to all other coustries. even that of his nativity. Can the United States afford to be less liberal than Great Bsitain ? Can we be less liberal than Great Britain. which regards . British subject nraturalized here as an alien thereafter within its territories ? Why should Congress. then. morke a distinction between these two classes of citizens as if the rights of the one were not the sanoe but less than those of the other7 This is done most unequivocally bythe language of the flfih clause of the third subdivision of section two of the substitute I have quoted. that a nu ralized citizen becoming domiciled in the country of his nativitywich by section 3 means a conrinnous residence of two yeais- shall cease to be under the protection of the United States. be arbitrarily deprived of his rights acqiired by naturalization. and abandoned to the very power all allegiauce to which lie had under oath renounced in aecordlauca with the laws of the Unitctt States. See how this would wort in a supposable case. John Doe. a nativo of Lod(Ion and subjnet of Great Britair. em igrated to the United States aid is hereduly naturalized. After that. for some legitimaic purpose. lie returns say to Scotlnd. and rernainsthere for three yearsorlonger without being registered .t any American consulate. Having coalpleted his naduralization here. lie is under tse act of Parliament of i870 ms alien in Great Brnain. lit the proposed act of Congresswould deprive hire of his American citizenship also. lie would therefore in fact be Ia man without a eountryYn Suppose ie removed from Seotland to hrance and circumstances arise compelling him to appeal to the interposition and protection of his home government He lias abjured his allegiance to Great Britait. tie country of his ativity. and being en oliers lere he lne rso rigists.