Speech #430048018

It is this: A naterliznl citizen of the United States becoming domiciled in the osuntry of is or her nativity. unless whoa otherwise regalated by treaty. shall cease to be a citizen of the United States. Sir. I do not believe in a doctrine which would make such a distinction between native and naturalized citizens. I know of no nation today which asserts sneh a doctrine. We have within the lim)its of the Book of Treaties which I hold in my hand. naturalization conventions with eleven different European nations. and every one of those conventions is utterly inconsistent with the proposition here inado. At least two of theta in specific tones negative the proposition. and the other nine contain provisions wholly inconsistent with it. Now. what is the proposition ? An Englishman. or an Irishman. or a German has come to the United States and been naturalized. lis our citizen. From the moment lie attains that citizenship he is entitled to the protection of his govonrnen t. here or elsewhere. its fully and completely as the loftiest born native citizen of this land. The very countryto which lie originaly belonged woli nt assert. unless it wholly denied the right of expatriation. a denial of his citizenship. And yet this bill provides that tbhat man. if he shall go back to be domiciled in the country of his nativity for sny purpose. no inatter what. business or pleasure. consnere or health. ceases to 1bc a citizen of the United States. Rtercme ring the proposition I laid down. that presence raises presumption of intent to continue. Louis Agassiz. naturalized in America. had lie before his death returned to Switzerland. his native country. and spent a week there. would have been presumptively disqualilied as a citizen of the United States and remitted to his original allegiance. Sir. I have never pretended to assotmyself especially as the el ampion of naturalized citizens upon this floor or elsewhere. I shall never le found to assert Such special chanpionship. Bit I (to assert. that between citizens of the United States no discrimination as iso right to the protection of the Government can be made without diegrace to the United States. If a German or an Irishman comes hre and is lawfully naturalized. becomes our citizen. we are bond to " protect hi as our citizen so long as the relation continues. There is no greaoer reason why we should refuse that protection in his case than in.tbe case of a iativebern citizen. I stated that onr treaties with certain of the European nations hd expressly and in teras re dusiand thia doctrine.