Speech #440033549

It belonged to the adcripti 9lebte. and was originally established in England as suitable to the isolated position of that island and to the absence of intercourse of foreign nations in Norman times. This was also the prevailing doctrine of Europe until the Freuch revolution. when. under the inflnence of the Code NapolMot. it was discarded as a sound principle by the continental nations. A vigorous effort was made in 1868 by the minority of the learned commission appointed by the Queen of Great Britain to inquire into tie law of naturalization and allegiance to abrogate the English principle altogether and to conform English legislation to the doctrines on the continent. That minority only succeeded partially in iugrafting their views upon the legislation of Great Britain. We have to sone extent conformed tt contineutal theory and practice in our act of 1855. The provisions of the present bill upon that subject are based upon the principles recognized by our statute of 1855. and now. as I before remarked. universally adopted upon the continent of Etuope. This bill provides that a child born within the United States of parents who are not citizens and who do not reside within otie of the States or Territories. and who are not subject to the jurisdietiot of the United States. shall not be regarded as a citizen thereof. unless such cilt shall reside in the United States and unless his or her father shall be natuyalized during the sinority of such child. or unless such child shall. within six months after becoming of age. file in the Department of State. in such form and with such proofs as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State. a written declaration of election to become such citizen or shall become naturalized under general laws. It further provides that a child born abroad. whose father may be a citizen of the United States residin. in one of the States or Territories. shall be regarded as a citizen of the United States. thus discarding in the two cases referred to the doctrine of nationality by locality of birth. and adopting that of nationality by descent. The same section proceeds to declare who shall not be regarded as citizens of the United States. They areFirst. Such as have become naturalized as citizens or subjects of another state. This proposition is too plain to require any explanation. Secondly.