Speech #460010839

This doctrine is in no way affected or modified by the provision for transferring certain eases from State courts to Federal courts before trial. While a State court is trying a person for counterfeiting United States coins or notes. or a civil suit between citizens of different States. or hearing the application of a foreigner to be admitted to citizenship. it is exercising a jurisdiction coucurrent with the Federal jurisdiction. But while a State court is authorized to hear an application for admission to citizenship. the right of determining the question is in that court. and. as no appeal from the judgment of the court is provided for. the decision of admission is final. and the certificate of naturalization is a record of the court and entitled to full faith and credit in every other State. Will it be claimed that because Congress may. if it sees fit. deprive State courts of jurisdiction in matters of naturalization. it may also. while the court is authorized to exercise the jurisdiction. send a United States supervisor or marshal into a State court to supervise and scrutinize the proceedings. to take a position beside the judge. to interrogate the witnesses. and finally to deny the right of the court to admit the party to naturalization and to the rights of citizenship? Such an absurd claim has never beeasserted. and never will be. It would be just as uneonstitutional for the General Government to attempt to send agents. supervisors. or marshals into a State LegisAriL 25. latnre to supervise. scrutinize. and count the votes cast for United States Senators. and make out certificates and enter them of record on the journals of the Legislature. It makes no difference that the State Legislature has the exclusive power of choosing the Senators. The State court has. when exercising jurisdiction as to naturalization. the right to exercise that jurisdiction in its own way. according to its own understanding of the law. and free from all advice. interference. or outside supervision or scrutiny of any kind whatever. So with the judges of elections. acting under State law and receiving their appointment and deriving their jurisdiction from State laws. The three election judges in Illinois. for instance. constitute an organized bodya court of certain jurisdiction. limited it is true. but complete as to the subjects committed to it.