There is no misunderstanding between the Senator. .| and myself. That subject was fully discussed here last spring and by some very able lawyers on the other side of the Chamber as well as on this. I did not claim then. nor do I claim now. that under the provisions of that treaty the courts were bound to refuse naturalization to Chinanen. I say that the treaty itself cannot confer the power upon the courts to act on that question. but it is solely and purely a matter for legislative action. It is true that the treaty said that nothing therein contained should authorize Chinamen to become citizens of the United States. or citizens of the United States to become subjects of China. But in order to make this question beyond any doubt. so as to place it beyond the double construction that has been given to the power of the courts to naturalize Chinamen I have proposed this amendment to this bill. The courts of the United States in some of the States have been admitting Chinamen to citizenship. The courts of my State and the circuit court of the United States held in California. presided over by Judge Sawyer. have decided that they were not entitled to be naturalized. but the courts in Massachusetts and some of the courts in New York have held otherwise. and have admitted them to citizenship. And in order to clear that point. to make it perfectly clear before the people of the country. I simply propose this amendment. so that it will become settled that the courts are not authorized to admit these people to citizenship of the United States.
Keywords matched
naturalized naturalization naturalize