I will take the gentlemans statement as he makes it. that he honors any brave Union soldier for his mi!itary record. Coupled with that he said the other day that he himself had served four years on the other side. and I can readily conceive how he can honor a brave man against whom he fought. but did it ever occur to the honorable gentleman that while he was engaged in that conflict on the one side and Captain White on the other. they were really appealing from the courts to settle a disputed question as to the construction of the organic act of the Governmentthe construction of the Constitution of the United States? That question was appealed from the courts to a higher tribunal. and when we find the courts differing in their decisions we stand here to settle the rights of an American citizen under the acts of Congress authorizing him to be naturalized. and we are a court unto ourselves. because the Constitution says that this House is the sole judge of the elections. returns and qualifications of its own members. We could make no rule here that would bind a future Congress. and as this question is isto be settled by Congress. I believe. with the minority of this committee. that it is right to let Captain White come in and prove his citizenship in any way he can that is known to the law of evidence. This brings us to the simple isolated question of fact. Was Captain White ever naturalized? Did he become a naturalized citizen of the United States seven years before he took his seat in this Congress as a member from the Twelfth district of Indiana? Captain White came to this country in 1854. a beardless boy. before he had reached the years of manhood. They say Captain White has admitted that in 1856 he voted for John C. Fr6mont. I am not here to dispute that proposition. and I think th at if every man upon the opposite side of this Chamber would go to Captain Whiteand ask him if hevoted for John C. Frdmont in 1856. he would tell them very frankly that he thinks he did. that lie came here a minor and believed then. and until 1858. that having come here as a minor. he had a right to vote when he attained his majority without being naturalized. In 1858 he took out his first papers in Allen County. Indiana.
Keywords matched
naturalized