Speech #500010833

The committee seem to have confounded the judgment itself with the record of the judgment. and have confounded the certificate which indicated that a judicial act had been done with the judicial act itself. The law of Congress passed in 1802. to be found inTitle XXX. Revised Statutes. section 2165. in its third paragraph prescribes the terms on which an alien shall be naturalized finally as a citizen of the United States: 3. It shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the court admitting such alien that he has resided within the United States five years at least. and within the State or Territory where such court is at the time held one year at least. and that during that time he has behaved as a man of a good moral character. attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States. and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same. * * * That is all the statute requires the postulant for citizenship to mtke to appear to the satisfaction of the court. and when he has done that and satisfies the court. he has done all that the law requires and all that he can possibly do to become a citizen. The law further requires that when the court is satisfied (not the clerk. but the presiding judge) that the man is a fit and proper person to become a citizen of the United States. the judge shall administer the oath in the prescribed form.