Speech #500010862

I desire a passport to go to Europe. I am a foreign citizen." the Secretary would say to him. Let me see your papers of naturalization." If Ir. White replied. "I have not got them. I have lost them." the Secretary would say. "Go back tothe court of record where you got your naturalization papers and obtain a copy of them." Mlr. White replies again that there is no copy of them there. "I propose to bring Mr. Jenkinson. Mr. Pratt. and others to prove that I am naturalized and am -3 citizen. They will prove that I did apply for naturalization. and that the paper was issued to me. but I have lost it." Does any gentleman here suppose for a moment the State Department. on such a showing as that. would grant to that individual the protection of that flag we all reverence and respect? Is that the practice of the executive department. to give to a citizen who proposes to prove by parol testimony only the fact of his naturalization the protection and safe conduct of that flag? No. the executive department would say to him. "We can not safely give you a passport under those circumstances." Air. Speaker. the executive department would refuse him. He now comes to this legislative department of the Government and asks this House to seat him on evidence on which no court would decide he was naturalized and on which the executive department would not decide that he was a citizen entitled to a passport. In the determination of this case. we are gravely asked to violate every principle of the law of evidence. The gentleman from Tennessee says we are bound by no rule of evidence or law.