Speech #510088799

I have had occasion at this session of Congress to introduce a bill to enhble one of the distinguished and wealthy citizens of this District to acquire title to a piece of property which he bought and paid for in good faith. not knowing of the law that had been passed and which under that law was to be confiscated and to the proceeds of which he could have no claim. It would be acknowledged by any citizen of the District. if I were to mention his name here. that he was a person who ought to have as good a right to purchase land in this District of Columbia and to transfer it and to have it descend to his children as any citizen. and yet he happened to be an alien. born in a foreign country. living here all his life. acquiring property and gaining reputation. Living where the right of suffrage is wholly denied he had failedto be naturalized. and not knowing of thislaw had bought a house. and he found that under the law we had passed here he could not hold the house. it could not descend to his wife or his children when he died. This matter has been carried a good ways. Mr.