No party can be blamed for this state of affairs. as no one realized the danger that might confront us. A century ago the fathers discussed the subject. After the Constitution was adopted the First Congress enacted a naturalization law. at that time no alien could own lands in any of the States. with one exception. The proposition was advanced to allow immigrants to acquire title to land at once. This provision had few supporters. and the opponents of the measure urged. with prophetic foresight. that if such a law was enacted a few aliens might take up all the land in the Northwestern I Territory. settle it with their tenants. and thereby come in actual and political control of that portion of the nation. Congress held that such law would be unconstitutional. that the States had wisely regulated the matter. and there it could be safely left.
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immigrants naturalization