I believe it is one of the most ancient principles of our civil and political liberty that criminal jurisdiction should attach to the government of the State in which the crime occurred. without any respect to the nationality of offenders. The colonies. even before the Revolution. had the exclusive right to try even capital cases of crimes committed within their geographical limits. Life and property were thought and known to be reasonably secure in the colonies at that time. even for foreigners who came over without the privilege of naturalization and remained here until they and their descendants became. by birth and otherwise. British subjects and afterwards American citizens. and also travelers for pleasure journeyed through the colonies with perfect safety with respect to life and property. So I do not think it is reasonable to conclude or strange to discover that in the Federal Constitution. enacted by the States which were formerly the colonies. there has been not a casual omission. but a deliberate omission. of any right of the Federal Governnient to deal with crimes committed against the laws of a State within the geographical limits of the State.
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naturalization