Ex parte Gist. 26 Ala.. 156. 164. Dean v. Borchsenius. 30 WIs.. 237.) In the year 1790 the Congress passed the first act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. That act empowered any commonlaw court of record in any one of the States to admit aliens to citizenship upon their compliance with the terms of the law. but gave no such authority to any court of the United States. (1 Stat.. 103.) Many of the statesmen who sat In the convention which framed the Constitution were Members of the Congress which passed this law. This act of Congress is therefore a contemporary interpretationa practical exposition of the meaning and effectof the grant to Congress of the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization by the very men who. as the representatives of the people of the United States. gave this authority to the legislative Gepartment of the National Government. From the day when this act gave the courts of the States the power to issue certificates of citizenship to qualified aliens to the present moment. through all the legislation and judicial action of more than a century that grant to the State courts has been maintained undisturbed. and the power thus bestowed has been exercised by the courts of the States with the uninterrupted acquiescence of the legislative. executive. and judicial departments of the nation and of the States. (1 Stat.. 414. Act April 14. 1S02. c. 28. 2 Stat.. 153. 155.
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