APPENDIX,

CONTAINING

NATURALIZATION AND PASSENGER LAWS

OF THE UNITED STATES, AND EXTRACTS FROM THE LAWS OF THE SEVERAL STATES RELATIVE TO IMMIGRANTS, THE IMPORTA

LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES

RELATIVE TO

NATURALIZATION.

REMARKS.

AN Act of Congress to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal all former laws passed on that subject, was approved April 14, 1802. This Act contained certain provisions in favor of aliens residing in the United States at any time previous to the 29th of January, 1795 [see page 191], and certain other provisions in favor of those who resided in the United States at any time between the 29th of January, 1795, and the 18th of June, 1799 [see page 192].

By this Act, any alien arriving in the United States after the latter period was required, besides other conditions, to comply with the following before he could be admitted to the rights of citizenship:

1. He shall declare on oath or affirmation, in some competent court, at least three years before his admission, that it was, bona fide, his intention to renounce for ever all allegiance to any sovereign or state of which he was a subject. [See page 190.]

2. He shall swear or affirm that he will support the Constitution of the United States. [See page 190.]

3. He shall satisfy the court that he has resided within the United States at least five years, and within the State or Territory where such court is held at least one year, before he can be admitted. It must further appear to the satisfaction of the court that he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States. [See page 190.]

4. He shall renounce every title of nobility held by him. [See page 190.] Subsequent laws modified this act in the following important particulars :A residence in the United States for the continued term of five years, without being at any time without the territory of the same, was required of aliens by an act approved March 3, 1813. [See page 195.] This provision, however, was repealed by the act of June 26, 1848. [See page 198.]

An Act approved May 26, 1824, provided that, instead of three years, as required by the Act of April 14, 1802, a declaration made two years before admission, shall be deemed sufficient. [See page 197.]

Such of the laws of the United States, relative to naturalization, as contain provisions at present in force, are herewith published.

April 14, 1802. AN ACT to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject.

An alien may become a citi

ted States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of zen of the Uni- the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, or any of them, on the following conditions and not otherwise:

"On what conditions:

To declare, on oath or affirma

tion, in the su

First. That he shall have declared, on oath or affirmation, before the supreme, superior, district, or circuit court of some one of the States or of the territorial districts of the United cuit court. of States, or a circuit or district court of the United States, three

preme or supe

rior court, or

district or cir

some one of the

States or of the years at least before his admission, that it was, bona fide, his

United States,

three years be intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to

fore his admis

tion to renounce

giance to any Sovereign or state to which

To swear or af

firm that he will

stitution of the United States.

sion, his inten- renounce for ever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign forever his alle prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly, by name, the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty he is a subject. whereof such alien may, at the time, be a citizen or subject. Secondly. That he shall, at the time of his application to be support the con- admitted, declare on oath or affirmation, before some one of the courts aforesaid, that he will support the constitution of the United States, and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly, by name, the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whereof he was before a citizen or subject; which proceedings shall be recorded by the clerk of the court.

That he shall have resided in

five years before he shall be

admitted a citi

zen.

Thirdly. That the court admitting such alien shall be satisthe U. States fied that he has resided within the United States five years at least, and within the State or Territory where such court is at the time held one year at least; and it shall further appear to Shall prove that their satisfaction, that during that time he has behaved as a of good moral man of a good moral character, attached to the principles of attached to the the constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the the U. States. good order and happiness of the same: Provided, That the oath of the applicant shall, in no case, be allowed to prove his residence.

he is a man

character and

constitution of