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 This provision, however, was repealed by the act of June 26, 1848.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.] 190 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 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 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 To swear or af firm that he will stitution of the United States. That he shall have resided in the U. States five years before he shall be admitted a citi zen. he is a man 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. Thirdly. That the court admitting such alien shall be satisfied 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. character and constitution of Fourthly. That in case the alien applying to be admitted to citizenship shall have borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility in the kingdom or state from which he came, he shall, in addition to the above requisites, make an express renunciation of his title or order of nobility in the court to which his application shall be made; which renunciation shall be recorded in the said court: Provided, That no alien who shall be a native citizen, denizen, or subject of any country, state, or sovereign, with whom the United States shall be at war at the time of his application, shall be then admitted to be a citizen of the United States: Provided, also, That alien who was any residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States before the twenty-ninth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, may be admitted to become a citizen, on due proof, made to some one of the courts aforesaid, that he has resided two years, at least, within and under the jurisdiction of the United States, and one year, at least, immediately preceding his application, within the State or Territory where such court is at the time held; and on his declaring, on oath or affirmation, 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 any 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; and, moreover on its appearing, to the satisfaction of the court, that during the said term of two years he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and where the alien applying for admission to citizenship shall have borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility in the kingdom or state from which he came, on his moreover making in the court an express renunciation of his title or order of nobility, before he shall be entitled to such admission; all of which proceedings, required in this proviso to be performed in the court, shall be recorded by the clerk thereof: And provided, also, That any alien who was residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States at any time between the said twenty-ninth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and the eighteenth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, may, within two years after the passing of this act, be admitted to become a citizen without a compliance with the first condition above specified. |