from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
NATURALIZATION. The act by which an alien is made a citizen of the United
States of America.
2. The Constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 8, vests in
congress the power "to establish an uniform rule of naturalization." In
pursuance of this authority congress have passed several laws on this
subject, which, as they are of general interest, are here transcribed as far
as they are in force.
3.-1. An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and to
repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject. Approved April 14, 1802.
7 Hill, 137.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c, 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: First, That be 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 States, or a circuit or district court of the United States,
three years at least before his admission, that it was, bona fide, his
intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever
all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or
sovereignty, whatever, and particularly, by name, the prince, potentate,
state or sovereignty, whereof such alien may, at the time, be a citizen or
subject. Secondly, That he shall, at the time of his application to be
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. 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 their satisfaction, that, during that time, he has behaved as a
man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the constitution
of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of
the same:
4. Provided, That the oath of the applicant shall, in no case, be
allowed to prove his residence. 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 a 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:
5. Provided, That no alien, who shall heretofore passed on that
subject. Approved April 14, 1802. 7 Hill, 137. Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c.
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: 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
States, or a circuit or district court of the United States, three years at
least before his admission, that it was, bona fide, his intention to become
a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and
fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, whatever,
and particularly, by name, the prince, potentate, state or sovereignty,
whereof such alien may, at the time, be a citizen or subject. Secondly, That
be shall, at the time of his application to be 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. 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 their satisfaction, that, during that time,
he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles
of the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good
order and happiness of the same:
4. Provided, That the oath of the applicant shall, in no case, be
allowed to prove his residence. 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:
5. 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:
6. Provided, also, That any alien who was 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 be 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 be 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:
7. 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.
8.-Sec. 3. And whereas, doubts have arisen whether certain courts of
record, in some of the states, are included within the description of
district or circuit courts: Be it further enacted, That every court of
record in any individual state, having common law jurisdiction, and a seal,
and clerk or prothonotary, shall be considered as a district court within
the meaning of this act; and every alien, who may have been naturalized in
any such court, shall enjoy, from and after the passing of the act, the same
rights and privileges, as if he had been naturalized in a district or
circuit court of the United States.
9.-Sec. 4. That the children of persons duly naturalized under any of
the laws of the United States, or who, previous to the passing of any law on
that subject by the government of the United States, may have become
citizens of any one of the said states, under the laws thereof, being under
the age of twenty-one years, at the time of their parents' being so
naturalized or admitted to the rights of citizenship, shall, if dwelling in
the United States, be considered as citizens of the United States; and the
children of persons who now are, or have been, citizens of the United
States, shall, though born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United
States, be considered as citizens of the United States:
10. Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons
whose fathers have never resided within the United States:
11. Provided also, That no person heretofore proscribed by any state, or
who has been legally convicted of having joined the army of Great Britain
during the late war, shall be admitted a citizen, as aforesaid, without the
consent of the legislature of the state in which such person was proscribed.
12.-Sec. 5. That all acts heretofore passed respecting naturalization,
be, and the same are hereby repealed.
13.-2. An act in addition to an act, entitled "An act to establish an
uniform rule of naturalization; and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on
that subject." Approved March 26, 1804.
14.-Sec. 1. 'Be it enacted, &c. That any alien, being a free white
person, who was residing within the limits, and under the jurisdiction of
the United States, at any time between the eighteenth day of June, one
thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, and the fourteenth day of April,
one thousand eight hundred and two, and who has continued to reside within
the same, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, without
a compliance with the first condition specified in the first section of the
act, entitled "An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and to
repeal tile acts heretofore passed on that subject."
15.-Sec. 2. That when any alien who shall have complied with the first
condition specified in the first section of the said original act, and who
shall have pursued the directions prescribed in the second section of the
said act, may die, before he is actually naturalized, the widow and the
children of such alien shall be considered as citizens of the United States;
and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges as such, upon taking
the oaths prescribed by law.
16.-3. An act for the regulation of seamen on board the public and
private vessels of the United States.
17.-Sec. 12. That no person who shall arrive in the United States,
from and after the time when this act shall take effect, shall be admitted
to become a citizen of the United States, who shall not, for the continued
term of five years, next preceding his admission as aforesaid, have resided
within the United States, without being, at any time during the said five
years, out of the territory of the United States. App. March 3, 1813.
18.-4. An act supplementary to the acts heretofore passed on the
subject of an uniform rule of naturalization. App. July 30, 1813.
19.-Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c. That persons resident within the United
States, or the territories thereof, on the eighteenth day of June, in the
year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, who had, before that day, made a
declaration, according to law, of their intentions to become citizens of the
United States, or who, by the existing laws of the United States, were, on
that day, entitled to become citizens without making such declaration, may
be admitted to become citizens thereof" notwithstanding they shall be alien
enemies, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the laws heretofore
passed on the subject: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be
taken or construed to interfere with, or prevent the apprehension and
removal, agreeably to law, of any alien enemy at any time previous to the
naturalization of such alien.
20.-5. An act relative to evidence in case of naturalization. App.
March 22, 1816.
21.-Sec. 2. That nothing herein contained shall be construed to
exclude from admission to citizenship, any free white person who was
residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States
at any time between the eighteenth day of June, one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-eight, and the fourteenth day of April, one thousand eight
hundred and two, and who, having continued to reside therein, without having
made any declaration of intention before a court of record as aforesaid, may
be entitled to become a citizen of the United States according to the act of
the twenty-sixth of March, one thousand eight hundred and four, entitled "An
act in addition to an act, entitled 'An act to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject.'
"Whenever any person, without a certificate of such declaration of
intention, as aforesaid, shall make application to be admitted a citizen of
the United States, it shall be proved, to the satisfaction of the court,
that the applicant was residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction
of the United States before the fourteenth day of April one thousand eight
hundred and two, and has continued to reside within the same, or be shall
not be so admitted. And the residence of the applicant within the limits and
under the jurisdiction of the United States, for at least five years
immediately preceding the time of such application, shall be proved by the
oath or affirmation of citizens of the United States; which citizens shall
be named in the record as witnesses. And such continued residence within the
limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, when satisfactorily
proved, and the place or places where the applicant has resided for at least
five years, as aforesaid, shall be stated and set forth, together with the
names of such citizens, in the record of the court admitting the applicant;
otherwise the same shall not entitle him to be considered and deemed a
citizen of the United States.
22.-6. An act in further addition to "An act to establish an uniform
rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed on that
subject." App. Ma 26, 1824.
23.-Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c. That an alien, being a free white
person and a minor under the age of twenty-one years, who shall have resided
in the United States three years next preceding his arriving at the age of
twenty-one years, and who shall have continued to reside therein to the time
be way make application to be admitted a citizen thereof, may, after he
arrives at the age of twenty-one years, and after be shall have resided five
years within the United States, including the three years of his minority,
be admitted a citizen of the United States, without having made the
declaration required in the first condition of the first section of the act
to which this is an addition, three years previous to his admission.
24. Provided, such alien shall make the declaration required therein at
the time of his or her admission; and shall further declare, on oath, and
prove to the satisfaction of the court, that, for three years next
preceding, it has been the bona fide intention of such alien to become a
citizen of the United States; and shall, in all other respects, comply with
the laws in regard to naturalization.
25.-Sec. 2. That no certificates of citizenship, or naturalization,
heretofore obtained from any court of record within the United States, shall
be deemed invalid, in consequence of an omission to comply with the
requisition of the first section of the act, entitled "An Act relative to
evidence in cases of naturalization," passed the twenty-second day of March,
one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
26.-Sec. 3. That the declaration required by the first condition
specified in the first section of the act, to which this is an addition,
shall, if the same shall be bona fide, made before the clerks of either of
the courts in the said condition named, be as valid as if it had been made
before the said courts, respectively.
27.-Sec. 4. That a declaration by any alien, being a free white
person, of his intended application to be admitted a citizen of the United
States, made in the manner and form prescribed in the first condition
specified in the first section of the act to which this is an addition, two
years before his admission, shall be a sufficient compliance with said
condition; anything in the said act, or in any subsequent act, to the
contrary notwithstanding.
28.-7. An mot to amend the acts concerning naturalization. App. May
24, 1828.
29.-Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c. That the second section of the act,
entitled "An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and to
repeal the acts heretofore passed on that subject," which was passed on the
fourteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and two, and the first
section of the act, entitled "An act relative to evidence in cases of
naturalization," passed on the twenty-second day of March, one thousand
eight hundred and sixteen, be, and the same are hereby repealed.
30.-Sec. 2. That any alien, being a free white person, who has resided
within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, between
the fourteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and two, and the
eighteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and twelve, and who has
continued to reside within the same, may be admitted to become a citizen of
the United States, without having made any previous declaration of his
intention to become a citizen:
31. Provided, That whenever any person without a certificate of such
declaration of intention, shall make application to be admitted a citizen of
the United States, it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the court, that
the applicant was residing within the limits, and under the jurisdiction of
the United States, before the eighteenth day of June, one thousand eight
hundred and twelve, and has continued to reside within the same, or he shall
not be so admitted; and the residence of the applicant within the limits and
under the jurisdiction of the United States, for at least five years
immediately preceding the time of such application, shall be proved by the
oath or affirmation of citizens of the United States, which citizens shall
be named in the record as witnesses; and such continued residence within the
limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States when satisfactorily
proved, and the place or places where the applicant has resided for at least
five years as aforesaid, shall be stated and set forth, together with the
names of such citizens, in the record of the court admitting the applicant;
otherwise the same shall not entitle him to be considered and deemed a
citizen of the United States.