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An Act to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization;
and to repeal the Act heretofore passed on that Subject. For
carrying into complete effect the power given by the constitution,
to establish an uniform rule of naturalization throughout the
United States;
SECTION 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of 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.
First, 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 territories northwest or south of the
Ohio River, 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 whereof such alien
may at that time be a citizen or subject. Secondly. 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 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; that he will support the Constitution
of the United States; and that he does absolutely and entirely
renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreigh
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. The court admitting
such alien shall be satisfied that he has resided within the
limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States five
years. It shall further appear to their satisfaction that during
that time he has behaved as a man of a 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. Fourthly. 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.
SEC. 2. Provided always, and be it further
enacted, That any alien now residing within the limits and under
the jurisdiction of the United States may be admitted to become
a citizen on his declaring, on oath or affirmation, in some
one of the courts aforesaid, that he has resided two years,
at least, within and under the jurisdiction of the same, and
one year, at least, within the state or territory where such
court is at the time held; that he will support the Constitution
of the United States; and that he does 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. 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 when 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…
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, that the
children of persons duly naturalized, dwelling within the United
States, and being under the age of twenty-one years at the time
of such naturalization, and the children of citizens of the
United States born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the
United States, shall be considered as citizens of the United
States. Provided, that the right of citizenship shall not descend
on persons whose fathers have never been resident of the United
States. 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 as foresaid,
without the consent of the legislature of the state in which
such person was proscribed.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, that the
Act, intitled, "An act to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization," passed the twenty-sixth day of March,
one thousand seven hundred and ninety, be, and the same is hereby
repealed.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States, And President
of the Senate.
APPROVED, January the 29th, 1795:
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States
Source: United States Statutes at Large,
1:414.
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