ardent in performing; none exceed them in acuteness and discernment, and their conduct is generally a pattern that may be followed with advantage.

III. Before any other step towards forming a settlement, the stranger should take the proper measures for acquiring citizenship: and the advantages of this are important and obvious, indepently of its conferring political privileges. Without it you will remain exempted, indeed, by mild laws, from wrong; but destitute of some valuable positive rights, The alien, in most of the states, is not entitled to hold any lands, can obtain no office under the state, nor participate in the shipping interest of the country.

It is fit the emigrant should be distinctly apprized (for it will conciliate his attachment and gratitude to the country of his adoption), that no where in the world is a well-conducted foreigner received into the bosom of the state with equal liberality and readiness as in America. When, on the 4th of July 1776, the congress unanimously adopted a Declaration of Independence, and delivered their country from the dominion of the king of England, this was one of the complaints alleged against him: "He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners." The same liberal feeling has prevailed in the government of the United States, from that memorable day to this, with one exception-during the administration of President Adams. The stranger, however, is certainly exposed to incidents which may lead him to doubt the truth of this assertion. He may light upon an ignorant, a prejudiced, or ifliberal wretch, who will manifest an ill-will towards him because he is a foreigner, and perhaps revive British and Royalists' taunts in a new form; but these, the scum of a country, are totally insignificant, compared with the mass of the people. The best men in America have always been ready to welcome the valuable emigrant-the stranger of moral and industrious habits. An author, eminent as a statesman, a scholar, and philsósopher, speaking, in his "Discourse to the Philosophical Society of New York," of the advantages which Cicero boasted that Rome had derived from Athens, adds, "We are perhaps more favored in another point of view. Attica was peopled from Egypt, but

we can boast of our descent from a superior stock: I speak not of families or dynasties; I refer to our origin from those nations where civilization, knowledge, and refinement have erected their empire, and where human nature has attained its greatest perfection. Annihilate Holland, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and Germany, and what would become of civilized man? This country, young as it is, would be the great Atlas remaining to support the dignity of the world. And perhaps our mingled descent from various nations may have a benign influence upon genius. We perceive the improving effects of an analagous state upon vegetables and inferior animals. The extraordinary characters the United States have produced may be, in some measure, ascribed to the mixed blood of so many nations flowing in our veins; and it may be confidently said, that the operation of causes, acting with irresistible effect, will carry in this country all the improvable faculties of human nature to the highest state of perfection."

You will, however, observe that the privilege of citizenship is not granted without proper precautions; to secure that, while the worthy are admitted, the unworthy should, if practicable, be rejected. You will from hence deduce the importance of good moral habits, even to the acquisition of political rights.

The steps to be taken by a foreigner preparatory to, and for the purpose of being naturalized, are these:

1st. He must, at least five years before he can be admitted a citizen of the United States, report himself at the office of one of the courts of record, within the state or territory where he may be; and in that report set forth his name, birth-place, age, nation, and prior allegiance, together with the country which he has left to come into the United States, and the place of his intended settlement. In general, forms of this report will be furnished by the clerk of the court, who will also give a certificate, under the seal of the court, that the report has been made and filed. This certificate must be carefully kept, for the purpose of being produced at the time of application for admission to citizenship.

This step of reporting one's arrival is indispensable, and ought to be taken as soon as possible, because the five years of probation begin to be counted only from the date of the report; 36.-VOL. II. 2 X

and the time which a foreigner may have previously spent in the country cannot be rendered of any service towards his naturalization.

2d. At least three years before the alien can be naturalized, he must appear before some one of the courts of record within the state or territory where he may be, and there declare, on oath, or affirm, that it is in good faith his intention to become a citizen of the United States, to renounce for ever all allegiance and fidelity to any sovereign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly, by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereign, whereof he may at the time be a citizen or subject. This oath, or affirmation, which must have been made at least three years before admission to citizenship, may be made at any convenient time after the report of arrival. Indeed it is sometimes made on the same day, so as to save trouble and prevent disappointment from future negligence or forgetfulness. For another reason, that will be presently pointed out, the sooner it is done, the safer and better. The clerk of the court also gives a certificate that this oath or affirmation has been duly made, which like the former, must be carefully kept, for the purpose of being produced at the time of applying for naturalization.

3d. At this period the applicant, after producing both those certificates, must declare on oath, or affirmation, before some one of the same courts, that he will support the constitution of the United States. He must also satisfy the court (which cannot be done by the applicant himself, and is usually done by the affidavits of two respectable citizens, who know and can testify to the facts), that he has resided within the United States five years at least, and within the state or territory where he applies to be admitted at least one year, and that during such 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. The clerk will thereupon make out a certificate of naturalization, under the seal of the court; which should be carefully kept, and ready to be produced whenever it may be requisite.

The liberality of congress has extended the benefits of this admission to citizenship beyond those who perform these requi

sites; for the children of a person so naturalized, being under age, and dwelling in the United States at the time of their parents' naturalization, also become citizens. And, still further, if any alien who shall have regularly reported himself, and made oath or affirmation declaratory of his intentions (which, as we have seen, must precede his own admission by three years), should unfortunately die before he was actually naturalized, his widow and children would thenceforth be considered as citizens of the United States, and be entitled to all rights and privileges as such, upon taking the oaths prescribed by law. This provision, therefore, furnishes a very strong inducement for losing no time in taking the oath declaratory of the party's intention.

In the interval between the emigrant's choosing a place of abode, and completing the five years of probationary residence, which must elapse before he can become a citizen of the United States, he will do well to familiarize himself with the state of parties, and acquire a correct knowledge of our constitutions of civil government. He will become a respectable and capable citizen in proportion to his information and virtue. Liberality and justice are the leading principles of our government, which, as it secures liberty and property, neither makes nor suffers religious distinctions.

No emigrant ought to stay one week in the country without endeavouring to procure the constitution of the United States, and, at least of that of the state in which he means to reside. The Federal Constitution, and those of the several states, are printed and bound together in a neat pocket volume, with the Declaration of Independence, and form a political Bible, well deserving the study of every reflecting republican.

The greater part of our state constitutions were formed soon after the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed by Congress. By them are regulated the internal local relations of citizens; in which state they constitute the main guards of our freedom. The general government (whose constitution was formed by delegates from twelve states, assembled in convention at Philadelphia, in 1787) has the sole direction of our foreign affairs, and the mutual relations of the states. The government of the United States is administered by a president and vice-president, elected for four years; by a senate, of two members from each

state, elected for six years; by a house of representatives, chosen for two years, by the people; and by judges, &c. appointed according to law. The senators are elected by the states, and this feature of the constitution is deemed Federal; the representatives are elected by the people, and here the constitution is more particularly national.

In each of the states there is a governor and two legislative branches chosen by the people, or their representatives, according to each constitution. The governor in each state is, by virtue of his office, commander-in-chief of the militia of the

same.

When the Federal Constitution was formed, it was laid before the people, who, in each state, chose a convention to adopt or reject it. It was debated in every convention with uncommon ardor, and finally adopted in 1788. The speeches made on those occasions shed streams of light on the science of government, and its just division of powers; neither foreigners nor natives can read them too carefully.

During the discussion of the Federal Constitution, advocates of some of its most federate provisions were called Federalists; their opponents Anti-federalists. But when it was adopted, it became the law to all, and was in all its parts sincerely agreed to by all; those opposite terms, therefore, cease to be properly applicable any longer. Yet a political party seized hold of the epithet, which was merely occasional, and have made it perpetual. They are called Federalists to this day, without any reference to the origin of the term; the opposite party are known as Republicans or Democrats, terms significant of their attachment to popular government. The Federal party, on the contrary, or to speak more correctly, many of their leaders, are thought to have a leaning towards aristocracy. ·

We ought never to be the slaves or dupes of mere names; and it will become the duty of a good citizen to act with one party or the other, as far as he thinks its means more honorable, and its objects more just.

When the Federal party were in power, a law was passed authorizing the president of the United States to send friendly aliens out of the country, on mere suspicion, without the intervention of judge or jury! This is remembered as the Alien Act.