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72
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
be a citizen of the General Government though he is not a citizen of any State; but I insist that no man can be a citizen of a State who is not a citizen of the United States. .How, sir, is the view which I take an infringement of the rights of the States? It merely secures uniformity. This uniformity, I think, is required by the Constitution, which confers upon the citizen of one State the rights and privileges of a citizen in the several States. That harmonizes perfectly with the power of naturalization and makes it uniform. Again, to allow the States to confer the ri°ght of citizenship on an alien, would be unjust to the naturalized citizen. He undergoes a probation of five years before he becomes a citizen of the United States; and, though he be ·a citizen of the United States, he may not be a citizen of any State; he may be a citizen of the District of Columbia. If a State can allow an alien, after arriving upon our shores, and declaring his intention to become a citizen, to exercise all the rights of a citizen, is it just to the man who has been naturalized under the Federal law? Is it allowable that the States shall have it in their power to confer the privileges of citizenship upon persons who owe no allegiance to the United States? Suppose such a man should go into a foreign country: could he take a passport from the Federal Government? No, sir. Suppose he should be involved in difficulties, so that it would become necessary, if he were a citizen of the United States, to make reclamation for wrongs done to him in person or property: could the United States interpose? Could they make any demand on the foreign government? The Executive has a supervision of our foreign relations; but, if this policy be admitted, a State might involve the Federal Government in difficulties with foreign nations without its consent. I insist that it is not a legitimate act on the part of the States, nor is it within the pale of the Consti- tution of the United States, for them to undertake to create aliens citizens. It is unjust to the naturalized foreigner; it is unjust to the native born citizen. What, sir, take an alien, not naturalized, irresponsible to this Government, owing it no allegiance, who cannot commit treason against this Government, who is not a citizen of the United States, and confer upon him the right of suffrage in a State! He may be an incendiary; he may be a de- serter; he may commit crimes against this Government; but you cannot punish him for treason. He may .coalesce or confederate with an enemy, but he cannot commit treason against this Govern- ment, because he is not a citizen of it. Is it proper to invest such a man with the highest prerogatives of a freeman? In monarchies,
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