2

PRELIMINARY.

naturalized.

1. SECTION 2165. An alien may be admitted to become a Aliens, how citizen of the United States in the following manner, and not otherwise:

First. He shall declare on oath, before a circuit or district Declaration court of the United States, or a district or supreme court of the of intention. territories, or a court of record of any of the states having common-law jurisdiction, and a seal and clerk, two years, at least, prior to his admission, that it is 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; and, particularly, by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which the alien may be at the time a citizen or subject.

14 April, 1802, c. 28, ss. 1, 3, v. 2, 153, 155; 26 May, 1824, c. 186, s.
4, v. 4, 69; 1 Feb., 1876, c. 5, v. 19, 2; Campbell v. Gordon, 6 Cr.
176; Stark v. Chesapeake Ins. Co., 7 Cr. 420; Chirack v. Chirack,
2 Wh. 259; Osborn v. United States Bank, 9 Wh. 827; Spratt v.
Spratt, 4 Pet. 393.

port the con

States.

Second. He shall, at the time of his application to be Oath to supadmitted, declare, on oath, before some one of the courts above stitution of specified, that he will support the constitution of the United the United States, and that he absolutely and entirely renounces and abjures all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty; and, particularly, by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which he was before a citizen or subject; which proceedings shall be recorded by the clerk of the court.

14 April, 1802, c. 28, s. 1. v. 2, 153.

Third. It shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the Residence in court admitting such alien that he has resided within the or States, and United States five years at least, and within the state or territory good moral where such court is at the time held, one year at least; and that during that time he has behaved as a man of a good moral

Titles of nobility to be renounced.

Persons re

before 29 January, 1795.

character, attached to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; but the oath of the applicant shall in no case be allowed to prove his residence.

Fourth. In case the alien applying to be admitted to citizenship has 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 is made, and his renunciation shall be recorded in the court.

Fifth. Any alien who was residing within the limits and siding in the under the jurisdiction of the United States before the twentyninth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyfive, may be admitted to become a citizen, on due proof made to some one of the courts above specified, that he has resided two years, at least, within 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 that he will support the constitution of the United States, and that he absolutely and entirely renounces and abjures all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and, particularly, by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whereof he was before a citizen or subject; and, also, on its appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that during such 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, has 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. All of the proceedings, required in this condition to be performed in the court, shall be recorded by the clerk thereof.

Persons residing between 18 June, 1798,

1812.

Sixth. Any alien who was residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, between the eighteenth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and

18d 18 June, ninety-eight, 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 such; but whenever any person, without a certificate of such declaration of intention, makes application to be admitted a citizen, it must 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; 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, must be proved by the oath 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 where the applicant has
resided for at least five years, 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. (Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Declaration
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress zation, how
assembled, That the declaration of intention to become a citizen made.
of the United States, required by section two thousand one
hundred and sixty-five of the revised statutes of the United
States, may be made by an alien before the clerk of any of the
courts named in said section two thousand one hundred and
sixty-five; and all such declarations heretofore made before any
such clerk are hereby declared as legal and valid as if made
before one of the courts named in said section.]

22 Mar., 1816, c. 31, s. 2, v. 3. 259; 24 May, 1828, c. 116, s. 2, v. 4,
310; 1 Feb., 1876, с. 5, v. 19, 2.

for naturali

charged from

vice.

2. SEC. 2166. Any alien, of the age of twenty-one years and Aliens honorupward, who has enlisted, or may enlist, in the armies of the ably dis United States, either the regular or the volunteer forces, and military serhas been, or may be hereafter, honorably discharged, shall be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, upon his petition, without any previous declaration of his intention to become such; and he shall not be required to prove more than one year's residence within the United States previous to his application to become such citizen; and the court admitting such alien shall, in addition to such proof of residence and good moral character, as now provided by law, be satisfied by competent proof of such person's having been honorably discharged from the service of the United States.

17 July, 1862, c. 200, s. 21, v. 12, 597.

3. SEC. 2167. Any alien, being under the age of twenty-one Minor resiyears, who has resided in the United States three years next dents. preceding his arriving at that age, and who has continued to reside therein to the time he may make application to be admitted a citizen thereof, may, after he arrives at the age of twenty-one years, and after he has 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 section twentyone hundred and sixty-five; but such alien shall make the declaration required therein at the time of his admission; and shall further declare, on oath, and prove to the satisfaction of the court, that, for two years next preceding, it has been his bona fide intention to become a citizen of the United States;