Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/413

Franklin: Legislative History of Natiwalization 403 example, would have been rendered complete by the addition of a few pages giving the history of the important law of July 17, 1868, which declared expatriation to be the natural right of all men; so would the chapters on " Native Americanism " and " The Know-Nothing Period " have been more satisfying if they had included a brief account of the " A. P. A."' movement. This is a legislative history of naturalization in the United States; and an account of the legislation of the several states from their independence to the time of the passing of the first federal naturalization law might appropriately have found a place in it. There were such laws in Delaware, Maryland, New York, South Caro- lina, and Virginia, the Virginia law of 1783 being the parent law of our naturalization system. These remarks are prompted by an appreciation of the value of Mr. Franklin's book, and a regret that it does not cover completely a subject which it covers so well partially. There is no other book, however, which covers the subject at all. The first chapter deals with the Revolutionary period, and shows the oath of allegiance, and of express renunciation of allegiance to George the Third, required by the Continental Congress in 1776 of all military and civil officers of the government. During this period frequent efforts were made to detach foreigners serving in the British army by offering them land and American citizenship ; and a considerable number availed themselves of the opportunity and settled permanently in the United States. After the war a remarkable suggestion was made, that subjects of Great Britain should have the same rights as Americans in America and Americans the same rights as Englishmen in Great Britain. John Adams reported that the proposition was going to be made, and Lord Loughborough certainly made it in 1794. It was brought up again in 1817 by John Quincy Adams, and of recent years by Pro- fessor Dicey in a lecture at All Souls College, when the Olney arbitra- tion treaty was under discussion. Passing to the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Mr. Franklin traces the debate on the subject of naturalization, and then treats the acts of Congress from 1790 to 1824, the latter being the Ia,w which was in effect until Septem- ber 2y of the present year. The chapter on " Expatriation " shows that Jefferson claimed the right as a natural one from the beginning, but that efforts to secure legislation on the subject which were made from time to time were all unavailing. It may be added that to this day there is no law saying how an American citizen may accomplish expatriation. Chapters on " The Beginnings of Native Americanism ", " The Period of Aggressive Native Americanism ", and " The Know-Nothing Period " close what is a valuable historical study which will surely pass into general use. There are several notable omissions in the bibliography given by Mr. Franklin. Hunt's work. The American Passport, is in the list, but it contains little of importance to a work like this, whereas Wharton's