s of
_natural_ born citizens. But if different rules were established by the
different states, a person, having become naturalized in one state,
would, on removing into another state, be deprived of the rights of
citizenship, until he should have been naturalized by the laws of such
state. Besides, by the constitution, a person, on becoming a citizen of
any state, is a citizen of the United States, and entitled to the
privileges of a citizen in any other state. (Art. IV., Sec.2.) As,
therefore, there should be one uniform rule, the power of naturalization
is properly given to congress.

Sec.3. An alien, to become a citizen, must declare on oath before a state
court or a circuit court of the United States, or before a clerk of
either of said courts, after having resided three years in the United
States, that it is his intention to become a citizen, and to renounce
his allegiance to all foreign governments, and particularly that under
which he formerly lived, and that he will support the constitution of
the United States. Then after two years, the court, if satisfied that he
has resided five years in the United States, and one year in the state
in which the court is held, and that during that time he has behaved as
a man of good moral character, and is attached to the principles of the
constitution, may admit him as a citizen.

Sec.4. An alien minor who has resided in the United States at least three
years before he was twenty-one years of age, may, at any time after that
age and five years' residence in the United States, be admitted as a
citizen, without having previously declared his intention to become a
citizen. Also the minor children of a naturalized citizen, if dwelling
in the United States at the time of his naturalization, become
citizens.

Sec.5. A _bankrupt_ is an insolvent debtor; that is, a person who is unable
to pay all his just debts. A _bankrupt law_ is a law which, upon an
insolvent's giving up all his property to his creditors, discharges him
from the payment of his debts. Such laws are designed for the benefit of
honest and unfortunate debtors, who, by having the enjoyment of their
future earnings secured to them, are encouraged to engage anew in
industrial pursuits. But these laws, intended for the benefit of the
unfortunate poor, have enabled dishonest and fraudulent debtors to
procure a release from their debts.

Sec.6. Experience had shown the propriety of intrusting to congress the
power to