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-CITIZENSHIP AND SGI'1'RAUE IN -MARYLAND. 17
,,in oath to support the Constitution of the United States and to renounce
all
other allegiance.- If lie is a. nobleman,
is citizenship attained by foreigners.
13v certain Acts, persons in the United States before certain dates, might
become citizens by an easier method, but these dates are so far removed that
the laws are practically obsolete. Certain minor relaxations of the law are
found, in provisions allowing alien friends of fall age, who have served in
the United States forces' for a year, have good moral character, and have
been
honorably discharged from service, to be immediately admitted to
citizenship,
and allowing seamen likewise to be imirlediately made citizens,' if they
make
declaration of intention to become citizens of the United States avid,
having
served three nears in a. United States merchant vessel.' produce a
certificate
of good conduct, and of discharge front service.
By the Act of 1870, naturalization was directed no longer to be confined
to the white race, but persons of African birth should also receive its
benefits.'
The ;;neatest lessening of the requirements for citizenship is found in the
Act of 1524, providing that.an alien friend, who has lived here the three
years
preceding his majority, and has spent at least five years in continued resi-
dence here, may be admitted to citizenship at once, without previous
declara-
tion of intention, if .lie make oath and prove to the satisfaction of the
court
that, for the two years next preceding, he has intended in good faith to be-
come a citizen of the United States.
l1l Act of 1802.
(_) By- act of 1804. in case an alien died after declaration of intention
to become a citizen and before taking the
final step, his willow and minor children were to be considered as citizens
of tile United States as soon as they took
the Oath of Allegiance.
(3) Act of 18'2.
(41 The courts have held that Chinese and Japanese may not be naturalized.
he midst renounce his nobility. Thus
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