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C1-1 APTER II.
PRIVILEGES O1' cI'rI'ZENBIIII' ENJOYED BY ALIENS' IN 3IAR1'LAND.
Colonial naturalization had for its main object tile obtaining of civil
rights.
Naturalization to-day is sought chiefly, if not wholly, by those who wish
political rights. Civil rights are granted to any one, citizen or alien, in
most
of our States to-day; but this was not so in Colonial days, when the old
Conl-
coon Law rigid rules as to the disability of aliens were in force. I cannot
find
that the Laws of Maryland differed from those of England, during the Pro-
vincial days. The first relaxation of the stringency Of laws was the enact-
ment, in 1784, of a law declaring a mortgage good, if the money was loalied
by
,in alien, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent.'' ,:
Five years later, one of the old supposed privileges of aliens was taken
away by an Act, providing that foreigners accused of offences should be
tried
'as natives by a jury of the county and -not "I_?er gnedietate-m lingua."
The a`
same year, however, tile first great concession was made to alienS.2 It was
I _'11
limited, indeed, to such as resided within the State and should become
naturalized before June 1, 1790. In 179`?, this statute was re-enacted, and
tile . e
time for becoming naturalized was extended'to August 1, 1793. In the
latter <=
year, tile time vas further extended for a year more.'
Tile preamble to the first of these Acts shows the considerable disability
under which aliens labored. From it, we learn that foreigners coming into
the State and becoming inhabitants, have been induced "to employ their
money in tile purchase of property, both real and personal, and to improve
the same, thereby acquiring a just and equitable title to such property."
Throuall ignorance of the law, however, they have not taken the oath of
natllr-
alization, "whereby the titles to such real property, as they have acquired
since
their settlement in this State, Inay be drawn in question, to their great
preju-
dice and injury." These "foreigners have always manifested a firm attach-
ment to our Government and laws, and it is conceived that, by securing
their `, '
interests in our soil, their affections to this Country will be more fully
colt- ",
firmed." Considerin- the foregoing facts, the Legislature judged that both
"justice and policy require that the hardships and inconveniences," under
which these aliens were, should be remedied. It was, therefore, enacted that
(1) Act of 1784, ch. LVI1I.
' (2) Act of 1789, ch. 1SI\'.
l3) Act of November, 1,92, ch. 1IV.
(4) Act of 1,93, ch. 1TVI.
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