The bill was twice read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday.
Wednesday, June 21.
Expatriation.
The Speaker having informed the House that the unfinished business of yesterday, viz: the bill prohibiting citizens of the United States from entering into the military or naval service of any foreign Prince or State, had the priority.
Mr. Gallatin moved to have it postponed, in order to take up the bill respecting an additional naval armament. This motion was supported by Mr. Giles, and opposed by Mr. W. Smith, and negatived, 35 to 34.
The bill respecting foreign service was then taken up, and, on motion of Mr. Havens, it was agreed to leave the time for its taking place a blank.
Mr. Coit moved to strike out the sixth section.
[It defined the mode in which a citizen of the United States might dissolve the ties of citizenship, and become an alien.]
Mr. Sewall hoped it would be struck out. In every country in the world where civil society was established, the citizens of that society owed a certain duty to their Government, which they could not readily get rid of; but they were about to establish a principle to put it in the power of the citizens of the United States, at their will, and without any pretence, to say they would be no longer subject to the Government; and this is at a moment of danger, when citizens of other countries might be called home from this country. He thought this would be extremely wrong; it would be giving an opportunity for insult to our courts and country, and he was sure no nation would show us so much complaisance in return.
Mr. Claiborne thought it no more binding for citizens born in the United States to continue citizens of the United States, than it was for a Roman Catholic or Protestant to continue of that opinion, when he arrived at the years of maturity and could judge for himself. He insisted upon it, men had a natural right to choose under what government they would live; and they had no reason to fear our citizens leaving us whilst our Government was well executed. He did not wish citizens of the United States to be in the situation of subjects of Great Britain, who, though they had left the country forty years ago, were liable to be considered as subjects of that Government. He trusted the rights of man would not be thus infringed, but that they should allow the right of expatriation unclogged.