Mr. Coggeshall to Mr. Seward
Sir: It seems to me important that I should call the attention of the State Department to a subject which, if it has not already been considered, demands, I am constrained to believe, a reference to Congress.
In this republic are several native-born Ecuadorians who are naturalized citizens of the United States. They are the proprietors of large farms; are merchants of large business, and have liberal incomes. Of course they pay the local taxes of Ecuador, but contribute nothing to the revenue of the nation under whose flag they claim protection against the government under which they live. I would not so positively assert, but I have good reason to believe, that not one of these adopted citizens resided in the United States five years previous to his naturalization. Their papers were procured, not for the purpose of allegiance to their adopted country, but for non-allegiance to their native country, though residents and property-owners. Such citizenship, it appears to me, can only be justly regarded as a fraud upon Ecuador, and a satire upon American privileges as well as an abuse of American rights. If the revenue assessor could call upon them, and the collector enforce the payment of the five per cent, income tax, at least $10,000 might be added annually to the income receipts of the treasury. Why should not the income tax be collected from these citizens?
But there is another important phase of this question. The privileges and powers of the United States are made to subserve selfish and unpatriotic purposes against the interests and wishes of friendly governments. Why should the United States grant naturalization to a man who does not intend to make his permanent home within their boundaries? Why should not such a stipulation be one of the conditions of citizenship? Might not the law be wisely so amended? Should not permanent residence in a foreign land make null and void certificates of naturalization which have been procured by temporary sojourners? I do not know one naturalized citizen of the United States in Ecuador who can speak a word of the language of his adopted country. It strikes me very clearly that adopted citizens should be required to be permanent residents of their adopted country; or if permanent residents of a foreign land, be required, as a token of due regard for the value of their privileges, to pay their appropriate share of the expenses of the government, and of the national debt
I may be presumptive in these suggestions, and if so, beg to be pardoned. My apology is a patriotic purpose.
Your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. G.