In re Hong Yen Chang

Motion made in due form for the admission of Hong Yen Chang to practice as an attorney and counselor of this court, and his moral character duly vouched for. Upon the motion there is exhibited to us a license admitting him to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in all the courts of the state of New York, issued by the supreme court of that state, at a general term held at the city of Poughkeepsie, May 17, 1888; also, a certificate of naturalization, issued by the court of common pleas of the city of New York, November 11, 1887.

Title 30 of the Revised Statutes of the United States provides for the naturalization of aliens. The first section of that title (section 2165) reads: “An alien may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States,” etc., and that and subsequent sections provide how, and the conditions of such admission. As the statute originally stood there was no express language to indicate a limitation upon the class of aliens who might be so admitted; but by “an act to correct errors and supply omissions in the Revised Statutes of the United States,” passed February 18, 1875, this provision was amended so as to limit the right of naturalization to “…