ALIEN
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ALIENALIEN, persons. One born out of the jurisdiction of the United States, who
has not since been naturalized under their constitution and laws. To thisthere are some exceptions, as this children of the ministers of the UnitedStates in foreign courts. See
Citizen, Inhabitant. 2. Aliens are subject to disabilities, have rights, and are bound toperform duties, which will be briefly considered. 1. Disabilities. An aliencannot in
general acquire title to real estate by the descent, or by othermere operation of law; and if he purchase land, he may be divested of thefee, upon an inquest of office found. To
this general rule there arestatutory exceptions in some of the states; in Pennsylvania, Ohio,Louisiana, New Jersey, Rev. Laws, 604, and Michigan, Rev. St. 266, s. 26,the
disability has been removed; in North Carolina, (but see Mart. R. 48; 3Dev. R. 138; 2 Hayw. 104, 108; 3 Murph. 194; 4 Dev. 247; Vermont andVirginia, by constitutional
provision; and in Alabama, 3 Stew R. 60;Connecticut, act of 1824, Stat. tit. Foreigners, 251; Indiana, Rev. Code, a.3, act of January 25, 1842; Illinois, Kentucky, 1 Litt. 399; 6
Mont. 266Maine, Rev. St,. tit. 7, c. 93, s. 5 Maryland, act of 1825, ch. 66; 2 Wheat.259; and Missouri, Rev. Code, 1825, p. 66, by statutory provision it ispartly so. 3. An
alien, even after being naturalized, is ineligible to the officeof president of the United States; and in some states, as in New York, tothat of governor; he cannot be a member of
congress, till the expiration ofseven years after his naturalization. An alien can exercise no politicalrights whatever; he cannot therefore vote at any political election, fillany
office, or serve as a juror. 6 John. R. 332. 4.-2. An alien has a right to acquire personal estate, make andenforce contracts in relation to the same - he is protected from
injuries,and wrongs, to his person and property, his relative rights and character;he may sue and be sued. 5.-3. He owes a temporary local allegiance, and his property
isliable to taxation. Aliens are either alien friends or alien enemies. It isonly alien friends who have the rights above enumerated; alien enemies areincapable, during the
existence of war to sue, and may be ordered out of thecountry. See generally, 2 Kent. Com. 43 to 63; 1 Vin. Ab. 157; 13 Vin. ab.414; Bac. Ab. h.t.; 1 Saund. 8, n.2; Wheat.
Dig. h.t.; Bouv. Inst. Index,h.t.
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