American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-16

rule which classes him as a billigerent, i
whose behalf the Government of his coun
try cannot express any privileges or i'm
munities distinct from that character.
regret to say, however, that such claim
have been put forward, and in some in
stances in behalf of foreigners who hay
lived in the United States the greater par
of their lives. There is reason to believ,
that many persons born in foreign eoun
tries, who have declared their intention
to become citizens, or have been fully nat
urahzed have evaded the military dut,
required of them by denying the fact, ane
thereby throwing upon the Government
the burden of proof.
/ 1t has been found difficult or impracti
cable to obtain this proof from the want
of guides to the proper sources of infor
nation. These might be supplied by re.
| quiring the clerks of courts, where decla-
rations of intentions may be made or nat
uralizations effected, to send, periodically,
lists Of the names of persons naturalized
or'of those declaring their intention to be-
come citizens, to the Secretary of the In
terror, in whose department these names
must be arranged and printed for general
information. There is also reason to be-
lieve that foreigners frequently become
citizens of the United States for the sole
purpose of evading the duties imposed by
the laws of their native country, to which,
in becoming naturalized here, they at once
repair; and, though never returning to the
United States, they still claim the inter-
position of the Government as citizens.
Many alterations and great prejudices
have heretofore arisen out of this abuse
It is, therefore, submitted to your serious
consideration. 1t might be advisable to
fix limit beyond which no citizen Of the
United States, residing abroad, may claim
the interposition Of his Government. The
right of suffrage has often been assumed
and exercised by aliensunder pretencos of
naturalization, which they have disavowed
when drafted into the military service. i
submit the expediency of such amond-
ment of the laws as viii make the fact of
voting an estopplc against any plea Of cx-
emption from military service, or other
civil obligation, on grounds of alionage.
In common with other Western Powers
our relations with Japan have been brought
into serious jeopardy through the perverse
opposition of the hereditary aristocracy
to the enlightened and liberal policy of
the Tycosn, designed to bring the coun-
try into the society of nations. 1t is to
be hoped, although not with confidence,
that these difficulties may be peacefully
overcome. | ask your attention to the
Minister residing there for the damages
he sustained in the destruction, by fire, of
the residence of the legation at Yeddo.
Satisfactory arrangements have been
made with the Emperor of Russia, which
it is believed will result in effecting a CON
tinuous line of telegraph to that empire
from our Pacificcoast. recommend toyour
favorable. consideration the subject of an
international telegraph across the Atlantic
Ocean, and also of a telegraph between
this capital and International forts along the
Atlantic seabord and the Gulf of Mexico.
Such connections established, with any
reasonable outlay, would be economical as
well as effective aids to diplomatic, militia
ry and naval service. g
The consular systems Of the United
States, under the enactments of the last
Congress, begins tobe self-sustaining, and
there is reason to hope that it may become
entirely so with the increase Of trade,
which will ensue whenever peace is restor-
ed. Our ministers abroad have been faith
full in defending American rights. In
protecting our commercial interests our
consuls have necessarily had to encounter
increased labors and responsibilities grow
ing outof the war. These they have met.
and for the most part discharged with
zeal and efI,e;ancv This acknowl.,1o