Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-12-05
A SPECIAL COURT RECOMMENDED.

recommend legislation 10 create
special court, to consist Of thrce judges,
who shall be empowered to hear and
determine all claims OF aliens upon the
United States, arising out Of acts COM
mitted against their persons or property
during the insurrection.
The recent reference under the Trea-
ty OF Washington was confined to
claims of British subjects arising during
the period named In the treaty, but 1t
is understood that there are other Brit
ish claims of o similar nature arising
after the 9th of April, 1865, and 1t Is
known that other claims of like ma
ture are advanced by citizens OF other
powers. 1t Is desirable to have these
claims also examined and disposed OF.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Official information being received
from the Dutch Government of state
of war between the king Of the Meth
erlands and the sultan of Atchene, the
near the seat Of wer were instructed to
observe an impartial neutrality. 1t is
believed that they have done go.
AFFAIRS WITH MEXICO.
The joint commission, under the con-
vention with Mexico in 1868, having
again been legally prolonged, has re.
will be brought to an early conclusion.
The distinguished representative of
Her Britannia Majesty at Washington
has kindly consented, with the approv-
al of his Government, TO assume the
arduous and responsible duties of UNI
pire In this commission, and to lend the
weight of his character and name to such
decisions as may not receive tho acqui-
escencs of both the arbitrators ap7oint.
| cd by the respective governments.
The commission appointed pursuant
| into the nature and extent of the forays
by trespassers from that country upon
| the herds of Texas have made q report,
which will be submitted d for your consiG-
Grafton.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Tho Vene zuelan Government has been
apprlsed Of the sense of Congress in re-
gard to the awards of the joint COM
mission under the convention OF the
25th of April, 1866, as expressed in the
act of the 25th of February last. 1t
is apprehended that that Government
does rot realize the character Of its obli-
cations under that convention. AS there
is reason to believe, however, that its
hesitancyin recognizing them springs in
part at least from real difficulties in dis
|
! obligations to other Governments, the
eXpediency of further forbearance on
our part is believed to be worthy ofyour
consideration.
The Ottoman Government, and that
of Egypt, have lately showed DISPOSE
tion to relieve foreiga consuls of the u
dicial powers which heretofore they
have exercised in the Turkish dOmin-
ions by organizing other tribunals. AS
Congress, however, has by law provided
for the discharge of judicial functions
BIZ consuls of the United States in that
quarter under the treaty of 1880, / have
not felt at liberty formally to accept the
proposed change without the assent of
Congress, whose decision upon the sub
ject at as early period as may be con-
venient is earnestly requested.
1 transmit, herewith, for the consid-
Grafton and determination OF Congress
an application of the Republic of Santo
Domingo 20 this Government to exer-
cise protectorsto over that Republic.
Since the adjournment of Congress
the following treaties with foreign
powers have been proclaimed A natu.
raliZation convention with Denmark, a
convention with Mexico for renewing
the claims commission, q convention of
friendship. commerce and extradition
with the Orange free States, and natu-
rali2ation convention with Ecuador.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
/ renew the recommendation made in
my message of December, 1870, that
Congress authorize the Postmaster Gen.
eral to issue all commissions to officials
appointed through his department.
EXPATRIATloN, &C.
1 invite the earnest attention of Con-
gress TO the existing laws of the United
States respecting expatriation and the
election Of nationality by individuals.
Many citizens Of the United States re-
side permanently abroad with their
families. Under the provisions Of the
act approved February 10, 1855, the chill.
dren of such persons are to be deemed
and taken to be citizens of the United
, States, bat the rights of citizenship are
not to descend to persons whose fathers
never resided in the United States.
1t thus happens that persons who
have never resided in the United States
, have been enabled to put forward pre-
tension to the protection of the United
States against the claims to military
, services Of the Government under who's,
, protection they were born and have
been reared. In some cases even natur
allied citizens of the United States hav,
returned to the land of their birth with
the intention to remain there, and thei
children, the issue of a marriage con
tracted in foreign land, and who hav,
: never been in the United States, hav,
laid claims to our protection wheI
their residence OF many years had i'm
posed upon them the duty of military
service to the only Government which
had ever known them personally.
Until the year 1858 1t was left embar
rassed by conflicting opinions of court
and of iurists to determine how far tn,
doctrines of perpetual allegiance deriv
ed from our former colonial relation
with Great Britain were applicable I,
American citizens. Congress thel
, wisely swept those doubts away by en-
: acting that any declaration of instruc
tion or opinion, order or decision of an,
officer OF this government, which re
stricts, impairs or questions the right O
( eXpatriatiop, is inconsistent with tn
> fundamental principles Of this Govern
+ in that statute, nor has 1t since done so
( what acts are 10 be deemed to work eX
I patriation.
For my own guidance III Determining
8 such questions have required under tn
provisions of the Constitution, the opin
( ion in writing of the principal officer il
} each of the executive departments upol
( certain questions relating to the subject
, The result satifies me that further legis
9 lation has become necessary. | there
\ fore commend the subject to the careful
4 consideration OF Congress, and trans
0 NIT herewith copies OF the sewers
i. opinions of the principal officers Of til
Executive Department, together wit
( other correspondence and pertinent IN
0 formation OH the samesublect.
4 | IT.,tk ..,l. IL