Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-12-09

discharged duties requiring great laOol
aud constant patience 10 the SaIIStaction'
believe of both governments.
| recommend legislation TO create
special court. To consist of three judges,
vho shall bc emp wcred to hear and de
termine all claims of aliens upon the
United States. arising from acts committed
against their persons or property curing
the inSurrectiou. Tn recent references
under the treaty of Washington VAS con-
fined To claims of British subjects arising
during the period named ia the treaty
but il i also understood that there are
other British claims of sim lar nature.
arising after the 9th oi April, 1860. aud II
is known that there are other claims oi Il
like nature. advanced by citizens "r sub
icctS of other powers. II iS desirable To
have these claims also examined aud dis
posed OF.
THE ACHEEN WAR.
Official information i bcin. received
from the Dutch government oi state oi
war between ihc King ut the Netherlands
and the sultan of Acbccu. The officers
OF the United States who were near the
seat at the war. were instructed To oh
serve au impartial neutrality. IL j. be-
lirvcl that they have done So.
OUR RELATIONS WITH MENICu.
The Join, commission under the couVcu-
lion with Mexico of lSGS has again been
legally prolonged and has resumed -
bu,,.r,, which it i >hoped may be- brought
.n..,.. early conclusion. The distinguished
representative of Her Britannia Majesty
a. Washington has kindly consented, With
the approval OF his government. 10 assume
the ar,luuus and responsible duties OF um-
pirc m tins commission and Ia lend the
weight ui his character and name 10 such
decisions ~ may not receive the acluir>-
cucc ui both the arbItra;or> appointed hN
thr respective governments.
The commissioners appoi ted pursuant
tu thc authority ot Congress 10 examine
into the nature and extent at the torayN ol
trr>pa>>rrS from that country up"" the
herds ot Texas. have made report. " Which
will Dee submitted for your consideration.
Tir CONVENTION WITH NENEZt ELA.
The Venezuela government has been
apprizrd of the >cu>c of Congress iu tc-
..lrd 20 the award of the joint commission
under The convention of the 18th of April.
lSCG. a. expressed u the act of the 2jih OF
February last IL Is apprchcndcd that
the government duc> not realize The
character ofuS obligations under that con-
Veniiou There i reason 10 bcli,vc. how
ever. ,hat it> hc>uaucy n recognizing
them springs iu part at least from real
difficulty iu dj>ch5r.iuL them Ia conuec-
lion with it, obligations 90 other govern
mcu', The cNpcdieucy of further Tor
bcaraucc ON our part l. believed To be-
worthy OF your consideration.
TIE POWERS OF CoN>ULS IN THE TURK
ISL pOMINIoNs.
Tie Ottoman government and that 81
Egypt have lately shown disposition To
rrli-v, foreign cou>ul- OF the judicial pow
cps which heretofore they have exercised
n the Turkish dominion by organizing
other tribunals. ~ Congress. however.
has by law provided for the discharge OF
judicial functions hy CouSul> ot The Onrtd
states in that quarter. under the treaty CT
1880. | have not felt ready formally q" ac-
ccpi the proposed change without the ~
sent of Congress. vi o>e decision upon the
subject at as early aperiod aS may be con-
yeuicut i earnestly requested.
>ANro poMIS0o ASKS FOR \ PROTECTOR
ATE.
transmit herewith for the cou,idcra-
ti0u and determination 81 Congress AN
application ot the republic of S"ut" DO
miugo for this government 70 exercise Il
prutectoTdte over that republic.
TREATIES Win FOREIGN POWERS.
Since the adjournment Of Congre., the
following treaties with foreign powers
have been proclaimed: q naturalization
convention with Denmark. a convention
with Mexico for renewing the claims COM
mission: a convention ot friendship, COM
mcrcr and tradition with the Orange Free
states: and a naturalization convention
with Ecuador.
TRANSMISSION OF COMMISSIONS.
\ recommendation made in my message
OF December. 1870, that Congress author. r.
ize the Postmaster General 10 issue all
commissions to officials appointed thrv ugh
his department i, renewed.
TIE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
Invite the earnest attention of Congress
10 the existing laws of the United States
re,pectin. eNpatriation and tile election
of nationality by individuals. Many CIT
izenS OF the United States reside perma-
nenlly abroad with their families. by the
provisions OF the act approved February
lOih. 1865. the children of such persons
are 10 be deemed aud taken to be citizens
Of the United States. but the rights OF cit
izenShip are not 10 descend 10 persons
whose fathers never resided la the United
States. II thus happens that persons VINO
hay, never resided in the United States
have been enabled 10 put forward pre-
teniion TO the protection OF the United
States against the claim of military SER
vice of the government under whose pro-
lection they were born and have been
reared la some cases naturallZed citi-
z.ns of the United States have returned
10 the land OF their birth with the intent
10 remain there. and their children. the
issue of Il marriage contracted there after
their return, and who have never been IN
the United States, have laid claim to our
protectian when the lapse of many years
have imposed upon them the duty OF milf
tary service 10 the Ouly government which
had ever known them personally. Until
the year 1865 il was left embarrassed by
the conflicting opinions OF courts and OF
justices 10 determine how far the doctrine
OF perpetual allegiance derived from our
former colonial relations with Great Brl-
tain was applicable to American citizens,
Congress wisely swept these doubts away
by enactlng that any declaration, instruc-
ton. opinion, order or decision of any Of
ticer of this government which denies. re-
,tricts, impairs or questions the right OF
expatriation. is inconsistent with the fun
damental principles of the government :;
but Congress did not indicate in that stat
ute. nor has it since. which acts are TO be
deemed the work of eXpatriation.
For my own guidance in determining
such questions, required under the proyl-
sion OF the constitution. the opinion IN
writing of the principal officer in each OF
executive departments upon certain ques-
,ions relating to this subject. The result
satisfied me that further legislation has
become necessary. therefore commend