Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-12-04

mittea against their persons or prop
erty during instruction. The recent
conference under the Treaty of Wash
| ington, was confined to claims of Brit
isG subjects. arising during the period
! named in the treaty, but the United
/ States Government understood that
there were other British claims
! of a similar nature, arising
after the ninth day of April
1864 and it is known that other claims
of like nature are advanced by citizens
or subjects OF other powers, ii is de.
| sirable to have these claims also exam
ined and disposed of.
Official information being received
the Dutch Govt, of state of war
between the King of the Netherlands
aud the Sultan of Acheen, the officers
of the United States who arc near the
seat Of war arc instructed TO observe
impartial neutrality.
The joint commission under conyen.
tion with Mexico Of 1868, having been
legally prolonged. has resumed its
business, which il is hoped will be
brought 10 an early conclusion.
The distinguished representative Of Her
Btitianic Majesty at Washington has kind
ly consented with the approval of his govt
to assume The arduous and responsible du-
tes OF umpire to the commission and to lend
the weight Of bis character and name to
such decision as may not receive the acquies.
cencc Of both the arbitrators appointed hy
the respective governments.
RAIDS On TEXAS.
'Eha f,f,o,u,;es ;n,a.s .o.,o;.t.l ,,,..,
susnt 10 the authority of Congress, to
examine into the nature and extent of
the forhys by trcsspassers from
Mexico upon the herds Of
Texas, have made report, which
vii! be- submitted for your considera-
ton.
VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
The Venezuelan government has
been appraised Of the sense of Con.
gress, in regard to the award of the
Joint Commission under the Conven-
ton OF the 25th of April, 1866, as ex-
pressed in the act of 25th February
last. It is apprchended that that govern
ment does not realize the character of its
obligations under the Convention. As there
is reason to believe, however, that its
hesitancy in recognising our claims
syringe, IN part at least, from real diff.
| ficulty in discharging them, in con-
!. nection with its obligations to other
governments, the expediency Of
further forbearance on our part lie be-
! lieved TO be worthy Of your considera-
ton.
The Ottoman Government and that
of Egypt have lately shown q disposi-
| ton to relieve foreign Consuls Of the
judicial powers, which, hereto
fore they have exercised in the
Turkish Dominions, byjorganizing 9th.
er tribunals. As Congress, however, has
by law provided for the discharge Of
judicial functions by consuls Of the
u. S., in that quarter, under the treaty
of 1880, i have not felt at liberty
formally to. accept ..at present q
change without the assent Of, Con-
gress. whose decision upon the sub.
| iect at as early period as may be con-
venient, is earnestly requested.
| herewith transmit for the con.
siderstion and determination of Con.
gress, an application of the Republic
of Santa Domingo, to this Govern
ment. to exercise a protectorate over
that Republic.
Since the adjournment of Congress
the following Treaties with foreign
powers have been proclaimed.
A naturalization convention with
Denmark, and convention with
Mexico, for prolonging the Claims Con-
mission, q convention of friendship,
| commerce and extradition, with the
Orange free States and a naturaliza-
ton convention with ECUADOR.
renew my recommendation, made
| in 1870, that Congress authorize the
Post Master General to issue all COM
missions to officials appointed through
his department.
| l invite the earnest attention Of
Congress to existing laws of the Unit
ed States respecting extradition aud
the olfgf6sffts or nacsonafft. to r;7srf :
| viduals.
Many citizens of the United States
reside permanently abroad with their
families. Under the provisions of the
act approved February 18th, 1866.
the children of such persons are to be
deemed and are citizens of the United
States ;sbut 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 within the United
States, have been enabled to put for
| ward claims to the protection of
the United States, against the claims
Of military service to the Government
under whose protection they were
born aud have been reared. In some
cases unnaturalized citizens of the
United States have returned to the
land of their birth TO remain there, and
their children, the issue of marriage
contracted there, after their re-
turn, who have never been in the
United States, have laid claim to our
protection and when they arrive at
years of maturity have imposed upon
them thcd uty of military service to
the only government which had ever
known them personally. Until the
year 1868 ID was left embarrassed by
the conflicting opinions of the courts
and of jurists TO determine how far
the doctrine Of perpetual Allegiance,
derived from our former colonial rela-
ti0ns with great Britain, was applica-
BILE to American citizens. Congress
then wisely swept the doubts away
by electing that any declaration, in
struction, opinion, order or decision
of any officer Of this Government
which denies, restricts, impairs or
( questions the right of expatriation
is Inconsistent with the fundamen.
tai principles Of this Government
but Congress did not indicate in that
statute, nor has it since done SO, what
acts are to be deemed to work expa-
triation. For my own guidance in de-
termining such questions I required
under the provisions of the constitu-
ton the opinions in writing of the
principal officers In each of the execu-
live departments upon certain ques-
tons relating to this subject; the re-
suit satisfies me that further
legislation has become necessary
I / therefore commend this subject TO
the careful consideration of Congress,
and transmit herewith copies Of the
several opinions Of the principal Off
cora of fhe Eyocntivc 1enarfrnants