Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-12-11


many years has imposed upon them
tue duty of military service to the
only government which had ever
known them personally. Until the
year 1858, it was left embarrassed by
conflicting opinions of courts and iu
rlsts TO determine how far the doctrine
of perpetual allegiance derived from
our former colonial relations with
Great Britain was applicable to Amer
lean citizens. Congress then wisely
swept these doubts away by enacting
that any declaration, instruction, opin.
ION, order, or decision of any officer
OF this government, which denies, re-
stricts, impairs, or questions the right
Of expatriation is inconsistent with
tie fundamental principles of this gov
ernment. But, Congress did not enact
IN that statute nor has it since done
SO, what acts are to be deemed to work
eNpatriation For my own guidance
IN determining such questions arising
under the provisions of the Constitu
ton, | have used the opinion in writ
ing of the principal officer in each Of
the executive departments, upon GER
tain questions relating to this subject.
The result satisfies me that further
legislation has become necessary.
therefore commend the subject TO the
consideration of Congress, and l
transmit herewith copies of the sever
al opinions of the principal officers of
tue executive departments, together
with other correspondence and promi-
nent information on the same subject.
The United States, who lei the way in
the overthrow of the feudaI doctrine
Of perpetual allegiance, are among the
last to Indicate how their own citizens
may elect another nationality. The
papers submitted herewith indicate
what is necessary to place us on par
with other leading nations in liberali
ty Of legislation on this international
question. We have already in our
treaties assented to the principles
which would need to be embodied in
laws intended to accomplish suca re-
suits. We have agreed that citizens
Of the United States may cease to be
citizens, and may voluntarily render
allegiance TO other powers. We have
agreed that residence in a foreign land,
without intent to return, shall of itself
fork expatfiation,. We have agreed
IN SO me. inst aTGGes> uponx the length OF
tine. nee eessarN f6E, such. intent. I in
vite G@ngTgsk st6c77m x out and define
when and hslS:F X Pal triali6A. can be>ao-
.complished to reg11ste s9y :law the
condition of American sAsora eI1:~ m arrY
|: :ing. foreigners; to fix 'ttfa:sSgtatuS o f
children born in a foreign country of
American parents residing more OF;
1ess, permanently abroad; and to fix
rules for~determintng SUCH other kim
Tdred points as may seem best to Con
gress.
THE CONGRATULATIONS TO SPAIN.
In compliance with the request of
Congress, transmitted to the Ameri
can Minister at Madrid, with instIuc
tions to present it to the Spanish gov
crnment, the joint resolution approved
on the Sd OF March last, rendering to
the people of Spain, in the name and
on behalf Of the American people, the
cong ng:atulations of Congress upon the
efforts to consolidate in Spain the
principles of universal liberty in a re
publican form Of government. The eX
istance of this new republic was in
augrSted by striking the fetters from
slaves in Porto Rico. The heneficent
measure was followed by the release
of several thousand persons illegally
sold as slaves in Cuba. Next the
CAPTAIN General Of that colony was
! deprived Of the power to set aside the
orders of his superiors at Madrid,
which had pertained to tue Office since
1925. The sequestered estates of
American citizens, which had been the
cause of long and frequent CORES
pondence, were ordered to be restored
to their owners. All these liberal
steps were taken in the face of violent
opposition, directed by the reactiona
ry Shareholders Of Havana, who are
vainly striving to stay the march of
ideas which have terminated slavery
in Christendom, Cuba only excepted,
| Unhapyily, however, this baneful influ
ence has thus far succeeded in defeat
ing the efforts of all liberal minded
men i'll Spain, TO abolish slavery in
Cuba, and in preventing the promised
reform in that island. The struggle
for political snpremancy still contin-
ues.
The prosiavery- arlstocracy in Cuba
is gradually arraigning itself in more
and more open hostility and defiance
of the home government, while it still
maintains po litical connection witt
the republic in the peninsula, and al
though usurping and defying the au
thority of the home government, when
ever such usurpation or defiance
| Il; aP
or of the maintenance of proslavery
abuses, it is still power in Madrid
and recognized by the government.
Thus an element more dangerous tC
r continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which in
; spired the insurrection at Yara, al
: element opposed to granting any re
lief from misrule and abuse. with nt
aspirations after freedom, command
ing no sympathies in generous breasts
aiming to rivet still stronger the shack
les of slavery and oppression, it ha
seized many of the emblems of powe
. in Cuba, and, under professions O
- LOYALTY to the mother country, is ex
haustng the resources of the island
u = and is doing acts which are at varianc
! with those principles of justice, of lib
erty, and of right, which give nobilit
} of character to a republic. In the in
{ terests of humanity, of civilization
} and of progress, it is to be hoped ths
{ this evil influence may be averted.
THE VIRGINIUS.
e The steamer Virginins was on I'll
e Goth day of September, 1870, duly res
d istered at the port Of New York as