The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-12-04

is known that other claims of g Ike
nature are advanced by citizens or
subjects of other powers, 1t is desilss-
BILE to nave these claims also examin=.
ed and disposed of. Official inforInaS
fion being received from the Dutch
government of state of war betw cen.
the King of the Netherlands and the
Sultan of Acheen. the officers of the
United States who were near the seat
of war, were Instructed to observe
an impartial neutrality. 1t is believed
that they have done so. The Joint
under the Convention OF
Mexico, Of 1865, having again been.
legally prolonged, has resumed its
business, which il is hoped may be
to an carly conclusion.
The distinguished representative of
her BrittaRic Majesty, at Washington
has kindly y consented, with the appEo-i
val of his government, TO assume the
ardnous and responsible duties of.
umpire in the ecommissi0n, and TO lend
the weight of his character and name
to such decisions as may not receive.
the acquiescence Of both the arbitra-,
tors appointed by the respective gov
ernmentss 5eg sos sHiaf27fF saE
The commissioners appointed pHr-s
suant to the authority of Congress, to
examine into the nature and extent of
the ferays made by trespassers from
the country upon the herds Of Texas
have made report which will be sub
mitted for your consideration. aia ~
The Venezuelan government ohas
been appfised of the sense of Gon-
gress in regard to the award of the
joint commission, under the -conFen-
VentiOn of April 26, 1866, as express
ed in the actsof February 25th, iasI.
1t is apprehended that that governs.
ment does not realiZestlle character of
its obligations under that conYen ton,
as there isfeason to balieze, however
that its hesitancy y.insFec0s 0snizing them.
springs in partial least from the real
difficulty in dischaFging them inscon4i
nectiOD whit! Obligations to other
governments and the expediency of
further forbearaneeT on our part is be-
lieved to be worthy of your consid-
eration- The Ottoman governments,
and that OF EgypkhaEe latferly shown
disposition to relieve foreign con-
suls OF the judicial powers which
heretofore they have exercised in the
Turkish domiuions, bys organizing
other tribunals. AS Congress- how
ever, has By law provided for the dis
charge of judicial functions by eonsuls
of the United States in that quarter
under the treaty of 1910, I have not
felt at liberty for many reasons, to ac-.
cept the present charge without the
assent of Congress, whose decision on
the subject, atlas early q period as
may be convenient, isaearnestly re-
r
sideration OF Congress, an application
of the Republic of Sauto Domingo to-
this government 10 exercise q apretec-
toralfover that Republic. se9 sls ga
Since the Adjournment OF Congress
the following treaties with foreign.
powers have been proclaimed !: "A
naturalization convention with Dem
mark a-conventiou with Mexico for
renewing the claims commission; a
convention of friendship, commerce
and extradition with the Orange free
state, and a naturalization convention
with Ecq y a9fi aais sa
Irenew a recommendation made
in my message or December, 1870,
that Congress authorize The Postmas-
ter Genefaf TO issue all commissions
to officials appointed through his de-
partment.2 fas5 = g
Invite The earnest attention of
Congress to the existing laws of the
United States respecting expatrtation
and eligibility of nationality by indi-
viduals. Many citizens of the United
States reside permanently abroad
with their families, under the proYis-
ions of the act approved February 10,
1886. Sfhe children of such persons.
are TO be deemed and taken to be cit
izens of the United States, but tbe
rights of citizenship do not descend to
persons whose fathers never resided
in the United States. Itthus happens
that persons who have never resided
in the United States have been enabled
to pnt forward a pretention to the pro-
lection of the United States agaiilst
the claim of military service of the
government under wIiese protection
they were born and h&xe been reared
In some cases dHnaturalized 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
return, and who have never been in
the United States, have laid claims to
our protection, when the lapse of
many years have imposed upon them
the duty Of military service to the
only government that has ever known
them personally. Until the year 1868
it was left Embarrassed BY conflicting
opinions of courts and of jnfists to
determine how far the doctrine OF
perpetual allegiance, derived from
our former colonial relations with
Great Britain, were applicable to
American citizens. Congress then
wisely swept these doubts away by
enacting that any declaration. ihstruc-
tioir, opinion, order or deeision,. oi
any officer Of this government which
denies, restricts, impairs or questions
the rightof expatriatfon, is inconsist-
e1t with the fundamental principles
Of this government. But Congress
did not.indicate in that sfatuta, nor
has it since done so, what acts are to
be deemed to work expatritioh, for
my. own guidance in determining
such questions required. under the
provisions of the constitution the
opinioii in writing of the principal
officer. In each of the departments
upon certain questions relating to this
subject. The result satisfies me thai
! further legislation has become neces
sary. / therefore commend the sub
! jec; to the careful consideration Of
Congress, and transmit herewith
COPIES OF the several opinions of the
principal leficefsaofeth the executive de-
partments, together with other cor
respondence and prominent informa-
lion on the same subject, The. United
States, who led the1 way to the over
| throw of the Teudat doctrine of per-
petual allegiance, are among the 1asl
10 indicate how thefE own. citizens
may elect another nationality.
The papers submitted herewith in
dicate what is necessary TO place us
on a par with other leading nations n
iiberaIity of legislation on this inter
national question. We have already
IN our treaties assented 10 the princi-
pies which would need to be enbodi.
ed in laws intended TO accomplish sucl
results. We have agreed that citizen;
of the United States may cease to bt
ond fSaosr rrolai,afor.fl fltyt ron 10,