Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-04
TREATIES WITH FOREIGN POWERS.

gress the following treaties with
foreign powers have been proclaim
ed: A naturalization convention
with Denmark, a convention with
Mexico for renewing the claims
commission: a convention of friend
ship, commerce and extradition with
the Orange Free State, and natur
Convention with Ecuador.
l renew a Recommendation made
in my message of December, 1870,
that Congress authorize the Post
master General to iseue all commits
sions to officials appointed through
his department.
CONCERNING FOREIGN RESIDENTS.
Invite the earnest attention of
Congress to the existing laws of the
United States respecting expatria-
tion and eligibility of nationality by
individuals. Many citizens of the
United States reside permanently
abroad with their families. Under
the provisions of the act approved
February 10th, 1855, the children Of
such parents are to be deemed and
taken to be citizens of the United
States, but the rights of citizen
ship 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 forward a preten-
sion to the protection of the United
States against the claims of military
service of the Government under
whose protection they were. born
and have been reared In some cases
unnaturalized citizens of the United
States have returned to the land of
THEFT birth 70 remain there, and their
children, the issue of marriage con
tracted there after their return and
who have never been in the United
States, have laid claim to our pro
lection when the lapse of many years
have imposed upon them the duty of
military service to the only Govern
ment which had even known them
personally. Until the year 1868 it
was left embarrassed by conflicting
opins of courts and of jurists to de-
termiRe how far the doctrine of per
petual allegiance derived from our
former colonial relations with Grea,
Britain was applicable to American
citizens. Congress then wisely
swept these doubts away by enacting
that any declaration, instruction,
opinion, order or decision of any of
ficer of this Government which de.
nies, restricts, impairs or questions
the right Of expatriation is inconsis-
tent with the fundamental principal
of this Government. But Congress
did not indicate In that statue, mol
has it done so, what acts are to be
deemed to work extriation. Fol
my own guidance in determining
such questions required under the
provisions of the Constitution, the
opinion in writing of the principal
officer in each of the Executive De
partment upon certain questions re
lating to this subject, satisfies me
that further legislation has become
necessary. therefore commend the
subject to the careful consideration
of Congressman 1 transmit herewith
copies of the several opinions of the
principal officers of the Executive
Departments together with other
correspondence and prominent in.
formation on the same subject. The
United States, who led the way in
the overthrow of the feudal doctrine
of perpetual allegiance, are among
the last to indicate how their own
citizens may elect another nationali-
ty. The papers submitted herewith
indicate what is necessary to place
US on par with other leading nations
in ilberality of legislation on this in
ternational question. We have al
ready in our treaties assented to the
principles which would need be en-
bodied in laws intended to accomp-
lish such results. We have agreed
that the citizens ofthe United States
may cease to be citizens and may
voluntarily render allegiance to other
powers We have agreed that resi-
dence in foreign land without in
tent to return shall of itself work ex-
patriat on. We have agreed in some
instances upon the length of time
necessary for such intent. I invite
Congress now to mark out and de-
fine when and how expatriation can
be accomplished, to regulate by law
the condition of American wome n
marrying foreigners to fix the status
of children born In foreign country
Of American parents residing more
or less permanently abroad, and to
make rules for determining such
other kindred points as may seem
best to Congress.
THE SPANISH REPUBLIC.
In compliance with the request of
Congress / transmitted to the Amer
ican Minister at Madrid, with in
structions to present it to the Span
ish Government the joint resolutions
approved on the Sd of March INST,
rendering to the people of Spain, in
the name and on behalf of the
American people, the congratulations
of Congress upon the efforts to con
solidate in Spain the principles of
universal liberty in a republican
fol m of Government. The existence
of this new republic was inaugural
ed by striking the fetters from slaves
in Porto Rico. This benefcent
measure was followed by the release
of several thousand persons illegally
sold as slaves in China. Next the
Captain General of that colony was
deprived of the power in act aside
of the order of his superiors at Mad
rid which had pertained in the office
since 1926. All these liberal steps
were taken in the face of violent op
position directed by the reactionary
slave holders of Havana, who are
vainly striving to stay the march of
ideas which has terminated slavery
in Christendom.. Cuba only excep-
ted. Unhappily, however, this bane-
full influence has thus far succeeded
in defeating the efforts of all liberal
minded men in Spain TO abolish slav-
cry in Cuba, and in preventing the
promised reform in that Island. The
struggle forpolitical supremacy con-
tinuac Tho ,,ro elovorx, n p; cf ooroox,