The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-12-12
further legislation has become necessa-

~.
therefore commend the subject to the
careful consideration of Congress, and
transmit herewith copies of the several
opinions of the principal officers of the
executive departments, together with
other correspondence and pertinent in
formation on the same subject. The
United States, who led the way in the
overthrow of the feudal doctrine of per-
petual allegiance, are among the last to
indicate how their own citizens may
elect another nationality. The papers
submitted herewith indicate what is nee
essary to place us on a par with other
leading natioss in liberality of legisla-
ton 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
such results We have agreed that citi-
zens 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,
work expatriation. We have agreed, in
some instances, upon the length of time
necessary for such intent. | invit Con-
gress to mark out and define when and
how expatriation can be accomplished;
to regulate by law the condition of
American women marrying foreigners;
to fix the status of children born in a
foreign country Of American parents re-
siding more or less permanently abroad,
and to make rules for determining such
oher kindred points as may seem best
/ to Congress.
THE SPANISH REPUBLIC-ABOLITIo OF
SLAVERY.
In compliance with the request of
! Congress, / transmitted to the American
Minister at Madrid, with instructions to
present it to the Spanish government,
the joint resolution approved on the Sd
of March last, rendered to the people of
Spain, in the name and on behalf of the
American people, the congratulations of
| Congress- upon the efforts to consolidate
in Spain the principles of universal lib
erty in a republican form of govern
ment. The existence of this new Re
public was inaugurated by striking the
! fetters from the slaves in Porto Rico.
| This munificent measure was followed
by the release of several thousand per-
sons illegally held 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 the office since
/ 1925. The sequestered estates of Amer
of long and fruitless correspondence,
were ordered to be restored to their own
ers, and these liberal stepts were taken
in the face of violent opposition, direct
ed by the reactionary slave holders OF
Havana, who are vainly striving to stay
the march of ideas which has termina-
ted slavery in christendom, Cuba only
excepted. Unhappily, however, this
baneful influence has thus far succeeded
in defeating the efforts of all liberal
minded men in Spain to abolish slavery
in Cuba, and in preventing the promised
reform in that island The struggle fol
political supremacy continues there. The
pro-slavery and aristocratic party in
Cuba is gradually arraying itself in more
and more open hostility and defiance oi
the home Government, while it still
maintains a political connection with
the Republic in the peninsula, and al
though usurping and defying the au
thority of the home government, when
ever such usurpation or defiance tends
in the direction of oppression or of th'
maintenance of abuses, it is still pow
er in Madrid, and is recognized by the
Government. Thus an element more
ungenerous to confined colonial rela
, ton between Cuba and Spain than tina
which inspired the insurrection at Var
aw, an element opposed to granting am
relief from misrule and abuse; with n,
aspiration after freedom; cOmmandin.
sympathies in generous breasts; aiming
l to rivet still stronger the shackles o
D slavery and oppression, has seized man.
e of the emblems of power in Cuba, ant
under professions of loyalty to tn
mother country, is exhausting the re
sources of the island and is doing act
which are at variance with those prin
: ciples of justice, of liberty and of righ
, which give nobility of character to
9 republic In the interests of humanity
of civilization and of progress, it is t
. be hoped that this evil influence may
n soon averted.
THE CASE OF THE VIRGINIUs.
The steamer Virginius was, on til
o 26th day of September, 1873, duly regis
# tered at the port of New York as a pal
: of the commercial marine of the Unite
s States. On the 4th of October, 1877
having received the certificate of he
register in the usual legal form, she sal
# ed from the port of New York, and HI
not since been within the territori;
l. Jurisdiction of the United States. O
d the 21st day of October last, while sal
he ing under the flag of the United Stat
s. on the high seas, she was forcibly seize
e. by the Spanish gunboat Tornado, an
l. was carried into the port of Santiago
ct Cuba, where many of her passengers ar
l. crew were instantly and, so far at lea
ID as relates to those who were citizens
d the United States, were without due pr
re cess of law put to death. 1t is a wei
rs established principle, insisted upon
1t the United States from the beginning
v their national independence, recognize
We by Great Britain and other martin
On powers, and stated by the Senate in
es resolution passed unanimously on t
to 10th Of Jnne, 1858, that American vC
" sells on the high seas in time of peaC
he bearing the American flag, remain und
by the jurisdiction of the country to whi
u they belong, and therefore any visit