The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-12-12

Febuary ~, 1880, the children ofsucl
persons are to be deemed and takeI
to be citizens of the United State
but the rights of citizenship are not u
Z descend to persons whose fathers new
| erTesided in the United States. L
thus happens that persons who have
resided within the United States have
been enabled to put forward preten
fsions to the protection of the United
States against the claims of military
J service Of the Government, under
whose protection they were born and
| have been reared. In some cases uu.
naturaHzed citizens Of the United
Estates have returned to the land OF
their birth to remain there, and their
children--ihe issue of marriage con-
tracted there, after their return, and
who have never been in the United
States--have laid claim to our protec.
tiop, when the lapse of many years
have imposed upon them the duty of
military service to the only govern
ment which has ever known them
personally. Until the year 1868 the
Government was left embarrassed by
conflicting opinions of Courts and Of
.jurists to determine how far the doc
trine Of perpetual allegiance derived
from our former colonial relations
with Great Britain was applicable to
American citizens, Congress then
wiselyswept the doubts away by cleo
ting that any declaration, instruction,
opinion, order or decision of any off
Ger of the Government which denies,
restricts, impairs or questions the
rights Of expiration is inconsistent
with the fundamental principle of this
Government; but Congress did not
indicate in that statute, nor has it since
done so, what acts are TO ne deemed
10 work expatriation. For my own
guidance in determining each question
required under the provisions OF the
Constitution, asked the opinion in
writing Of the principal officer of the
Executive department on certain
questions relating 70 this subject
| The result satisfies me that further
legislation has become necessary. /
therefore commend the subject to the
consideration OF Congress and l trans
nit herewith copies of the several
opinions of the principal officers Of the
Executive Departments, together
with other correspondence and infor-
nation on the same subject. The
United States, who led the way in the
overthrow Of the fearful doctrine of
perpetual allegiance, are among the
last 70 indicate how their own citizens
MAY elect another nationality The
papers submitted herewith indicate
what is necessary to take place as on
paf'with other leading nations on
this international question. We have
already in our treaties assented to
the principles which would need to be
embodied in the law intended to ac-
complish such results. 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 foreign land, without
intent to return, shall, of itself, work
expa' ration: and we have agreed in
some instances, upon the length OF
time necessary for such intent. l in
vite Congress now to mark out and
define when and how expatriation can
be accomplished, and to regulate by
law the condition of Americans mar
rying 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 kin
dred points as may seem best to Con
gress.
g. THE SPANISH RRPUBLIC.
In compliance with the request of
Congress | transmitted to the Ameri-
can Minister at Madrid, with instruc-
tions to present TO the Spanish Gov
ernment, the joint resolution approx
ed on the 3D. of last March, 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 liberyin re-
publican torn of Government. The
existence of this new republic was in
augarated by striking the letters from
slaves in Porto Rico.
THE SITUATION IN CUBA.
The beneficial measure was follow
ed by the release of several thousand
persons illegally held as slaves in Cuba.
Next the Captain General was depriv-
ed of the power to set aside the orders
,of his superiors at Madrid which had
pertained TO the office since 1852.
The sequestraied estates of Americans
which had been the cause of long and
frequent correspondence, was ordered
to be restored to their owners. All
these liberal steps were taken in the
face ofyiolent opposition directed by
the reactionary slave holders Of Ha-
vana, who are vainly striving TO stay
the march of ideas in the extermina-
ton of slavery. Unhappily in Cuba
this bad influence has thus far succeed
ed in defeating the efforts of all the
liberal-minded men in Spain to abol-
ish slavery there and in preventing
the promised reform in that island.
The struggle for political supremacy
continues, The proslavery aristocra.
cy in Cuba is gradually arraying itself
in more open hostility and defiance of
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
whenever such usurpation or defiance
tends in the direction of oppression or
the maintenance of abuses, il is still
power ID Madrid and recognized by
the Government. II is thus an ele.