The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-11

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British subjects, arising during the pc
riod named In the treaty, but It is un
dsrstood there are other British claims
of a similar nature arising after the 9th
of April, 1865, and it is known that
other claims of a like nature are ad-
vanced by the citizens or subjects of
other powers. It is desirable to have
these claims also examined and disposed
of.
OUR ANTIPODEs.
Official information being received
from the Dutch government of a state
of war between the king of the Neither
lands 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. It is
believed that they have done so.
MEXICAN MARAUDERs.
The Joint commission under the treaty
with Mexico of 1866, having again been
legally prolonged, has resumed its bust
ness, which it is hoped may be brought
to an early conclusion. The distin-
guished representative of her Britanic
majesty at Washington has kindly con-
sented, with the approval of his gov
! ernment, to assume the arduous and
responsible duties of umpire in this
commission, and to lend the weight of
his character and name to such decisions
as may not receive the acquiescence of
both the arbitrators appointed by the
| respected governments. The commits
siOners appointed subject TO the author
| ity of congress to examine into the
nature and extent of the forays by tres
passers from that country upon the
herds of Texas, have made a report,
which will be submitted for your con-
sideration.
| A VENEZUELAN HITCH.
The Venezuelan government has been
/ apprised of the sense of congress in re-
| gard to the award of the joint commits
| sion under the convention of the 25th
of April, 1866, as expressed in the act
of the 25th of February last. It is ap-
| pretended that the government does
not realize the character of its obliga
| tions under that convention. As there
| Is reason to believe, however, that its
! hesitancy In recognizing them spring in
| part, at least, from a real difficulty in
! discharging them in connection with its
| obligations to other governments, the
expediency of further fOrbearance on
our part is believed to be worthy of
! your consideration.
THE TURK.
The Ottoman government and that of
! Egypt have latterly shown disposition
! W 4CA4ONS lOIC1Bu COuSuAS VI blb
powers which heretofore they have ex-
ercised in the Turkish dominions, by
organizing other tribunals. As CON
gIess, however, has by law provided for
the discharge of judicial functions by
consuls of the United States in that
quarter, under the treaty of 1890,
have not felt at liberty formally to
accept the present change without the
assent OF congress, whose decision upon
the subject, at as early a period as may
be convenient, is requested.
sANTo DOMINGO.
transmit herewith for your consider !
alton and determination of congress an |
application of the republic of San Do |
mingo to this government to exercise |
a protectOrate over that republic. Since |
the adjournment of congress the follow |
ing treaties with foreign powers have |
been proclaimed A naturalization |
convention with Denmark, a conven-
tiOn with Mexico for renewing the |
claims commissions, a convention of |
friendship, commerce and extradition /
with the Orange free States, and a |
naturalization convention with Ecuador. |
PosTSIAsTERs OOsIstIssloEss
l renew a recommendation made in |
my message OF Decembsr, 1870, that /
congress authorize the postmaster-gen-
appointed through his department.
ABsENTEEIsAI
l invite the earnest attention of con-
gress to the existing laws of the United
States, respecting expatriation or the
selection of nationality by individuals.
Many citizens of the United States re-
side permanently abroad with their
families. Under the provisions of the
act approved Feb. 10th, 1855, the chill
dren of such persons are to be deemed
and taken to be citizens of the United
States, but the rights of citizenship are
not to descend to persons whose fathers
never resided in the United States. It
thus happens that persons who have
never resided within the United States
have been enabled to put forward pre-
tension to the protection OF the United
States against the claim of military
service of the government under whose
protection they were born aud have
been cared. In some cases unnatural.
lied citizens of the United States have
returned to the land of their birth to
remain there, and their children, the
issue of a marriage contracted there
after their return, and who have never
been in the United States, have laid
claim to our protection when the lapse
of many years have imposed upon them
the duty of military service to the only
government which had ever known them
personally. Until the year 1868 it was
left embarrassed by conflicting opinions
of courts and jurists, TO determine how
far the doctrine of perpetual allegiance
derived from our former colonial rela-
tions with Great Britian was applicable
to American citizens. Congress then
wisely swept these doubts away by en-
acting that any declaration, instruction,
opinion, order or decision of any officer
of this government which denies, re-
stricts, impairs or questions
THE RIGHT OF REPATRIATION,
is inconsistent with the fundamental
principle of this government. But con-
gress did not enact in that statute, nor
has 1t since done so, what acts are to be
deemed TO work expatriation. For my
own guidance IN determining such ques-
tiOns, I required, under the provisions
of the constitution, the opinion in writ
ing'Of the principal officer in ca h of the
executive departments upon certain
questions relating to this subject. The
result satisfies me that further legisla-
tion has become necessary. I therefore /
commend the subject to the cOnsidera-
ton of congress. / transmit herewith |
copies of the several opinions of the /
principal officers of the executive de- |
partments, together with other CORES
pondenee and prominent information on
the same subject. The United States,
who led the way in the overthrow of the J
feudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance,
are among the last to indicate how their
own citizens may elect another national
ity. The papers submitted herewith in
dicate what is necessary to place us on
q par with other leading nations In lib 4
erality of legislation on this internation- ,
al question. We have already in our :
treaties assented to the principles which !
need to be embodied IN laws intended :
10 accomplish such results We have :
agreed that citizens of the United J
States may cease to be citizens, may !
resume allegiance TO other I
powers. We have agreed that residence
ia a foreign land without intent to re- :
.urn, shall of itself work expatriation.
Ne have agreed In some instances upon
he length of time necessary for such +
ntent I invite congress 70 mark ,1uf ! !.