American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-13

been enabled 10 put forward pretcnsion TO the
protection of the United States against the claim
| OF military service of the Government. under
whose protection they We're born and have been
! reared. In some cases uunaturaliZcd citizens of
the United States have returned the land of
their birth 10 remain rher. and their children the
Issue of u marriage contracted there after their
turn, and who hive never been In the United
States. have laid claim to their protection, when
the lapse of many years have imposed upon them
the duty of military service TO the only Govern
ment which had ever known them personally.
Unifi the year 1865 il was left embarrassed by the
| conflicting opinions of courts and jurisls to de-
| tcrminc how far the doctrine Of perpetual
alieSiance derived from our former C"ohiti reli
tons with Great Britain was applicable TO Ameri-
can citizens. Congress then wisely swept the
strucion o inion, order or decision of any officer
of this Government. which denies. restricts i'm
pairs or questions the right of expairiation is in
consistent with The fundamental principles OF lhl-
Government: but Congress did not indicate in that
statute, nor has it since done what acts a.c 10
| be deemed 10 work eNpatriation For my own
guidance in determining. such questions required.
under the provisions q thr Constitution. the
| in each of the Executive departments upon
certain questions relating 10 this sub
iect. The result satisfies me that further lcgi-ia-
lion has become nc c,ssary l therefore commend
the subject to the careful consdcra ion of Con-
.-ress and transmit herewith copies of the several
opinions Of the principal Officers OF the Executive
Departments. together vi h other correspondence
AVID perlincnt information ON the same subject.
throw of The feudal doctrine of perpetual allcgi-
ance, are among the last 10 indicate how their own
submitted herewith indicate what is necessary
10 place Us on n par with other leading
international question. We have already in our
treaties assonted to the principles which would
need to he embodied in laws intended to accom-
plish such results. We have agreed that citizens
of the United States cease TO be citizens. and
may voluntarily render allegiance to other powers
We have agreed that Residence in a foreign lard
Without intent to return shall Of itself work e~pa
trction. We have agreed. in some instances, upon
the length of time necessary for such intent i in
and how expatrlation can he accomplished TO regu-
late by law The condition of American women
marrying foreigners. fix the status of children
BIO IN in a foreign country of American parents re-
siding more or less permanently abroad and TO
make rules for determining such other kindred
points may seem best to Congress.
REPUBLIC OF SPAIN
In compliance with the request of Congress |
transmitted 10 the American Minister at Madrid,
wit instructions 10 present il to the spanish Gov
eminent. the joint resolution approved on the ID
of March last rendering to the people OF Spain, in
the And on beh If OF the American pee pie,
the congratulate ions of Congress upon the eH'.rts
10 cons daie in Spain the prins piles of universal
liberty in Il republican form of government The
existence of This new Republic naugurat. d
by sinking the fetters from the slaves in Porto
Rico This beDefcent measure followed by
the release of several thousand persons Illegally
sold az e.,a slaves in Caba co Mt the
deprived of the power to set aside the
tanned to the Office since Is .5 The sequestered
estates IF American citizens, which had been The
cause of long and frequent CORE pondence were
liberal >teps were taken in the face Of Violent OPP
position, direct ed by the racionary shareholders
he march of IDEAS thar has terminated sla-
very in Christendom. Cuba only excepted.
Unhappiiy. however, this haneful influence has
thus tar succeeded in defeating the effort of
all liberal minded men in Spain To aboli-h
slavery in Cuba, and IN preventing the
gle for political supremacy continues The pro-
saver aristocracy in Cuba Is gradually arrayiug
iSef Ill more ana more open hostility add den tncc
of the home Government, while il sill maintain
political connection with the Republic in the
peninsula. and al hough usurping and defying the
thorIty Of The home Government whenever such
uSurpaiun defiance tends in tht. direction Of OPP
preston of the maintenance of abuses is -iill
power in Madrid and recognized by the Govern
ment-tbus forming an element more dangerous
to the continued colonial relations belweea
the insui rection ut farra. An ele;ieut opposed
to grant.'s any reli=f from rnisruie and abuse,
sympn thies in generous breasts, aiming to rivet
still stronger the shackle of -lavery aud opprcs
sion has seized many of the emblem OF power in
Cuba. and under professions of loyalty TO the
mother country is exhausting the Resources of the
with those principle, OF justice, Hheialty and
right which give nobility If character a Re
lion and Of progress il il to be hored hat this eyi,
influence may b. soon avetted.
THE viI,iiNIts DIFFICULTY.
The steamer Nirsinius was, on the 26th day of
September, Isl duly registered at the pore of
New York Us part Of the numerical marine OF
having the certificate of her register in the usual
|, sal form she sailed from the port Of New York,
aud has not since been within ih. terri oral iuris
diciun of tn United State-. On the 3lst of Octo-
Der last while sailing underline flag of the United
States the high she forcihly seized by
into The port of Santiago dc Cuba where many
of her Passengers and crew were inhumanely,
were citizens of the United States, without due
process Of law. put TO deaIh. 1t is welI-esiab-
1i-hed principle. Asserted by the United States
from the beginning of national independence, rec
ognIzed by Great Britain and other maritime pow
unanimously on the 10Th of June, 1853, that Amer
lean vessels the high seas. in time Of peace.
bearing the American flag, remain under the ju,is-
di'tion Of the country TO which they belong. |
ton. or detention of sucn vessels
s15cs @m Of & soverenn Of he oT United
States. In accordance with this principle. The |
restoration of the Virgnin. and The surrender of
the survivors of her Passengers and crew. and a |
due reparation 10 the nag and the punishment Of |
the authorities who had been guilty of the Illegal
acts of violence, were demanded. The Spanish |
Government has recognized the justice of The de
nand- and has arranged for the immediate dcliv-
vivor- OF the -en@ers and crew, and for salute
10 the Nag. ard for proceedings looking to the |
been gully of Illegal acls of violence toward |
citizens Of the United States, and also to |
ward indeirnliyln9 ihose VINO may be shown TO be |
entitled 10 indemnity; A copy of protocol of u |
conference between the Secretary of State and the
Spanish Minister, in which the terms of This
rangcmcnt were agreed To- viii he transmitted |
herewith The correspondence this subject |
with the Location of the United States is in cip,er
and by cable, and needs the verifCaiion of the
actual text of the correspondence. II has seemed |
To ME 10 BIZ due 10 the importance Of the case
not 10 submit this correspondence until |
the accurate text he received by mail.
II is expected shortly. and will |
he submitted wien rec, ived. In taking leave Of
this subject for the present, wish TO the
expression Of my conviction that the existence of
African slavery in Cuba is the principal cause of
I he lam euIablc condition of the Island | do not
doubt that Congress shares with me the hope thar
it viii he made TO disappear and thai peace
and prosperity NAV follow liz abolition. The en-
hargoing of American e-ta'es in Cuba; cruelty to
American ciiizeu- detected i'll act Of hostility |
To the Spanish Government: the numbering of prs-
oners taken witt arms in their hands; and final
ly. the captu upon the high seas Of a
vessel sailing under the United States flag
and bearing II United States registry. have cul-
minated in outbur-t of indignatio that has
seemed for II time TO ihreaien war Pending n"go
tiations between The United States and the Gov
eminent # Spa on The subj cr of this capture.
have auf horizcd the Score airy of the Navy To
put our navy On war footing, To the extent Mt
least uI the entire annual appropriation for Thar
branch of the service, trusting to Congress aud the
public opinion of the american people to justify
my action.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THE CONSTITUTION.
Assuming, from the action of the last Congress
in inStructin@ the Committee Privileges and
Elections to prepare and report TO this Congress
a constitutional amendment to provld, better
method Of clrc'iu" the President and Wee
President of the United State- and also FRI, M
the necessity OF such An amendment that
ltrures TO rattle tipn such improvement IL
Constitution sug esttwo sthcfs f"r your consider
alton: First, an horize the Exrcdtiv 20 APP
prove of % much of any mea ure passing the two
Houses of Congress as his jud-mg mt may dictate,
without approving the whole. the d.saPyr"vcd /
% rtipn or portions to he subjected to the same
rult now. to-wit To he rrr d back to TIE |
house which the measure or measures origi- !
mated and If pa-sctl hv II two thtja y.,re of the
two houses. then To become 4 law without the ap- /
proval of the President. | would add 10 /
this provision that there should be no legislation