The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-12-06

my message of December. 1870. that Con
Grcss authorize the Postmaster General t.
issue all commissions to officials apponte,
ny the POstotficc Department.
EXTRACTION AND NATURALIZATION.
After reciting various defects in the tx.
tradition laws, and stating investigation OF
those statutes has convinced him furthe,
legislation is necessary. THE United
States, which led the way in the overthrow
OF the fcudal doctrine If perpetual allcgi-
ancc, are among the last to indicate how
their own citizens may elect another nation.
ality. The papers submitted herewith.
indicate what is necessary to place us on !,
par with other leading nations in the lilpr.
~ Of legislation on this international l,,cs-
ton. We have already in our treaties as
scented to the principles which need liz EN-.
bWlicd in laws intended to accomplish s,,cl,
results. We have agreed that citizens of
the United States may cease to l,c citizens,
and may voluntarily render allegiance to
other powers. We have agreed that resi-
dcncc in foreign land without intent to
return, shall, Of itself, work repatriation.
We have agreed in some instances upon the
length of time necessary for such intent.
invite Congress now to mark out and define
when and how cxpatriati"n can he accom-
plislcd; to regulate by law the condition
Of American women marrying foreigners:
tO Tx the status Of children born in for
cign country Of American parents residing
more or less abroad. and to make rules for
determining such other kindred points rs
may seem best t" Congress-
RELATIONS WITH SPAIN AND C,EA
''In compliance with the request Of Con-
ts.,r 4 Il 4 A.
Madrid, with instruction to present il to the
Spanish government the Joint Resolutions
approved Oh the Ri Of March last, rendering
{" the people Of Spain, in the name and on
the behalf Of the American people, the
congratulations of Congress upon the efforts
to consolidate in Spain the principles Of
universal liberty in Republican form of
government. The existence Of this new
Republic was inaugurateti By striking the
letters fiVm the slaves in Porto Rico, This
beneiiccnt measure was followed by the
release Of several Thousand Of persons
illegally held rs slaves in Cuba. Next the
Captain General was deprived Of power to
set aside the letters Of his superiGrs mt Mad
rid, which had pcltained to his Office since
1928. The sequestratcd estates of Ameri-
long and frequent cSrrespoMience. '" We're re
ordered to be restored tO their rishtful
owners. All these liberal steps were taken
in the face of violent opposition directed by
the rcactionary slave holders Of Havana,
who are vainly striving to stay the march
Of ideas. This has terminated slavery in
Christendom. Cuba only is excepted. In
happily, however, this bancfnl influence
has, thus far, succeeded in defeating the
efforts Of all liberal minded men in Spain
to abolish slavery in Cuba and in prevent
ing the promised reform. In that island
the struggle for political supremacy con-
tinues. The pro.slavcry aristocracy in Cuba
Is gradually arrayins itself more and more
in open hostility to and in defiance of the
home government, while it still maintains
political connection with the Republic in
the peninsula; and, although usurping and
defying the authority Of the home govern
mcnt, whenever such usurlation or defiance
tends in the direction Of oppression or the
maintenance of abuses, it is still 4 power
in Madrid and recognized by the govern
ment. This is an element more dangerous
to continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which inspired
the instruction, it is an element opposed
with no aspiration after freedom, command
to rivct stronger the shacklcs Of oppressive
power IN Cuba, and under professions Of
loyalty to the mother country it is exhaust
ing the resources Of the island, and is doing
acts which are at variance with those prill-
ciples Of justice and liberty, and which Of
right give nobility II character to Repub-
lie. In the interests of humanity, Of civil
ization, and Of progress, it is to he hoped
that this evil influence may soon Ike averted.'
THE vIRGINlUs AFFAIR.
Tho steamer Virginius was on the Goth
day Of September, 1870, duly registered at
the port Of New York as part Of the COM
mcrcial marine Of the United States. On
the 4th Of October, 1870, having the ccrtifi-
cate Of her register in the usual legal form,
she sailed from the port Of New York, and
has not since been within the territorial .i,,-
ristlictiOn Of the United States. On the
3lst Of October last, while sailing under the
flag Of the United States, on the high seas,
she was fOrcibly seized by the Spanish gun
boat Tornado and was carried into the port
Of Santiago de Cuba, where many Of her
ut least rs related to those who were citj-
gems Of tho United states, without due
process Of law, put to death. 1t il . well
established principle, asserted by the Unit
ed States from the beginning Of our nation
81 independence and recognized by Great
Britain and other maritime powers, and
stated by the Senate in . resolution passed
unanimously on the 10th Of June, 1858,
that American vessels on the high seas. in
time Of peace, hearing the American flag,
remain under the jurisdiction Of the Ooun-
try to which they belong, and therefore any
visitation, mOlcstatiOn or interference with
such vessels by force on part Of foreign
powers Is in derOgation Of the sovereignty
Of the United States. In accordance with
this principle the restoration Of the Virgin
Jus and the surrender Of the survivors of
the passengers and crew, due reparatiOn to
the flag and the speedy punishment of the
authorities who had been guilty of the ille-
gal acts Of violence were demanded. Tho
Spanish government has recognized the
justice Of the demands, and has arranged
for the immediate delivery Of the vessel,
and also for the surrender Of the survivors
of the passengers and crew, and for salute
to the flag, and for proceedings looking to
the punishment Of those who may be
proved to have been guilty Of illegal acts of
violence toward citizens Of the United
States; and also toward indemnifying those
who may be shown to be entitled to indem-
nifty. A copy Of = protocol Of conference
between the Secretary Of State and the
Spanish Minister, in which the terms Ut
this arrangement were agreed to, is trans
this subject, with the Legation Of the Unit
ed States in cypher and BY cable, needs the
veriticati0u Of the actual text az the CORE
spondence and it has seemed to me to he
due the importance Of the case not to sub
init this cOrrpsnoaNf1pnce until thA acrurafe