Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-12-11


The Commissioners appointed, pursuant to
the authority of Congress, to examine into the
nature and extent of the forays, by trespassers
from Mexico, upon the herds of Texas, have
made report, which will be submitted for
your consideration.
The Venezuelan Government has been ap-
prised of the sense of Congress in regard to
the award of the joint commission under the
convention of the 25th of April, 1866, as ex-
pressed in the act of the 25th of February
last. 1t is apprehended that that Government
does not realize the character of it's obliga-
tions under that convention. AS there is
reason to believe, however, that its hesitancy
in recognizing them springs, in part at least,
from real difficulty in dscharging them in con-
nection with its obligations to other govern
ments, the expediency of further forbearance
on our part is believed to be worthy of your
consideration.
The Ottoman Government and that of
Egypt have latterly shown a disposition to re-
ieve foreign consuls of the judicial powers
which heretofore they have exercised in the
Turkish dominions, by organizing other
tribunals. As Congress, however, has by law
provided for the discharge of judicial func-
tions by consuls of the United States in that
felt at liberty formally to accept the present
change without the assent of Congress,
whose decision upon the subject at as
early a period may be convenient is
earnestly requested.
I transmit herewith, for the consideration
and determination of Congress, an applica-
ton of the Republic of Santo Domingo to
this Government to exercise protectorate
over that Republic.
Since the adj journment of Congress the follow
ing treaties with foreign powers have been pro-
claimed: A naturalization convention with
Denmark a convention with Mexico for re-
newing their claims Commission conven-
ton of friendship, commerce and extradition
with the Orange Free State, and naturaliza-
ton convention with Ecuador
1 renew a recommendation made in my
message of December, 1870, that Congress
authorize the Postmaster-Generalt to issue all
commissions to officials appointed through his
department.
L invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the existing laws of the United States re-
specting extraditon, and tho eligibility of ma
tionality by individuals. Many citizens of the
their families. Under the provisions of the
act approved February 10, 1855, the children
of such persons are to be deemed and
s. taken to be citizens n of the United
are not to descend to persons whose
fathers never resided in the United States. 1t
thus happens that persons who have never re-
sided within the United States have been en-
abled to put forward pretension to the pro-
lection of the United States against tt 9
claim of military service of the Government
under whose protection they were born and
have been reared. In some cases unnatural
lied citizens of the United States have re-
turned to the land of their birth to remain
there, and their children, the issue of a mar
Tiage 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 Gov
ernment which had ever known them person.
ally. Until the year 1868 it left embar-
rassed by the 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 wisely swept the
doubts away by electing that any
declaration, instruction, opinion, order,
or decision of any officer of this Government,
which denies, restricts, impa1rs or questions
the right of expatriation, is inconsistent with
the fundamental principles of this Govern
ment but Congress did not Indicate in that
statute nor has it since done SO, what acts
are to be deemed to work expatriation- For
nv own guidance in determining such ques-
tions I required, under the provisions of the
Constitution, the opinion in writing of the
principal officer in each of the Executive de-
partments upon certain questions relating to
this subject. The result satisfies me that
further legislation has become necessary.
T. therefore, commend the subject to the
careful consideration of Congress, and
transmit herewith copies of the several orin-
ions of the principal officers of the Executive
Departments, together with other corre-
spondence and prominent information on
the same subject. The United States, who
led the way in the overthrow of the feudal
doctrine of perpetual allegiance, are among
the last to indicate how their citizens may
elect another nationality. The papers SUBJ
mitted herewith indicate what is necessary to
place us on a par with other nations in hber-
ality of legislation on this international ques-
ed to the principles which would need to be
embedded in laws intended to accomplish such
results We have agreed that citizens of the
United States may cease to be citizens, and
NAV 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 nee
essary for such intent. invite Congress now
to mark out and define when and how eXpatria-
ton can be accomplished, to regulate by law
the condition of American women marrying
foreigners, to fix the status of children born
in foreign country of American parents re-
siding more or less permanently abroad, and to
make rules for determining such other kim
drea points as may seem best to Congress.
In compliance with the request of Con-
| at Madred, with instructions to present to the
Spanish Government, the joint resolution ap
| proved on the Sd of March last, rendering tC
| the people of Spain, in the name and on be
half of the American people, the congratula
tions of Congress upon the efforts to console
date in Spain the principles of universal lib
| erty in Republican form of government
The existence of this Republic was inaugu
| rated by striking the fetters from the slaves
| in Porto Rico. This benefcent measure wal
| followed by the release of several Thousand
persons Illegally sold as slaves in Cuba. Next
| the Captain General of the colony was de
prived of the power to set aside the orders o
his superiors at Madrid, which had pertaineC
to the office since 1925. The sequestered es
tates of American citizens, which had beel
| the cause of long and frequent correspond
| ence, were ordered to be restored to thei
owners. ALI these liberal steps were taken il
the face of violent opposition, directed by th
reactionary shareholders of HAVANA, VIII
are vainly striving to stay the march of idea
that has terminated slavery in Christendom
Cuba only excepted Unhappily, however
this baneful influence has thus far sue
ceeded in defeating the efforts of a
liberal-minded men in Spain to abolis
slavery in Cuba, and in preventing the prom
ised reform in that island. The struggle fo
political supremacy continues. The pro-slave
ry aristocracy in Cuba is gradually arrayln
itself in more and more open hostility and de
|. fiance of the home Government, while 1t stl
maintains political connection with the Re
public in the peninsula, and although usurI
ing and defying the authority of the HON
II Government whenever such usurpation or de
fance tends In the direction of oppression c
Of the maintenance of abuses, it is still
| power in Madrid and recognized by the Go'
| ernment,-thus forming element moi
| dangerous TO the continued colonial relation
between Cuba and Spain than that which il
| splred the lnsurrection at Yarra. An elemeI
oppos ed to granting any relief from misru
and abuse, with no aspirations after freedom
commanding no sympathies in generor
breasts, aiming to rivet still stronger tt
shackles of slavery and oppression, has SeIZe