The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-12-20

as the third Commissioner on this Com
mission. With dignity, learning andimpar-
| tiality, he discharged duties requiring great
labor and constant patience to the satisfac-
| ton of-both Governments.
L recommend Legislation to create a
special court to consist of three Judges who
shall be empowered to hear and determine
all claims made upon the United States
arising out of acts committed against their
persons or property during the insurrec-
| ton. The recent conference under the
treaty OF Washington was confined to
claims of British subjects arising during the
period named In the treaty, but it is under
stood 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 advanced by citizens or
subjects OF other powers. 1t is desirable
to have these claims also examined and dis
posed of. Official information being re-
ceived from the Dutch Government. of a
state of war between the King of Neither
land and the Sultan of Acheen, the officers
of the United States who were near the seat
of war were Instructed to observe an inn
partial neutrality; it is believed that they
have done so.; The Joint Commission un-,
der the convention with Mexico of 1868
having again been legally prolonged, has
resumed its business which it is hoped may
be brought to an early conclusion.
The distinguished representative of Her
Brittanic Majesty at Washington, has kind
ly consented, with the approval of his Gov
ernment, to assume the arduous and re-
sponsible duties of umpire in this commits
sion, and to lend the weight of his charac-
ter and name ito such decision as may not
receive the acquiescenee of both the arbi-
traitors appointed by the respective Gov
ernnlents.
The Commissioners appointed, subject
to the authority of Congress, to examine
into the nature and extent of the forays
by trespassers from that country upon the
herds of Texas, have made report, which
will be submitted for your consideration.
The Venezuelan Government has been
appffsed of the sense of Congress in re-
gard to the award of the Joint Commission
under the convention of the 25th of April,
1865, as expressed in the act of the 25th of
February last. 1t is apprehended that that
Government does not realize the character
of IFS obligations 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 dis
charging them in connection with its OBJ
! ligationS to other Governments, the eX-
| pediency of further forbearance on our
| part is believed to be worthy of your con-
| sideration. The Ottoman Government
and that of Egypt have latterly shown a
/ disposition to relieve foreign consuls of
! the judicial powers which heretofore they
have exercised in the Turkish dominions
by organizing other tribunals. AS Con-
gress, has, however, by law, provided for
the discharge of judicial functions by con-
suls of the United States in that quarter,
saaaaeleF the treaty of 1896. Ivc moi felt ;st
l ft.fa cot1t
change without assent of Congress whose
decision upon the subject at as early q pc
riOd as may be convenient is requested.
transmit for consideration of Congress
the application of the Republic OF San Do
mingo to this Government, to exercise a
! pretectorate over that republic. Since the
adjournment of Congress the following
treaties with foreign powers have been
proclaimed;
| A naturalization convention with Den
mark, a convention with Mexico to renew
a claims commission, a convention of
friendship, commerce and extradition with
the Orange Free States, and naturaliZa-
ton convention with Ecuador. l renew a
recommendation made, i'll my message OF
1870, that Congress authorize the Post
master-G General to issue all commissions to
officials appointed through his depart
|
Congress to existing laws of the United
States respecting the extradition of crimi-
mails and their right to ayow their nation
ality as claimed. Many citizens of the
United States reside permanently abroad
with their families under the provisions OF
an act approved February 10th, 1855; the
children 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. 1t thus hap
pens that persons who have never resided
within the United States have been enabled
to put forward a pretension to the protec-
ton of the Uniten States, against the
claims of military service of the Govern
ment under whose protection they were
born and have been reared. In some cases
unnaturaliZed citizens of the United States
have returned to the land of their birth, t6
{ remain there and their children, the ISSUE
of marriage contracted there after theIl
{ return, and who have never been in tht
United States. have laid claim to our pro
lection when the lapse of many years ha!
imposed on them the duty OF military ser
vice to the only Government which hat
ever known them personally. Until thu
wear 1865 it was left embarrassed by th'
conflicting opinions of courts and lurists K
determine how tar The uOcIrlne
perpetual allegiance, derived from ou
former colonial relations with Grea
Britain, was applicable to American citi
zens. Congress then wisely swept away
these dopbts by enacting that any declara
, ton, instruction, opinion, order or decision
of any officer of this Government, whicl
J denies, restricts, impairs or questions tn,
{ right of expatriation, is inconsistent witt
the fundamental principles of this Govern
ment, but Congress did not state IN tina
statute, nor has it since done so, what act
: it deemed to work expatriation. My owl
Teouiredthe opinion in writing of the prln
! cipal officers in each of the executive depart
: ments, upon certain questions relating t.
this subject. The result satisfies me tha
further legislation has become necessary
) I therefore commend the subject to tn
| consideration of Congress, and transml