The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-06

patepce, TO the satisfaction, DeDeVe, o.
| both Governments.
recommend legislation to create spe'
ial court, to consist OF three Judges, VINO
| shall be empowered to hear the Claims o.
| aliens upon the United States arising out Oh
acts committed against their persons or
| property during the instruction. The re
cent conference under the Treaty of Wash
inpton was confined to claims OF British
| subjects arising after the 9th of April, 1860,
| and 1t is known that other claims OF IKE
| nature are advanced by citizens or SUBJECTS
| of other powers. 1t is desirable to haye
| these claims also examined and dlsposeed OF.
Official information being received from
! the Dutch Government OF state ol war
between the King of the Netherlands ana
the Sultan OF ACheen, the officers OF the
United States who were near the seat oil
the war were instructed to preserve an I'M
partial neutrality: 1t Is believed that they
have done so.
The Joint Commission, under the conven'
ton with Mexico, OF 1858, having again
been legally prolonged, has resumed its bus
mess, which, it is hoped, may be brought 10
an early conclusion.
The distinguished representative of Her
Bruannic Majesty at Washington has kindly
consented, with the approval of his Govern
BILE duties of umpire in this commission, ana
to lend the weight of his character and name
to such decisions as may not receive the
acouiescence of both the arbitrator APP
pointed by the respective Governments.
The Commissioners appointed, pursuant
in the authority of Congress, to examine
into the nature and extent OF The forays, by
tresDassers from Mexico, upon the herds OF
Texas, have made report, when VIII De
submitted for your consideration.
The Venezuelan Government has been
appriZed of the sense OF Congress IN regard
TO the award of the Joint commission under
the convention of the 10Th OF April, 1866,
as EXPIRE sscd in the act OF the 10Th OF
February last 1t is apprehended that
that Government does not realize the
character of Its obligations under that con-
yentiUu. AS there is reason To believe,
however, that its hestancy in recognizing
them springs, in part at least, from real
difficulty in discharsing them In connectloh
with its obligations to other govern
ments, the expediency Of further iorDtar-
ance on our part is believed 20 be worthy OF
your consideration.
The Ottoman Government and that OF
Egypt have latterly shown a disposition to
relieve foreign consuls OF the judicial pow
ers which heretofore they have exercised IN
the Turkish dominions, by organizing ON
er tribunals. AS Congress, however, mas Oy
law provided tor the discharge OF Judlclal
functions by cOnsuls OF the United States IN
that quarter. under the treaty OF lS5o,
have not felt at liberty formally 10 accept
the present change without the assent Oh
Congress, whose DECISION upon the subject
at as early period as may be convenient Is
earnestly requested. | transmit herewith,
for the consideration and determination OF
Congress, an application OF the Republic oil
Santo Domingo to this Government to exer-
else prOtectOrate over that RepuDlfc.
Since the adjournment OF Congress the ioi-
loving treaties with foreign powers have
been proclaimed. A naturalization conven-
ton with Denmsrk; convention with
Mexico for renewing their Claims Comm's-
sion q convention of friendship, commerce
and extradtion with The Orange free State,
and naturalization convention with Ecua-
dor.
renew q Recommendation made IN my
message Of December, 1870, that Congress
authorize the Postmaster General TO issue
all commissions TO officials appointed
through his department.
invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the existing laws OF the United States
respecting extraditiOn. and the eligibility OF
nationality by individuals. Many citizens
of the United States reside permanently
abroad with their families. Under the pro
visions Of the act approved February ~,
1865, 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 10 persons whose iHtrprs
never resided in the United States. /, lhus
happens that persons who have never re-
L., h. toll how
enabled TO put forward pretcnslOn 70 the
protection of the United states against the
clam of military service Of the Govern
ment, under whose protection they were
born and have been reared. In some cases
citizens of the United States
have returned to the hand OF their birth 20
remain there, and their children, the issue
OF u marriage contracted there after their
return and who have never been IN the
United States, have LAID claim TO our prottc-
ton, when the lapse OF many years nave
imposed upon them the duty OF military
service to the only Government which had !
ever known them personally Until the |
year 1868 il was left embarrassed by the |
opinions OF courts and OF JurlstS |
to determine how far the doctrine OF per
petual allegiance derived from our former
colonial relations with Great Britain was
applicable 10 American CltlIcns. congress
then wisely swept the doubts away by elect.
ing that any declaration, instruction, Cpln-
ION, order or decision Of any officer OF this
Government, which denies restricts, i'm
pairs or questions the right of repatriation !
is inconsistent with the fundamental primer
pes of this Government; but Congress did |
not indicate in that statute, nor has 1t since
done So what acts are to be deemed to work !
eXpstrlaton. For my own guidance in de
termlning such questions required, under
the provisions OF the constitution, the Opin
ion in writing of the principal officer in
each of the Executive departments upon
certain questions relating to this subject.
The result satisfies me that further legisla.
ton has become necessary. 1, therefore,
commend the subject to the careful consld.
Grafton of Congress, and | transmit here
with copies of the several opinions Of the
Executive Departments, together with 9th
er correspondence and prominent Ininrma-
ton ON the same subject The United
States, who led the way In the overthrow of
the leudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance,
are among the last to idiCate how ;hcr own
citizens may elect another nationality. The .