The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-12-12

lnSGOn was cOnnned TO the claims o.
British subjects, arising during tht
period named in the treaty, but it il
understood there are other British
claims of similar nature, arising after
the 9th of April, 1865, and it is known
that other claims of like nature are
advanced by the citizens or subjects oi
other powers. It is desirable to have
these clairls also examined and disposed
of.
OUR ANTIPoDEs
Official information being received
from the Dutch government of a state
war between the King of the Neither
lands and the Sultan of Acheen, the
officers of the United States who were
near the seat of war were instructed to
observe an impartial neutrality. It is
believe that they have done so.
MEXICAN MARAUDERs.
The joint commission under the trea-
ty with Mexico of 1866, 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
Britanic majesty at Washington has
kindly consented, with the approval of
his government, to assume the arduous
and responsible duties of umpire in
this commission, and to lend the weight
of his character and name to such de-
cls1ons as may not receive the acquies-
cence of both the arbitrators appointed
by the respective goveI nments. 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 a report,
which will be submitted for your con-
sideration.
VENEZUELAN HITCH.
The Venezuelan government has been
apprised of the sense of congress in re-
gard to the award of the joint commits
| sion under tho convention of the 25th
OF April, 1866, as expressed in the act
of the 25th of February last. It is ap-
pretended that the government does not
realize the character of its obligations
under The convention. AS there is rea-
son to believe, however, that its hesi-
fancy in recognizing them spring in
part, at least, from real difficulty in
discharging them in connection with its
obligations to other governments, the
expediency of further forbearaance on
our part is believed to be worthy of
your consideration.
THE TURK
The Ottoman government and that of
Egypt have latterly shown disposition
to relieve foreign consuls of the judi
cial 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 functions by con-
suls of the United States in that quar-
ter, under the treaty of 1887, have not
felt at liberty formally to accept the
present change without the assent of
congress, whose decision upon the sub
ject, at as early period as may be con-
venient, is requested.
sANTo DOMINGO.
transmit herewith for your consider
alton and determination of Congress an
application of the republic of San Do
mingo to this government to exercise
prOtectorate over that republic.
Since the. adjournment of congress the
following treaties with foreign powers
have been proclaimed: A naturaliza-
ton convention with Denmark, q conven-
tion with EMexico for renewing the
claims commission, a convention of
friendship, commerce and extraditiOn |
with the Orange free states, and a nat |
uralization convention with Ecuador.
PosTMAsTERs' COMMISSIONS.
I renew a recommendation made in |
my message of December, 1870, that |
congress authorize the postmaster gen.
eral to issue all commissions to officials
appointed through his department.
ABsENTEEIsM.
I invite the earnest attention of con-
gress to the existing laws of the Uni
ted States respecting expatriation or
the selection of nationality by individ-
uals. Many citizens of the United
States reside permanently abroad with
their families Under the provisions
of the act approved Feb. 10th, 1855,
the children of such persons are to be
deemed and taken to be citizens of the
United States, but the rights of citi-
zenship are not to descend to persons
whose fathers never resided in the Uni
ted States. 1t thus happens that per-
sons who have never resided within the
United States have been enabled to put
forward pretension to the protection
of thesUnited States against the claim
of military service of the government
under whose protection they were born
and have been cared for. In some some
cases unnaturaljzed citizens of the Uni
ted States have returned to the land of
their birth to remain there, and
their children, the issue of a mar
riage 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 i'm
posed upon them the duty of military ;
service to the only government which
had ever known them personally. Un- s
til the year 1868 it was left embarrassed [
by conflicting opinions of our courts /
and jurists, to determine how far the |
doctrine of perpetual allegiance de- s
rived from our former colonial rela- {
tions with Great Britain was applicable
to American citizens. Congress then !
wisely swept these doubts away by en- {
acting that any declaration, instruction,
opinion, order or decision of any officer {
Of this government which denies, re-
Stricts. impairs or questions s
THE RIGHT OF ExPATRIAT1oN s
is inconsistent with the fundamental 6
principle of this government. But con-
gress did not enact in that statue, nor {
has it since done SO, what acts are to be {
deemed to work expatriatiOn. For my I
own guidance in determining such ques-
tions, [ Irequired, under the provisions of [
the constitution, the opinion in writing of |
the principal officer in each of the exec I
uUlV6 departments upon certain Qu6S- |
tions relating to this subject. The re-
suit satisfies me that further legislation s
has become necessary. L Therefore COM
mend the subject to the consideration
of congress. transmit herewith copies {
of the several opinions of the princi- |
pal officers of the executive depart I
ments, together with other correspond t
ence and prominent information on the 1
same subject. The United States, who t
led the way in the overthrow of the !
feudal doctrine of perpetual allegiance,
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 l
Iiberality of Legislation on this interna- E
tional question. We have already in {
our treaties assented to the principles
which would need to be embodied in +
laws intended to accomplish such re- I
suits. We have agreed that citizens of t
the United States may cease to be citi s
zens, may voluntarily resume allegiance